Hillsborough County Children's Services to start community counseling at Tampa Bay Causeway; board hears education-enrollment and alternate-education progress
May 23, 2026 | Hillsborough County, Florida
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Hillsborough County Children's Services briefed the Circuit 13 Advisory Board on program capacity, new community counseling and education supports for youth in the juvenile-justice system.
Heather Cozzola of Hillsborough County Children's Services reported a current census that included four youth for SINs, one youth for an arrest involving domestic violence (DV) and three youth for domestic-violence civil-citation (DVCC) processing. "Very exciting news, we will begin to provide community counseling at our feeding, Tampa Bay, Causeway location in June," Cozzola said, and staff confirmed the program will begin in June at that site.
Board members clarified bed availability: Cozzola said capacity depends on single- or double-room needs and noted two cottages (one girls, one boys) with a typical capacity of 12 each for a maximum of 24 beds; the board recorded six youth currently on campus. Members also discussed daily sharing of DV respite-bed availability with the detention center and with the juvenile assessment center to coordinate placements.
On education, the student achievement subcommittee reported an electronic school-portal implemented in January 2026 to speed enrollment and Individualized Education Program (IEP) processing for duly served youth arriving from other counties. The board said faster enrollment and quicker IEP meetings have improved placements; members also described alternative education and wraparound services: the Chamberlain Encore online program (which provides laptops and proctored support) has engaged roughly 40 to 50 students, and local partners (including Safe and Sound Hillsborough) offer supervised classroom space and teacher oversight to supplement virtual learning.
The subcommittee noted outstanding challenges such as transportation for youth referred to partner sites and data-entry issues that affect graduation-rate tracking; staff said they are working to align detention and school databases and assigned a staff probation/detention coordinator to improve communications.
No formal policy or funding action was taken at the meeting; members asked staff to continue coordination and to return with details as pilot programs mature.
Heather Cozzola of Hillsborough County Children's Services reported a current census that included four youth for SINs, one youth for an arrest involving domestic violence (DV) and three youth for domestic-violence civil-citation (DVCC) processing. "Very exciting news, we will begin to provide community counseling at our feeding, Tampa Bay, Causeway location in June," Cozzola said, and staff confirmed the program will begin in June at that site.
Board members clarified bed availability: Cozzola said capacity depends on single- or double-room needs and noted two cottages (one girls, one boys) with a typical capacity of 12 each for a maximum of 24 beds; the board recorded six youth currently on campus. Members also discussed daily sharing of DV respite-bed availability with the detention center and with the juvenile assessment center to coordinate placements.
On education, the student achievement subcommittee reported an electronic school-portal implemented in January 2026 to speed enrollment and Individualized Education Program (IEP) processing for duly served youth arriving from other counties. The board said faster enrollment and quicker IEP meetings have improved placements; members also described alternative education and wraparound services: the Chamberlain Encore online program (which provides laptops and proctored support) has engaged roughly 40 to 50 students, and local partners (including Safe and Sound Hillsborough) offer supervised classroom space and teacher oversight to supplement virtual learning.
The subcommittee noted outstanding challenges such as transportation for youth referred to partner sites and data-entry issues that affect graduation-rate tracking; staff said they are working to align detention and school databases and assigned a staff probation/detention coordinator to improve communications.
No formal policy or funding action was taken at the meeting; members asked staff to continue coordination and to return with details as pilot programs mature.
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