Bay Area Youth Services of Florida

BAYS History

Bay Area Youth Services was organized and chartered as a Florida Not-For-Profit Corporation on April 19, 1982. The agency was founded with the objective of improving the quality of life and increasing the potential of Florida’s youth. Since that time, BAYS has provided quality and professional youth and family services throughout West Central Florida. BAYS has grown into a multi-faceted organization with eight office locations and over 65 employees.

Over the years, BAYS has provided a variety of delinquency prevention, diversion, and intervention services.  BAYS was the original Hillsborough and Manatee County Juvenile Alternative Services Program (JASP) Provider from 1982 to 2000, the Polk, Hardee and Highlands County JASP Provider from 1986 to 2000 and the Level Two and Aftercare/Conditional Release Provider from 1994 until 2007. BAYS has also been an integral part of Florida’s IDDS Program since the year 2000. Former BAYS Executive Director William Bowman was part of DJJ’s original planning and implementation team when the Department transitioned their diversion efforts from the old JASP Program to the new IDDS concept.  Since the inception of the Prodigy Program in 2000, BAYS has also been an important part of this innovative research-based program which has expanded throughout the State of Florida and attained high regard in the area of prevention and diversion.  In 2007, BAYS was also selected to take part in Florida’s first pilot project of the evidenced-based Parenting with Love and Limits Program. 

BAYS has extensive experience as a contract Service Provider serving such organizations as the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, U.S. Department of Labor, Children’s Board of Hillsborough County, Selby Foundation, Suncoast Workforce Board, Evidence Based Associates, University Area Community Development Center (UACDC) and the University of South Florida.

Our agency is extremely proud of the work that has been accomplished. Since its inception, BAYS has provided services to more than 65,000 program children and their families. These services include providing over 40,000 hours of counseling, 55,000 hours of youth and parenting seminars, monitoring 1.5 million hours of community service work, and collecting in excess of $2.5 million in victim restitution. We feel that we have made a significant positive impact on the lives of the people we’ve served, and trust that in some small way have helped to improve our community.

The staff and management of BAYS look back over the past years with a proud sense of accomplishment, and many fond memories. We also look forward to the future, and all the challenges that lay ahead. With a lot of hard work, a great staff, the assistance of our juvenile justice partners, a little luck, and the grace of God, we’ll successfully continue our mission for many years to come.

Leadership

BAYS was founded by William F. Bowman who held the title of Executive Director and President until his retirement in December 2009.  Under his direction, BAYS became and remains one of Florida’s largest Department of Juvenile Justice non-residential providers. BAYS is governed by a diverse Board of Directors and has a management team with more than 80 years of juvenile and criminal justice experience. The BAYS Management Team consists of Executive Director John J. Burek, Deputy Director David A. Caldas, Program Operations Manager Sandra K. Trieb, and Manager of Support Services Debra T. Braman.

Mr. Burek is a life-long resident of Polk County.  He has been married to his wonderful wife, Atlantis, since 1992, and the couple has two children.  Mr. Burek received a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Nova Southeastern University in 2004, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Ministerial Studies with a concentration on Pastoral Counseling from Southeastern University in 1997.  Mr. Burek joined Bay Area Youth Services, Inc. in 1998 quickly working his way up to management becoming BAYS Deputy Director in 2002, and Executive Director/President in 2009.

David Caldas holds a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration and a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology both from the University of South Florida. He has been a Tampa resident since 1996. Mr. Caldas previously led the BAYS Circuit 13 IDDS Program as Unit Supervisor, and through excellence in leadership earned his recent promotion to BAYS Deputy Director in 2009.

Ms. Trieb holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Anderson College, along with Master’s Degree credits in Elementary Education from Ball State University. Ms. Trieb has spent nearly thirty years managing programs that serve Florida’s troubled youth.

Debra Braman holds a Master’s Degree in Counselor Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology both from the University of South Florida. Ms. Braman has worked with Bay Area Youth Services, Inc. for more than twenty-five years, in both direct care and management positions.