FALL 2023
New
HEIGHTS FAMILY VICTORIES FROM YOUTH VILLAGES
BECOME A ‘HERO’ AND HELP KIDS IN NEED
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
• YOUTH VILLAGES EXPANDS INTO MAINE • DONOR SPOTLIGHT: MALISA SCHUYLER • TRANSITION-AGE YOUTH ATTEND CAUCUS TO DISCUSS THEIR JOURNEY • LIFESET™ PARTICIPANT’S FUTURE IS SET
UPDATE
FROM YOUTH VILLAGES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Massachusetts, New Hampshire & Maine Advisory Board Amanda Eisel, Chair Peter Campanella Amy Crate
With 2023 quickly coming to an end, I’d like to reflect on the various transformations we’ve experienced at Youth Villages over the last year. With the unwavering support and generosity of people like you, we have built an infrastructure to drive positive impact and tangible change for our youth and families. In FY23, this philanthropic community raised more than $4 million in donations to expand services and give more young adults access to our programs. In my 22 years of working with Youth Villages, I have never experienced this level of charitable support. Thank YOU for believing in Youth Villages and our ability to make a quality impact on the lives of children, families and young adults. The powerful impact of our emergency department diversion work in Massachusetts allowed us to bring a similar program to New Hampshire this year, meeting youth where they are in in-patient care and providing the support they need at home instead of in a hospital. While we are thrilled to have expanded our Intercept® services, LifeSet™ remains our greatest need for philanthropic support. Our Force for Young People campaign intends to raise $16.2 million by FY27, bringing us closer to providing LifeSet to every young adult who needs it. By making a gift today or contacting katherine.dilly@youthvillages.org to make a multi-year pledge, you can be a FORCE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. Thank you for all you do!
Ryan Hayden Joanna Jacobson Fran Lawler Kristen Lucken Pamela Giasson Lynch Malisa Schuyler Marc Sorel Wendy Vincent Pramila Yadav, MD
Youth Villages is a national leader in mental and behavioral health committed to finding the most effective solutions to help children, families and young adults overcome obstacles and live successfully. Working through direct services, partnerships with other high-performing agencies and advocacy, we collaborate to bring positive change to child welfare, children’s mental health and justice systems. Our 4,000 employees serve more than 39,000 children and young adults in more than 100 locations in 26 states and D.C. Youth Villages has been recognized by the Harvard Business School and U.S. News & World Report and was identified by The White House as one of the nation’s most promising results-oriented nonprofit organizations.
How are we doing? Matt Stone EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MASSACHUSETTS, NEW HAMPSHIRE & MAINE matthew.stone@youthvillages.org 781-937-7917
We’d love to hear feedback from you, so we can continue to improve and give you content you enjoy. Use this QR code to complete our survey.
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© 2022 Youth Villages, Inc. All rights reserved.
BACKPACK HEROES AND HOLIDAY HEROES MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BACK TO SCHOOL More than 500 students walked confidently into school this year with brand-new backpacks full of school supplies thanks to the 150 Backpack Heroes, 13 corporate sponsors and 30 volunteers that generously donated items and sponsored students. The dedication of Youth Villages supporters helped ensure students across our programs were cared for and given the tools they needed to start the school year off on the right foot. “I had the incredible opportunity to be part of a truly heartwarming and impactful event!” said Yashasvi, a Youth Villages Backpack Hero volunteer. “I joined a group of enthusiastic volunteers to support this fantastic campaign that aims to make a positive difference in the lives of youth. The mission of Backpack Heroes Volunteer Day was simple yet powerful: equipping young minds with the tools they need to thrive in their education and beyond.”
HOLIDAY HEROES ASSEMBLE! Our Holiday Heroes are gathering right now, and you can sign up online today to participate. With the growing demand for Intercept and LifeSet services, we need your help to provide holiday gifts for 700 young people in our programs. You can shop for a specific youth or make a donation online. It costs
Would your company enjoy taking part in Holiday Heroes? There are many great ways to participate! Please reach out to samantha.tyler@ youthvillages.org to learn how to make the 2023 Holiday Heroes campaign happy and bright for our youth!
approximately $150 to fulfill one youth’s wish list. For many of these children, these will be the only presents they receive for the holidays. “I was so excited to help spread joy to families in need through the Holiday Heroes program,” said Marie, an Intercept specialist. “When I arrived at Josh’s house, he could hardly contain his excitement. When he saw the action figures, he squealed with delight about them being bigger than he anticipated. The last gift he opened was Pokémon slippers, and he was so excited that he immediately ripped off his socks, put his new slippers on and started wiggling his toes in the air for his mom to see. It was a moment of pure joy!”
