Riverside Academy is a 165-bed moderate risk residential commitment program that provides specialized substance abuse treatment services for males ages 12 to 18. The length of stay in the program ranges from six to twelve months.

Riverside Academy is a contracted provider with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice who initiates all program referrals. Riverside Academy is contracted to provide residential substance abuse treatment overlay services for youth that exhibit primary substance abuse issues substantiated by a DSM-IV diagnosis. Program services include:

	Comprehensive substance abuse, mental health and medical assessments upon admission
	Individual and group substance abuse treatment services
	Comprehensive psychological and psychiatric evaluations as deemed appropriate
	Individual and group mental health treatment services as deemed appropriate
	Social and life skills training to include victim awareness, employability skills, substance abuse and gang prevention groups
	On-site educational services through the Hillsborough County School System
	On-site recreational services
	On-site medical services
	Comprehensive case management services to implement individual performance plans
	Care and custody services delivered through a structured behavior management system
	Family system intervention and treatment services

Riverside Academy opened its doors on June 25, 2001 to serve youth. Following a pre-operational program review conducted by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, Riverside Academy was bestowed the honor of having achieved the highest overall compliance rating to date. Declaring that "the bar has now been set", the Department of Juvenile Justice issued a challenge to other service providers.

Executive Director Paul Kirkham attributes Riverside Academy's early success to the "emphasis the company places on hiring quality staff and providing them with intensive training during the first three weeks of their employment". According to Kirkham, "This intensive training period provides staff with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to be a committed and contributing member of the Riverside Academy team".