PORT ST. LUCIE, FL – February 8, 2024— Cayuga Centers proudly announces its acquisition of the IGNITE Youth Alliance program, in Fort Pierce, FL. The program is based on a national anti-violence model developed by the US Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). Strategically designed to combat gang-related and gun crime, IGNITE Youth Alliance offers alternative opportunities for individuals ages 6 to 24 through proactive intervention and prevention methods.
This community-driven program, supported by the National Gang Center, leverages an intervention team to implement restorative tactics such as conflict mediation. It also aims to connect at-risk youth with essential social, employment, health, and educational services, fostering a holistic approach to addressing the root causes of violence. The Cayuga Centers IGNITE program is comprised of a team of nine staff and is led by Program Manager Darcy McFolley and Assistant Manager Marcus Mills. Describing the program’s commitment to outreach in the region’s most vulnerable communities, Darcy McFolley says the team works with community leaders and families closely “because we are into saving lives, [and] we want kids to be able to grow and mature.”
IGNITE Youth Alliance is voluntary and driven by the genuine interest of youth participants who actively refer their peers to engage with the outreach team. One of the standout features of IGNITE Youth Alliance is its accessibility. With no cost incurred by the clients, the program ensures that every eligible individual can benefit from its impactful initiatives.
Adrienne Huggins, Director of Treasure Coast Programs, speaks passionately about the IGNITE team, emphasizing their positive reputation in the community. She remarks, “Every staff member is so passionate about each child they serve and their families. Their parents are contacting them when they’re having issues with their kids at school, at home, in the community, and they know that the team is going to run to them and they are going to help create change.”
Key community partners generously provide funding for IGNITE Youth Alliance, including The United Way of St. Lucie County & Okeechobee, The Roundtable of St. Lucie County, Children’s Services Council of St. Lucie County, and Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network.
Cayuga Centers welcomed IGNITE Youth Alliance into its continuum of services in the fall of 2023. This expansion aligns with Cayuga Centers’ continued commitment to serving the Treasure Coast region, where the organization has provided Treatment Foster Care to St. Lucie, Martin, Okeechobee, and Indian River counties since 2022.
To learn more about IGNITE Youth Alliance, visit https://cayugacenters.org/ignite/.
About Cayuga Centers
Cayuga Centers is a nationally accredited and awarded 501(c)(3) non-profit, human services agency headquartered in Auburn, NY. Founded in 1852, the agency has delivered quality services by following the agency’s core mission of helping individuals and families grow as independent, healthy, and productive citizens through quality counseling, out-of-home care, and support services. Cayuga Centers provides a continuum of support services nationally, with offices in over 10 cities. The agency specializes in providing individualized, culturally appropriate, and trauma-informed support to diverse populations. Cayuga Centers currently serves 10,000 individuals and families annually. Visit www.cayugacenters.org to learn about its services, how to become a foster parent, how to be a foster care ambassador, and employment opportunities.