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YOUTH VILLAGES EXPANDS INTO
This program brings Intercept to children in Maine, making it the 26th state, along with the District of Columbia, to provide our services. Our goal is to serve about 36 children per day in Cumberland, Oxford and York counties. Youth Villages admitted the first family in June, and the program currently serves 28 families. Sydney Massa was the first Family Intervention Specialist to join the Maine team.
MAINE!
“We really love and value the transparency that Youth Villages has,” said Alana, an Intercept participant parent. “It’s great to see the treatment plan driven entirely by our family-oriented goals. Knowing exactly what is being documented, we are very happy so far on the impact Sydney has had on our family.” Intercept services provide an incredible opportunity for families struggling with significant challenges and potential separation. Through evidence-based treatment models customized to the needs of the family, Intercept brings the tools, structure and support that help build stability, safety and a path forward.
“I looked up this service online, and I didn’t think it could be real,” admitted Liz, another Intercept parent. “When I called, I was skeptical. I really was unsure if I wanted my child in the home. But now I see that it’s possible for us to live successfully together.” Meg Hull, regional supervisor for the Maine program, added, “I’m so thankful to be part of this journey with Maine and seeing so many people SO thankful for Youth Villages giving them hope!” Newly admitted families are engaged with Intercept and excited to do the work.
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Scan here for more information about Youth Villages’ Intercept program.
DONOR SPOTLIGHT
MALISA SCHUYLER Vice President of Govt. Affairs, Beth Israel Lahey Health, and local board member of Youth Villages Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine
How did you get involved with Youth Villages? Dr. Kevin Tabb, CEO of Beth Israel Lahey Health, introduced me to Youth Villages. As a former board member, he noted a lot of the conversation involved policy and government engagement, and he suggested I connect with the team. Youth Villages aligned so well with my personal commitment to behavioral health and my professional experience. The mission, effectiveness and incredible people of Youth Villages make it easy to fall in love with!
What’s most important to you about Youth Villages? One of the elements of Youth Villages I find most compelling is the evidencebased models, really the practical tools they share with their youth to help them approach challenges and build skills to cope beyond their engagement with a Youth Villages specialist. Honestly, as a parent of two pre-teen
kids, I’m always in search of new tools to help us all cope with the challenges and struggles we face. Every time I get to talk with a Youth Villages specialist about their role, I learn new things that help me learn to be a better, more skilled parent.
How is the Youth Villages Intercept for Emergency Diversion program beneficial and impactful from a healthcare perspective? I view the Youth Villages Intercept for Emergency Diversion program as an outstanding example of the saying “in the midst of every crisis lies great opportunity.” In 2021, because of the pandemic, the dire need for pediatric behavioral health services resulted in an unprecedented number of children boarding in emergency departments because they couldn’t access services any other way. Youth Villages saw a need to collaborate with the state by working
Malisa Schuyler
directly with hospitals to help screen and align care for children and families with in-home trained specialists. The results were impactful to hundreds of families at a time when we all needed new tools and approaches to care for kids in crisis.
Why has it been meaningful for you and your Beth Israel Lahey Health colleagues to attend and sponsor Spring Celebration? Spring Celebration is one of my favorite events; it’s a fun, beautiful evening. I especially love the spectrum of people the event brings together:
longtime champions of Youth Villages, new friends, deeply impacted families, leaders across the behavioral health field and amazing team members from Youth Villages. As an event sponsor, Beth Israel Lahey Health has used this event as an opportunity to support Youth Villages and to say thank you to some outstanding members of our own behavioral health care teams across our system. It feels very special and deeply compelling to recognize the depth of harm and struggles that kids and families are facing and to be a part of something that directly helps alleviate that trauma.
