New Heights North Carolina Newsletter - Fall 2014

Cornhole tournaments a big success ... 6

TEKsystems help youth gear up for school ... 7

Family Victories from Youth Villages North Carolina

Make time to relax Through TL, Angela’s learning how to take on just enough - page 4

Coming through for family Brett steps in to help brother achieve success - page 5

The Louie T benefits YV programs ... 3

Winter 2014

A message from our director

NORTH CAROLINA LOCAL BOARD Doug Cruitt — Winston-Salem V. James Filliben — Charlotte Angela N. Mauldin — Charlotte Lee Prevost — Cary Tres Vance — Raleigh Kristin Wade — Charlotte

Making a difference in North Carolina Growing and expanding our services throughout the state enables more children and families to be successful. We’re fortunate that we’ve been able to reach more children.

Angela suffered abuse and neglect at an early age and moved across the country to several different locations, living with relatives. As a teenager, she entered foster care and began to apply herself to her schoolwork. Fiercely independent and self sufficient, Angela sought supportive services both at school and also for her transition from foster care. Through Youth Villages’ transitional living program, Angela has the support she needs to help ensure she stays on track.

Cole had no place to go. His disruptions at a caregiver’s home and at school were a problem, and he faced a group home or foster care. His older brother, a young pastor at a nearby church, stepped in to help. Because of family issues, the brothers weren’t close, but through the help of Youth Villages’ Multisystemic Therapy program, Cole learned how to cope with his behaviors and Brett learned how to set boundaries for Cole.

These two stories featured in this newsletter are a small sample of the children we help and the work involved in helping children get on a path to success. Some need little help, some much more. But no matter what level of assistance they require, it’s needed to turn bad decisions into good ones, and confusion into confidence.

Youth Villages staff, friends and supporters had a great time at our recent cornhole tournaments, as more than $16,000 was raised to benefit the children and families we serve.

Our supporters make stories like Cole’s and Angela’s possible.

Thank you for supporting Youth Villages.

Leigh Young — Asheville

YOUTH VILLAGES NORTH CAROLINA OFFICES Asheville 38 Rosscraggon Road, Suite 38C Asheville, NC 28803 phone: 828-654-7700 fax: 828-654-7701 Boone 895 State Farm Road Bldg. 500, Suite 506 Boone, NC 28607 phone: 828-268-7200 fax: 828-654-7201 Charlotte 2815 Coliseum Centre Dr., Suite 230 Charlotte, NC 28217 phone: 704-357-7920 fax: 704-357-7921 Concord 363 Church St. North, Suite 200 Concord, NC 28025 phone: 704-262-1320 fax: 704-262-1322 Greensboro 7900 Triad Center, Suite 350 Greensboro, NC 27409 phone: 336-931-1800 fax: 336-931-1801 Greenville 2428 Charles Blvd.

Greenville, NC 27858 phone: 252-215-5700 fax: 252-215-5701 Louisburg 216 North Bickett Blvd., Suite 7 Louisburg, NC 27549 phone: 919-729-0127 fax: 919-729-0119 Pinehurst 5228 North Carolina Highway 211 P.O. Box 1138 West End, NC 27376 phone: 910-673-8520 fax: 910-673-8521 Raleigh-Durham 100 Capitola Dr., Suite 310 Durham, NC 27713 phone: 919-474-6400 fax: 919-474-6401

Annie Smith State Director annie.smith@youthvillages.org 910-673-8501

2 Winter 2014

John White — Durham

n

New Heights

n

North Carolina

Waynesville 367 Dellwood City Road Building A, Suite 2-A Waynesville, NC 28786 phone: 828-454-6110 fax: 828-454-6141

*82.7% of youth were in state custody at admission to the program.

Program Success

As a national leader in the field of behavioral health, Youth Villages has measured outcomes of children and families participating in its programs since 1994.

