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The state is turning to ministers for help rehabilitating Florida’s struggling youth. The Department of Juvenile Justice launched a chaplaincy program today to recruit men and women of all faiths to volunteer in state detention centers. DJJ Secretary Frank Peterman said the program will give teens in the system someone they can trust.

“It gives them a sense of calmness, a sense of security, and a sense that there’s going to be somebody there regardless of the issues on a regular basis. Sometimes they’re not getting that in their own home,” said Peterman.

The department hopes to expand the Chaplin program to serve teens out on probation and serving home detention sentences.