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TRANSITION-AGE YOUTH DISCUSS THEIR JOURNEYS AT U.S. SENATE CAUCUS ON FOSTER CARE
A
diverse group of young adults with lived experience in child welfare systems recently came together in Washington, D.C., to share their journeys and push for the services and support that all transition-age foster youth need. The Lived Experience Congressional Briefing on Capitol Hill was sponsored by the U.S. Senate
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Caucus on Foster Care and presented by Youth Villages. It was part of Foster Care and Mental Health Awareness months.
at Youth Villages; and Laticia Aossey, an Iowa state program coordinator for the foster care youth advocacy council, AMP (Achieving Maximum Potential).
Youth Villages is committed to helping transition-age foster youth get a good start to successful adulthood. The LifeSet program is the largest in the country helping transitionage foster youth and one of the only program models to have shown impacts on many parts of a young person’s life in a randomized clinical trial.
Washington entered foster care at age 15 and lived in five different foster homes. He described his time in care as a roller coaster. “I was able to use some of the downs on my ride that I call life to become passionate about changing the world. I’ve been able to meet officials to talk about how we can better the system for those who come after me,” Brandon said.
Participating in the panel were LifeSet Scholars Abby Nelson and Brandon Washington from Tennessee; Julmonzhae Moore, a LifeSet participant from Kentucky; Ali Massengill, a former LifeSet participant and LifeSet Scholar who is now regional supervisor
The panel discussed the mental health support needed by those who experience foster care. “Going into foster care is traumatic,” Massengill said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re being removed from a negative environment, being removed from your biological family is a very traumatic event.” That trauma can cause anxiety, depression and emotional and behavioral problems. Children and youth in foster care may have access to therapists, even regular sessions, but find it hard to trust and open
LifeSet Scholars and Youth Villages staff joined transition-age youth advocates in Congressional meetings on Capitol Hill.
up. Therapy may be more effective when they’re young adults. Aossey has direct care experience working with transition-age foster youth who experience mental health challenges. She said it can sometimes be very difficult to find providers with the experience needed to help young adults. “You have to find providers who have specialized in working with foster youth, because obviously there’s a whole different set of concerns as opposed to young people who have grown up with consistent parents,” Aossey said. “It’s a challenge I’ve seen as a social worker. We need more people who have expertise in this type of work.” The panel was moderated by Elina Morrison, a former LifeSet Scholar and recent master’s degree graduate of the University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy. She is now a federal policy intern at Youth Villages. After the panel, participants met with individual senators and staff to discuss their policy recommendations.
LifeSet Scholars Brandon Washington and Abby Nelson, left, in a meeting with Sen. Marsha Blackburn’s staff and Leticia Aossey, a transition-age youth advocate from Iowa.
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A JOURNEY FROM DARKNESS TO
A BRIGHT FUTURE A recent National Alliance on Mental Health study stated that nearly 20% of high school students reported serious thoughts of suicide, and 9% tried to take their lives. Moreover, according to a CDC report, suicide attempts were reported more frequently among girls than boys. In 2018, Abby fit all those categories. She was a high school junior, and the trauma of growing up in a home filled with abuse, along with her anxiety around an unknown future after high school, combined to offer little or no hope. “When I was 17 years old, I had a bad mental breakdown,” Abby said. “I was in a dark place in my life. I thought I did not want to be on this earth anymore.”
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Abby grew up at home with her father, mother, three brothers and one sister. She recalls it was chaos all the time. “There was a lot of domestic abuse [verbal, physical, mental], and drug and alcohol use,” Abby said. “As a child, you grow up in an environment you think is normal, but it’s not. Everyone’s normalcy is different.” By sixth grade, Abby was the only sibling left in the house. Her parents’ drug use and abuse continued, so Abby was taken out of her home by the state. After talking with both a state-appointed counselor and lawyer, she was placed in kinship care with her grandparents. “I was scared because I didn’t want to tell anyone. Like I said, I thought it was normal,” Abby said.