MEET OUR YV BOARD

NORTH CAROLINA PROGRAM SUCCESS

Kristin Wade, local board chair Kristin Wade, assistant vice presiden at Carolinas Medical Center, has served on Youth Villages’ North Caro-

100

lina board for three years.

80

84% In school or graduated

20

73% No involvement with the law

40

At home with family

60

84%

0

Kristin Wade

Question: Why did you decide to join and chair the local board?

Answer: I was impressed by the evidence-based backing of the programs. I also was pleased to engage in an organization working in behavioral health because it is such a pressing need. I have served as a board chair for another health-care nonprofit, and based on that experience, I hope to help bring some additional structure to the work of the local board.

Q: What do you like best about Youth Villages?

A: The passion of the people with whom I interact,

The graph above represents the status of North Carolina youth at one year after discharge through June 2014. Figures include only youth who received at least 60 days of service and reflect a response rate of 48 percent.

YOUTH VILLAGES HELPED BY THE KING OF HARTS’ LOUIE T kingofharts.com Youth Villages is grateful

from the leadership to the counselors I have had the privilege to meet.

YOUTH VILLAGES EXPANDS TO OKLAHOMA Youth Villages will begin helping children and families in Oklahoma, opening an office in Tulsa.

Youth Villages Oklahoma will provide Intercept® intensive in-home services to 40 children and families in Tulsa through a partnership with the Oklahoma Department of

and honored that Melissa

Human Services and the George Kaiser Family Founda-

Joan Hart chose us as the

tion. Funding for the start-up of the Tulsa office is being

charitable partner for her

provided by the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family

new boys clothing line,

Foundation.

King of Harts. Proceeds

“We are excited about this new and innovative partner-

from the collection’s Louie

ship between the George Kaiser Family Foundation, DHS

T-shirt will support Youth

and Youth Villages,” said DHS Director Ed Lake. “This

Villages’ programs.

is another opportunity to bring a nationally recognized

Hart, star of the

agency with a proven program to Oklahoma to support

television show Melissa &

our efforts in creating a comprehensive and effective child

Joey, recently launched King of Harts with her husband,

welfare system.”

Mark Wilkerson.

Proud parents of three young sons, the pair were

Jessica Moore, a Tulsa native and resident, will lead the new office as regional supervisor. The Youth Villages Tulsa

inspired to create a line of “cool, durable and quality boys

office will employ about 12 staff members of mostly family

clothes.” Hart was the child star of Clarissa Explains It All

intervention specialists.

and teen star of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.

Winter 2014

n

New Heights

n

North Carolina 3

Youth Villages’ transitional living program provides young adults leaving state custody the intensive support and guidance they need to make a successful transition to adulthood. The program helps young people learn to deal with the minor and major problems that come with adulthood. They help participants find housing and health services, learn how to access transportation and meet their basic needs. Specialists teach life skills like time management, budgeting, menu planning and grocery shopping.

Angela (right) with TL specialist Corey Nixon

ANGELA’S REACHING AN UNDERSTANDING Angela, 18, completed

Because of her tendency to take on too much, Angela sometimes becomes overwhelmed. Angela’s the first in her family to attend college and has needed support not only to get through school, but also to budget money and her time.

Angela is driven and many times finds what she needs, but with the support of TL Specialist Corey Nixon, she’s beginning to make time for herself and achieve more balance.

high school and attends a local university where she has a full load of classes.

She aspires to be a forensic psychologist.

Angela and her siblings suffered abuse and neglect at very young ages. Angela spent time living with distant relatives throughout the country before entering foster care at 16. In high school, she busied herself

things people her age do.”

Angela has it together.

Her hard work coming to terms with her past has helped her accomplish a lot.

Her motivation and ambition are assets, and Corey provides support to help ensure Angela achieves her goals.

“Angela is very proactive when it comes to taking care of her needs,” Corey said.

“She’s the first in her fam-

with numerous school clubs

during my adolescence

and organizations, as well

and I didn’t know how to

as volunteering at homeless

do things, like open a bank

Angela recognize that tak-

lege easier, she enrolled in a

shelters, retirement homes

account.”

ing on too much can be a

summer bridge program.”

and a local public television

Taking advantage of op-

station.

portunities is something

She lives in a foster home

mitments.”

