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Welcome to Pace Clay

About Pace Clay

For 30 years Pace Center for Girls continues to be the sole provider, in Florida, for gender responsive prevention/intervention non-residential services to at-risk girls. The Pace Day Program consists of three components - education, counseling and case management, and a career/vocational focus on the future as well as follow-up transition services.

Pace's gender-responsive culture provides a safe environment that celebrates girls, and takes into account how girls learn and develop with staff who understand the lives of girls and can respond to their strengths and challenges. While receiving services, girls find a supportive environment many have not had in a long time or perhaps never had in their young lives.

Pace Clay, the 19th Pace centers opened its doors on January 7, 2015.

Our Passion

Since our opening in January 2015, Pace Clay has served over 250 girls.

Resources

Clay Fast Fact Sheet 2022 | DOWNLOAD

Get in touch

Pace Center for Girls - Clay

1241 Blanding Blvd, Suite 5

Orange Park, FL 32065

Get Directions

Phone: 904-458-0840

For enrollment referrals, please ask for:

Sylvia Woodberry, LCSW, Social Services Manager (email)

Phone: (904) 458-0840, ext. 1810
Fax: (904) 276-4295

Girl Referral Form

Pace Clay Stories
Kavonna’s Story

Before I came to Pace, I died. Literally.

I am Kavonna. I am a 16-year-old Pace girl from Green Cove Springs. Before becoming a Pace girl, I had lost hope of completing school and felt I had exhausted my educational options. Eventually I stopped attending school completely. During this time, I attempted suicide several times and was hospitalized each time. The last attempt was actually successful. I was completely unresponsive when first responders found me. Thankfully, they were able to resuscitate me and return me to the hospital. Upon release from the hospital I visited Pace Clay. I knew it was a great opportunity for me and I started the next day.

At Pace I have felt like a child for the first time. I have a support system of caring adults that make sure my needs are met whether it’s doctors or clothes or words of encouragement. I am visible. I get what I need.

Through Pace I have had opportunities to meet all different kinds of people in the center and in the community. I have worked as an ambassador for our program and even a model! I am more open and able to talk to new people and build friendships. I got my first job through Pace and graduation is in sight!

For girls considering Pace Clay- you might miss the “normal” high school lifestyle, but this is a place where you will succeed and be motivated to do more. You won’t notice yourself changing and then you will sit back and say, “WOW… this happened!

Why do girls attend Pace?

Girls attend Pace to get appropriate counseling and education in a nurturing environment. To become enrolled, they must be between 11 to 17 years old, at least one year behind in school, and have 3 or more risk factors.

What are risk factors?

Risk factors are the underlying issues that lead girls to academic underachievement. These are issues such as: foster home placement, substance abuse (by girl or family member), domestic violence, incarceration of a family member, neglect, physical/emotional/sexual abuse, grief, emotional health concerns, low income, and more.