Abby’s case was closed in eighth grade, and she lived with her grandparents until she graduated high school. However, as a junior, Abby’s thoughts about her plans after high school “sparked a lot of anxiety that led to aggression toward myself because of my family issues.” In addition, Abby kept her kinship care a secret from her high school friends and classmates, even her boyfriend of two years at the time. “I didn’t know how to deal with my issues,” Abby said. “There were a lot of things I held in that I didn’t know how to control. This led me to a dark place.” Abby’s anxiety was building up and she needed help. “Not knowing the future was killing me inside,” Abby said. A staff member at Abby’s high school put her in touch with a Youth Villages LifeSet specialist. LifeSet is a program that serves as a bridge to adulthood for those youth aging out of foster care. Michelle, Abby’s former LifeSet specialist, first helped her see she had the strength to take her journey on a different path. Abby recalls LifeSet helping her gain more self-confidence and self-worth and see herself making an impact in the future. “Michelle talked through things with me and helped me see there was something for me after high school,” Abby said. “Through our talks, I saw my problem wasn’t as big as I thought it was, and I can overcome it.” A major hurdle Abby overcame was choosing where — and how financially — to attend college. She wanted a college far enough away from home but also close enough to drive back in a day. In addition, Abby wanted a Catholic college where she could freely practice her faith. Finally, Abby knew she wanted to remain in LifeSet in college.
“What affected my decision on where to attend college was ‘can I remain in LifeSet?’,” Abby said. “This (going to college) was a big change in my life, and I needed support, I needed someone.” Next for Abby was applying for financial support. The process was complicated due to her kinship care status. That’s where LifeSet navigated Abby through the journey and supplied resources for her to apply for financial support to attend college. She became a LifeSet Scholar that provided her more resources and support, including a mentor. Abby graduated from college this past May with a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies education, and she is returning to school to pursue a master’s degree. Abby has had the opportunity to share her lived experience with others, too. She attended the 2022 Janie’s Fund GRAMMY® Awards Viewing Party with other LifeSet participants. Recently, she spoke on a foster care panel in Washington, D.C., and is set to return to the nation’s capital for another panel on kinship care. “I don’t know where I would be without Youth Villages and LifeSet,” Abby said. “LifeSet is that helping hand for you. At the end of the day, it’s better to receive help than get no help at all.”
Visit youthvillages.org/lifeset for more information on LifeSet. To help someone experiencing suicidal ideation call the 988 national suicide and crisis lifeline.
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MASSACHUSETTS, NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN JAN. 1 - JUNE 30, 2023
INNOVATOR 100,000+
$
Anonymous One8 Foundation Anita and Josh Bekenstein Frieze Family Foundation
VISIONARY
50,000 to $99,999
$
Anonymous (2) Christopher Balestrino Barbara and Amos Hostetter Gendron Family Foundation Cummings Foundation Stephanie and Brian Spector
PILLAR
25,000 to $49,999
$
Anonymous Adage Capital Management Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts Amy & David Abrams Kristin and Paul Marcus
LEADER
10,000 to $24,999
$
Anonymous (2) JP Morgan Chase Foundation PSG SBLI Charitable Foundation
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TD Charitable Foundation Scott and Pamela Aldsworth Lauren and Charlie Baker Amanda Eisel and John Becker Amy and Darrell Crate Barbara and Michael Eisenson David Fialkow Karen and Bob Forlenza Yvonne Hao and Mark Wu Kristen and Kent Lucken Lisa and Michael Josephson Ms. Yvette Lowenthal Oristaglio Family Foundation Van Oossanen Family Fund
PROTECTOR 5,000 to $9,999
$
Boston Children’s Hospital First Congregational Church, Winchester Jason Hayes Foundation JW Construction Inc. Liberty Mutual Insurance Anne and Paul Marcus Family Foundation PwC Fred and Judy Schmid Charitable Foundation Mandy and Seth Berman Susan and Stephen Burbage Monica and Peter Campanella Mishelle and Robert Fields Judi and Brian Gladden Nicole Hogarty
*If you made a contribution during this time (above $1,000) but it is not listed, please call 781-937-7900.