Being in TL has helped

hindrance.

“I’m adapting,” she said.

ily to attend college and to make that transition to col-

She is confident she would have succeeded

Angela does very well, even

“But I’m still a work in prog-

without Youth Villages, but

with one sibling and has

if it requires more time than

ress.”

recognizes the benefits of

limited contact with the

she has to devote to it.

Making time for friends

being in the TL program.

and having a social life are

“It is good to have Co-

others. She was referred to

“When she was a senior

Youth Villages’ transitional

in high school, she was just

living program in March

trying to graduate,” said

through North Carolina

Corey Nixon, Youth Villages

time management,” Corey

said. “I have discovered the

Division of Social Services.

transitional living special-

said. “We’re trying to get

strength to believe in myself

“I was very interested in

things she overlooked.

“We work quite a bit on

rey around to talk to and provide support,” Angela

ist. “She kept a decent

more balance in her life.

and be an example not only

the program because of my

grade point average, but got

She’s very busy and very

to my siblings, but to others

situation,” Angela said. “My

bogged down sometimes

productive, but she doesn’t

who have experienced simi-

parents weren’t around

because of all of her com-

have a lot of time to do

lar conflicts in their life.”

4 Winter 2014

n

New Heights

n

North Carolina

MST® is built on the principle and scientific evidence that a seriously troubled child’s behavioral problems are multidimensional and must be confronted using multiple strategies. The serious behavior problems of a child typically stem from a combination of influences, including family factors, deviant peer groups, problems in school or the community, and individual characteristics. MST addresses all of those inter-related areas.

BRETT MAKES ROOM FOR YOUNGER BROTHER MST helps Brett and Cole establish a home and find success Brett was living on his own when he was forced to make a quick decision about Cole, his younger brother.

Cole was put into a group home after repeated negative behaviors at home and at school. Cole’s parents were out of the picture. Defiant and physically aggressive, Cole had run out of placement options. After breaking a table in the school lunchroom, he was put on probation.

Brett, 23, wasn’t real close to Cole, but they were family.

Family counselor Ashley Snedeger (left) with Brett (center) and Cole.

Ashley found that Cole’s aggression stemmed more from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and

the school environment more productive.

“Brett stepped in right away,”

being impulsive rather than from

Ashley said. “He was prepared every

emotional issues. She showed Cole

time he went to the school to meet

said. “Cole was living with a lady and

how to take perspective and see how

with the teachers and administra-

she couldn’t handle him and he was

his actions affected others.

tors. He also called the school a few

“I guess it just happened,” Brett

dropped off at social services to be put into foster care.”

At the time, Brett was a preacher

“They’ve been so great to work

times a week to check in.”

with,” Ashley said of Brett and Cole.

By the beginning of the spring

“Once we established the structure

semester, the groundwork began

and had living quarters provided by

at home and helped Brett with other

producing real results. Cole’s grades

his church.

parenting skills, we then focused on

and behavior improved. He tried out

the school environment.”

for his school’s football team and au-

“I wasn’t going to let my brother go into foster care,” he said. “So I moved

Dealing with a school was a chal-

out of the parsonage and found a

lenge. Brett and Cole are from a

place.”

small, tightly knit community. And

Ashley Snedeger was the counselor for the family. When Ashley visited, her first priorities were to assist

ditioned for a play at the community theater.

“When I first started preaching, I

while that has its benefits, it can also

didn’t know much,” Brett said. “But I

be a hindrance.

learned. I was questioned about my

“Cole had messed up some in the

ability as a parent, and to be honest,

Cole and Brett in establishing more

past … well, a lot,” Brett said. “But in

I wasn’t sure. But I learned. When

structure and routine in the home.

their mind at the school, they’re not

Ashley came in she really helped me

“At first it was hard because Cole

going to put up with it. I had those

a lot. Cole and I learned about struc-

wouldn’t listen and I wasn’t teaching

teachers not too long ago, and I’ve

ture and rewards and consequences.

him well,” Brett said. “Then over the

preached in their churches.”

