Behavioral Health Programs
BAYS Behavioral Health Programs provide compassionate, individualized behavioral health services for youth and families across Florida. We meet young people where they are, helping them navigate challenges, strengthen relationships, build resilience, and develop the skills and confidence needed for lasting growth and success.
Explore Our Programs
Select a program below to jump directly to it’s section.
Our Approach to Behavioral Health
Hear from Christine Krolikowski, Vice President of Behavioral Health Services, as she shares how BAYS Behavioral Health Programs support children and families through compassionate, individualized care.
BAYS Community Care Program
BAYS Community Care (BCC) is a therapeutic intervention service for children, adolescents, and adults exhibiting behaviors that place them at risk for juvenile justice, criminal justice, and child welfare system involvement.
The services are provided in both clinic and home settings, as well as community settings such as schools, child welfare facilities, and juvenile justice facilities. Our goal is to provide high quality, evidence-based, therapeutic services to children, adolescents, and adults, that create lasting behavioral change by increasing protective factors and decreasing risk factors. We value the worth of every individual and strive to provide high- quality services that promote positive change that is sustainable.
Counseling services offered include:
Individual Counseling
Group Counseling
Family Counseling
To make a referral, download and complete the form, then email it to the program contact listed on the form.
Elevate Beyond Barriers Program
The Elevate Beyond Barriers (EBB) Program is dedicated to empowering youth, families, and communities facing significant challenges and barriers to success in Hillsborough County. With a focus on supporting youth and families through individualized care and evidence-based parenting education, our mission is to equip family and youths' overall well-being through comprehensive support services, focusing on increased educational, emotional and social skills, accessible resources, skill development, and long-term self-advocacy.
Our program is built on the understanding that nurturing and lasting development takes a village! Strong families are the foundation of a thriving community. By enhancing emotional skills and fostering academic achievement, we work to reduce negative behaviors and violence, creating stronger, safer communities where youth and families can thrive.
To make a referral, download and complete the form, then email it to the program contact listed on the form.
BAYS Family Connections Program
BAYS Family Connections (BFC) provides Functional Family Therapy (FFT) and Functional Family Therapy–Child Welfare (FFT-CW), evidence-based models designed to improve family functioning, reduce risk, and stabilize youth within their homes and communities.
FFT is a short-term, family-based intervention typically delivered over 3 to 5 months, serving youth ages 10–18 who are involved in systems such as juvenile justice, behavioral health, or education due to behavioral or emotional concerns. FFT-CW expands this model within the child welfare system, serving youth ages 0–18 and their caregivers through two distinct tracks: a therapy track aligned with FFT’s clinical phases, and a case management track focused on stabilization, linkage to resources, and ongoing support.
Services are delivered in homes and community-based settings, including residences, schools, and partner agencies—to reduce barriers to engagement and ensure accessibility. Both FFT and FFT-CW are grounded in a phased, structured approach that includes engagement, motivation, relational assessment, behavior change, and generalization (for therapy cases), with adaptations in FFT-CW to meet the varying needs and safety considerations of child welfare-involved families. Interventions are driven by an assessment of risk and protective factors and are tailored to each family’s unique dynamics.
To make a referral, select the appropriate county, download and complete the referral form, then email it to the program contact listed on the form.
Fatherhood at the Forefront Program
The Fatherhood at the Forefront (FATF) Program is dedicated to empowering fathers involved in the child welfare system. With a focus on supporting fathers through individualized care and evidence-based parenting education, our mission is to equip them with the tools, resources, and guidance needed to reunite with their children and build stronger, more resilient families.
Our program is built on the understanding that strong families are the foundation of a thriving community. By focusing on the growth and empowerment of fathers, we aim to break the cycle of separation and build a future where fathers are equipped and supported in their roles as active, nurturing parents. The Fatherhood at the Forefront Program’s ultimate goal is to create lasting positive change, not just for fathers, but for children, families, and communities.
To make a referral, download and complete the form, then email it to the program contact listed on the form.
S.T.R.I.V.E. Program
The Supportive Trusting Relationships with Inclusion, Vision, and Empathy (S.T.R.I.V.E.) program team provides intensive, in-home services to oversee, support, and stabilize youth who have entered the child welfare dependency system and who are dually involved, or at risk of becoming involved in the juvenile justice system. Services are designed to unify the family and implement preventative measures to strengthen and stabilize the family unit. Through collaborative efforts with community-based partnerships, we work to prevent children from entering out-of-home care, ensuring the safety, well-being, and permanency of children and families. Above all, our approach promotes resilience in both youth and families, helping them navigate challenges and emerge stronger together.
S.T.R.I.V.E. also connects each child and family to vital community resources, such as substance abuse treatment, mental health support, educational services and career development opportunities. These services are identified through a personalized assessment process, ensuring that each family’s needs are met with compassion and respect.
S.T.R.I.V.E. is not just about addressing current challenges, but about helping families develop the resilience to face future challenges independently and confidently. By partnering with families to implement preventive strategies and offering continuous, compassionate support, S.T.R.I.V.E. aims to create environments where families can thrive, heal, and grow stronger together, creating a foundation for long-term stability and resilience.
To make a referral, select the appropriate county, download and complete the referral form, then email it to the program contact listed on the form.
Questions About Our Behavioral Health Programs?
Whether you have questions about our programs, need help with a referral, or want to learn more about services available in your community, our Behavioral Health team is here to help.
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS CONTACT
Christine Krolikowski
christine.krolikowski@bayskids.org
(813) 431-5269
Our Funders & Partners
Our innovative youth and family services are made possible through the generous support of our committed funders and partners. Their dedication to unlocking the potential of the youth and families we serve is essential to how BAYS fulfills its mission.
Click on a logo below to learn more about each organization.
