Through the RFP, DYFJ will continue the provision of garden renovation/maintenance and therapeutic horticulture1 programming for young people detained and housed at DYFJ secure detention centers(whose cases are pending in Family Court or the Youth Parts in Supreme Court) and Limited Secure Placement (LSP) facilities (which house young people adjudicated in the NYC Family Court and placed in the custody of ACS in a residential setting). The RFP seeks qualified providers to implement an engaging therapeutic horticulture program. This program will empower young people in confinement to cultivate a path towards psychological and physical well-being. ACS is seeking providers with demonstrated experience in creating and maintaining such programming for court-impacted young people, ideally in institutional settings. Providers must have experience creating and leading horticulture programming with therapeutic components and a proven track record of fostering personal growth and pathways to employment for young people. Youth participants will cultivate and maintain the facility's outdoor spaces, fostering a healthy connection to nature and empowering them to care for their environment. The program will also equip them with valuable life and job skills, build communication and social interaction, and promote healthy lifestyle choices through hands-on experience growing fresh food, nurturing both their bodies and the environment. Research demonstrates that the mental health benefits of horticultural therapy, including heightened selfesteem, mindfulness, and a sense of responsibility, are widely experienced across diverse groups, including juvenile offenders1 . Horticulture programming in correctional settings offersincarcerated individuals a therapeutic and educational experience through meaningful activity, food production and nutritional education, and skill development for future employment2 . In the United States, prisons have found that incorporating gardening programs not only provides vocational training and psychological benefits for those participating, but also offers benefitsfor the broader population by improving the physical environment and lowering stress3 . Community service opportunities with a horticultural focus have also been shown to reduce recidivism numbers compared to non-horticultural community service work4 .
