HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Hillsborough County leaders are celebrating the success of the first juvenile mental health court in Florida. 

The chief judge of the 13th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida joined the county prosecutor, public defender and sheriff for a press conference Wednesday. 

“I say, in this courtroom all the time, it’s a team effort,” said Chief Judge Ron Ficarotta.

So far, about 100 juveniles have seen the Chief Judge in mental health court. Each juvenile is asked to post a positive message on the success board when they arrive. It’s just one way, county leaders work to encourage the troubled youth.

“These are children we’re dealing with and some of them are very fragile,” Ficarotta said. “Some of them have never had that attention or that encouragement. I think it just goes a long, long way.”

For the Hillsborough County Sheriff, the juvenile mental health court is personal. His 24-year-old son battles mental health problems and was sent to prison for stabbing someone during a fight.

“I can’t sit here and stand next to you and wonder how his path would have been different if this resource would have been available to him,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. 

County leaders said they’ve found that the support goes a long way. Nearly 30 juveniles have completed the program at mental health court in Hillsborough county, since it began.