She showed me how to stick to my

winter Cole missed his community

Brett took Cole back to the school

guns and be that consistency that

service and violated the terms of his

and spoke with his old teachers. Cole

Cole needs. In return, Cole has im-

probation from breaking that table at

explained himself and his actions.

proved immensely in so many ways.”

the school.”

They both explained how to make

Winter 2014

n

New Heights

n

North Carolina 5

NC PLAYS CORNHOLE TO HELP KIDS More than 120 cornhole players,

BE A FORCE COURSE BEGINS In March

combined, gathered at the American

2014, Youth

Tobacco Campus in Durham and

Villages

VBGB Beer Hall & Garden in Char-

kicked off the

lotte to participate in Youth Villages’

“Be a Force

cornhole tournament, presented by

Course” in

American Tobacco and CAVU Wealth

Charlotte,

Advisors, respectively. Guests were

Greensboro,

welcomed by two young adults par-

Raleigh and

ticipating in Youth Villages’ programs,

Durham.

Jordan and Kristie, before throwing

At the Force Course, community members

down and raising more than $16,700.

learned what Youth Villages is doing in their

One-hundred percent of proceeds

neighborhood and were joined by youth and

from the cornhole tournaments will allow troubled youth in the

families who shared their journey to finding

Triangle and Charlotte Metro who are receiving services from Youth

success.

Villages the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities

Force Courses will be held each spring and

they otherwise would be unable to afford, such as summer camps,

fall. For information, please e-mail stephanie.

after-school programs and sports teams.

honeycutt@youthvillages.org.

CONGRATS, TL GRADS Congratulations to young people participating in Youth Villages’ transitional living program who recently graduated from high school

Apeshia

or college or earned their (Above) Nick Foy from CAVU Wealth Advisors gives his best toss. (Top right) Jordan, center, celebrates five years of success with his family. (At right) Kristie (center), a YV Scholar, poses with Shawn Olender and Jesica Averhart from American Tobacco.

Thank you to our sponsors

GED: Charlotte: Apeshia, Dakota, Megan Triangle: Andrew, Miracle, Selina, Angela, Quanshae,

Dakota

Everett and Jaquashia Greensboro: Lakevin, Amberly, Jasmine, Eric and Keyona

Appia, Great American Professional Risk Insurance and Eye d’Neau

6 Winter 2014

n

New Heights

n

North Carolina

Megan

DONOR SPOTLIGHT: TEKSYSTEMS

Speedway Children’s Charities grant helps keep Joshua safe

The Charlotte TEKsystems team supplied 40 backpacks for children in Youth Villages’ programs.

Youth Villages North Carolina received a $4,000 grant from Speedway Children’s Charities for the community and family safety program.

This initiative aims to secure safer living environments for troubled youth and their families by providing lock boxes, door alarms and other

Samantha Reinbold, Microsoft technologies recruiter, and Casey Williams, account manager at TEKsystems in Charlotte, talk about helping Youth Villages.

safety equipment to families served by the Multisystemic Therapy program at Youth Villages.

Joshua, 13, was threatening to take his own life on a weekly basis.

Question: Why does Youth Villages matter to TEKsystems?

He struggled with suicidal thoughts and

Answer: It’s been great to be able to work with a local organiza-

aggression. The family was referred to Youth

tion that supports children within Charlotte. It’s great for us to be

Villages and was immediately put on high alert.

able to see the impact we’re making within the community.

Creating a safe living environment was crucial to maintaining a functional home, and, more

Q: What is TEKsystems’ favorite part about Backpack Heroes?

importantly, keeping Joshua and his grand-

A: Shopping for the backpacks. We didn’t just want to donate

mother safe.

money, but actually have the experience of shopping for these kids.