Pamela and Tom Lynch Marisela Marrero Luly and Maurice Samuels Nancy Pallotta and Peter Monaco Ashley Stolba and Garret Weston Ms. Marylou Sudders and Mr. Brad Richardson Dr. Pramila Yadav
BUILDER
1,000 to $4,999
$
Anonymous Berkshire Bank Jack Davison Giving Fund Hill Holliday Mathworks Poduska Family Foundation quantiphi Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation Jen and Jonathan Block John Brabazon Brian Clymer Kathryn Collins Roxann Cooke Mr. Daniel Curtin Karen Devine and Sarina Roy Mr. Matt Eisendrath Philip Favaloro Mrs. Anne Gibson Debra Knez and DJ Bosse Alexandra and Safraz Ishmael Mr. and Mrs. Rohan Kapoor Christine and Arvind Kumar
Maureen and Rob Lally Kristen Lepore Charu and Tony Madan Mary and Peter Mahoney Jenny Mak and Robert Swartz Angela and Vineet Malik Tom Martin Mr. and Mrs. Sumit Mehra Jennifer Muldoon Mr. and Mrs. Ajay Nanavati Michael Newhall Dr. and Mrs. William Numa Jenna and Mark O’Donnell Melissa Ocasio and Gio Santiago Casey and Cullen Onstott Rosiland and Len Picard Katherine and Jason Post Gemma and Jorge Quiroz Reeta and Prabhu Rao Pam and Richard Reynolds Jo and Mike Ripp Jennifer and Jason Ryan Mr. and Mrs. Matt Scholder Rishi Shukla Dana and Rob Smith Ms. Ellie Starr Kevin Sullivan Mari Taylor and Anthony Drenzek Bindi and Jay Tuli Shikha and Guarav Tuli Wendy and Andy Vincent Tracy and David Wishon Niru and Vivek Yadav
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN YOUTH VILLAGES PROGRAMS.
LAUNCHING OUR
FUNDRAISING VOLUNTEERS This fall, we launched our Fundraising Volunteers. We are currently searching for volunteers who are committed to supporting Youth Villages programs and campaigns like Holiday Heroes and Backpack Heroes through direct asks within their networks, helping raise awareness in their community and participating in unique volunteer experiences and events. This is a great opportunity to give back and help more young people in Youth Villages programs! Please contact oakley.arave@ youthvillages.org to learn more about how you can join our Fundraising Volunteers.
JOIN OUR EFFORTS
BECOME A FORCE FOR FAMILIES There are many ways that you and your company or organization can get involved. Host a day of service, attend an event, join our Fundraising Volunteers or sponsor a young person through Backpack Heroes or Holiday Heroes. Your support has a direct impact on the hundreds of young people we serve every day in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine.
GET INVOLVED Donations, Donor-Advised Fund/Foundations Jessica Fredriksen, Assistant Director of Development jessica.fredriksen@youthvillages.org | 315-256-7705
Events & General Support Mackenzie Giuffre, Development Manager mackenzie.giuffre@youthvillages.org | 781-258-3275
Volunteering & Corporate Partnerships Oakley Arave, Development & Corp. Relations Coord. oakley.arave@youthvillages.org | 832-244-0384
BY THE NUMBERS:
FY23
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YOUNG ADULTS SERVED THROUGH LIFESET
870
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVED THROUGH INTERCEPT
1,946
youtube.com/youthvillages
YOUTHVILLAGES.ORG
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YOUTH VILLAGES
NONPROFIT ORG
12 Gill Street, Suite 5800 Woburn, MA 01801
U.S. POSTAGE PERMIT 1324
(Address Service Requested)
YOUTH VILLAGES
Youth Villages is a private nonprofit that serves more than 39,000 children and their families each year from offices in the following cities: Alabama: Auburn, Birmingham, Mobile Arizona: Phoenix Arkansas: Little Rock, Searcy, West Memphis Florida: Lakeland Georgia: Atlanta, Douglasville Indiana: Bloomington, Columbus, Indianapolis Louisiana: Metairie Kentucky: Lexington, Louisville/Jeffersonville (Indiana) Maine: Portland Massachusetts: Boston, Marlborough, Raynham, West Springfield, Woburn Mississippi: Biloxi, Greenwood, Hattiesburg, Hernando, Jackson, Meridian, Tupelo New Hampshire: Manchester, Plymouth North Carolina: Asheville, Boone, Charlotte, Fayetteville, Greensboro, Greenville, Louisburg, Raleigh-Durham, Waynesville, Wilmington Ohio: Worthington Oklahoma: Oklahoma City, Tulsa Oregon: Bend, Portland, Salem South Carolina: Rock Hill Tennessee: Chattanooga, Clarksville, Columbia, Cookeville, Dickson, Dyersburg, Jackson, Johnson City, Knoxville, Memphis, Morristown, Nashville, Paris Washington, D.C. New Heights Massachusetts is published by Youth Villages Prefer not to receive a printed newsletter? Email mackenzie.giuffre@youthvillages.org or call 781-258-3275. To also receive a digital copy of our newsletters and join our email list, sign up at youthvillages.org/stay-informed.