Life Skills and Leadership Academy
800 Carranza Road
Tabernacle, NJ 08088
Superintendent: Kathy Tumolo
609-268-1424
609-268-6527 (Fax)

The Life Skills and Leadership Academy held its first official graduation ceremony in April of 2004. The unique and innovative program maintains some characteristics of the former Stabilization and Reintegration Program, which it replaced, including the use of uniforms, military drill exercises and graduation ceremonies which it combines with vocational and academic instruction, and community service. The main focus of the program is on delivering a disciplined educational and vocational program that prepares each student to reach his full potential. Students are taught to encourage and support their peers by the example set by the JJC's trained instructors.

The Life Skills and Leadership Academy is located in Wharton State Park in Tabernacle. Male youth assigned to the Academy must be between 13 and 19 years of age and have been adjudicated by the courts.

Juveniles who have committed a first-degree offense are not eligible for the Life Skills and Leadership Academy. In addition, juveniles with medical illnesses or those who may be psychologically or physically unable to adjust to the rigorous schedule are not placed in this program.

Students progress through the program in groups called teams. Each team is made up of 20 to 25 students who graduate as a group. The Academy Phase of the program can accommodate three teams of students plus a team of orientation trainees totaling approximately 90 students. The flexibility exists to extend a student's stay at the Life Skills and Leadership Academy, if he does not demonstrate progress, by changing his team assignment.

The program consists of three phases: Orientation Phase (four to six weeks), Academy Phase (five months), and Aftercare Phase (up to 18 months).

An orientation, that usually lasts several weeks, is conducted with incoming trainees to help them gradually adjust to the Academy atmosphere and regime. After a complete team is assembled, the students begin the Academy Phase of the program. During the Academy Phase, students learn to work as a team and to focus their attention on their education studies and vocational goals.

Students perform community service projects including maintaining the grounds of the Tabernacle municipal complex and maintenance yard, Atsion Park, New Jersey Pinelands Commission sites, the Bastso Historical Society, the Tabernacle Methodist Church and Cemetery, Shamong Baseball and Recreation Park. Students also perform road clean up at Forked Neck and Carranza Roads, and provide home renovations for local residents in need and participate in the Habitat for Humanity Program.

Upon graduating the Life Skills and Leadership Academy, students begin the Aftercare Phase of the program. Initially, supervision is strict requiring a curfew, frequent drug screening, and community service. JJC Juvenile Parole staff monitor employment, education and continued counseling. Gradually, if a juvenile is complying with his parole plan, restrictions are lessened in order to complete the transition back to his home setting. Life Skills and Leadership Academy staff are active participants in each student's progress. Staff often visit residents after they return home to maintain the relationships developed during the program. Students who have graduated may return to the Academy if needed to redirect or restructure the student's community plan.