Door alarms, trigger locks and lock boxes

For each “tag” we were given, we tried to think about what a 5-year-

quickly became a part of the solution for help-

old boy or 14-year-old girl would want to carry around school all

ing prevent aggressive or self-harming actions.

year. I tried to put myself in their shoes to make sure I was buying the materials they would like and enjoy all year.

“Keeping the family safe in the home and community was the No. 1 priority and we were able to do that,” said Jessica, Joshua’s coun-

Q: What might someone be surprised to know about TEKsystems?

A: We are a sales organization so people often think that we are greedy, aggressive and controlling, but we have one of the most caring, loving and giving groups of people I’ve ever worked with.

Everyone genuinely cares not only about each other, but about those that we work with and live within the community. Anytime there is

selor.

Joshua has been successfully discharged from Youth Villages.

His suicidal and aggressive thoughts have all but vanished and he’s looking forward to school.

These crucial safety devices in their home,

an opportunity to help out someone in need, we never have prob-

provided by support from Speedway Children’s

lems finding volunteers — we truly enjoy working with and support-

Charities, helped Joshua and his grandmother

ing those around us.

stay safe.

A Note of Thanks To all those who have supported our work in North Carolina though a leadership gift during this year, thank you. Your continued generosity allows us to provide the most effective services to children and families.

American Tobacco Appia The Bank of America Charitable Foundation CAVU Wealth Advisors Dude Solutions The Duke Endowment Eye d’Neau Great American Professional Risk Insurance The Merancas Foundation

The Nancye Fleming Markle Charitable Foundation Plato’s Closet Durham The Richard W. Jennings Foundation SciMetrika South State Bank Tannenbaum-Sternberger Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Robert Abernathy Mr. Geoff Bartosch Mr. Don Herrington

Winter 2014

n

Dr. Frederick Hess Mr. F. Leslie Hill Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Hunt Mr. John McGrath Ms. Carol Melvin Mr. Clayton Owens Mr. and Mrs. Lee Prevost Mr. and Mrs. Toby Summerour Mr. Tres Vance Mr. Scott Vilseck Ms. Kristin Wade Mr. and Mrs. David Young

New Heights

n

North Carolina 7

YOUTH VILLAGES 2815 Coliseum Centre Drive, Suite 230 Charlotte, NC 28217 (Address Service Requested)

NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID YOUTH VILLAGES

A private nonprofit organization, Youth Villages serves more than 22,000 children and their families each year from offices in the following cities: Alabama: Auburn, Birmingham, Mobile Arkansas: Jonesboro, Little Rock Florida: Lakeland, Miami Georgia: Douglasville Indiana: Bloomington, Columbus, Jasper, Jeffersonville, Madison Massachusetts: Arlington, Lawrence, Plymouth, Springfield, Woburn, Worcester Mississippi: Biloxi, Greenwood, Hattiesburg, Hernando, Jackson, Meridian, Tupelo New Hampshire: Manchester North Carolina: Asheville, Boone, Charlotte, Concord, Greensboro, Greenville, Louisburg, Pinehurst, Raleigh-Durham, Waynesville Oklahoma: Tulsa Oregon: Portland Tennessee: Chattanooga, Clarksville, Columbia, Cookeville, Dickson, Dyersburg, Jackson, Johnson City, Knoxville, Linden, Memphis, Morristown, Nashville, Paris Washington, D.C.

New Heights North Carolina is published by Youth Villages Please e-mail stephanie.honeycutt@youthvillages.org or call 704-357-7943 to have your name removed from our mailing list.

Founded in 1986, Youth Villages is a private nonprofit organization with a national reputation for offering the most effective local solutions to help children with emotional and behavioral problems and their families live successfully. We help more than 22,000 children and families each year from more than 20 states and Washington, D.C. Youth Villages’ Evidentiary Family Restoration™ approach involves intensive work with the child and family, a focus on measuring outcomes, keeping children in the community whenever safely possible, and providing unprecedented accountability to families and funders.