TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) _ The head of Florida’s Department of Juvenile Justice, the Rev. Frank Peterman, is asking his fellow religious leaders to help kids who get in trouble with the law.
Peterman, who pastors a church in St. Petersburg, kicked off a new program aimed at matching people of faith with at-risk children. The Volunteer Chaplaincy Program would be a network of spiritual leaders who can offer guidance to youths in the juvenile justice system.
The goal is for those volunteers to develop a relationship with youths and their families that will last after the juvenile is released from state care. Those in the program would serve as counselors.
Peterman says the volunteers could help the agency offset recent budget cuts.