New Heights Georgia Newsletter - Spring 2014

YV extends Joint Commission accreditation ... 3

Atlanta area youth help keep Inner Harbour beautiful ... 7

Family Victories from Youth Villages Georgia

Meet a Georgia YV Scholar ... 3

Summer 2014

Dakota, family fought for one more chance

Written off by many, Dakota proves that no child is a lost cause — page 4

Happy, Hopeful, Proud!

Caring Atlanta friends host exciting evening to benefit Youth Villages — page 5

Atlanta Douglasville

A message from our directors

Georgia

GEORGIA BOARD David M. Albano Kenneth A. Campbell Robert F. Clayton Rick Crain

Emily Acker and Kate Cantrell

Transforming the lives of Georgia’s children

Our staff in Atlanta and at Youth Villages-Inner Harbour are accomplishing

Marietta Davis* Robert A. Douglass J. Todd Giles Lynn Goldman Archie L. Jones Jr. Karole Lloyd* Dara Mann Robert L. Rearden III Julie Seitz Co-chair

Carolyn Stefanco

amazing things. Their compassion and dedication are helping many of our

Matthew F. Tarkenton*

vulnerable youth overcome adversity and thrive. But we also learn there is so

Chairman

much more to a child’s success than just an attentive counselor.

David Tyler*

It takes everyone being committed and totally bought in to helping a child succeed, including our community and the child’s family.

*member of Youth Villages’ national board of directors

being forced to cope with a very complicated and traumatic situation. At an

YOUTH VILLAGES BOARD OF DIRECTORS

age ill-equipped to cope with a lingering tragedy, Dakota turned to what he

Bryan Jordan

did know — drugs and alcohol. He also began breaking the law. No previous

Chairman

rehabilitation attempt had worked, but Michelle kept fighting for her son.

Jimmy Lackie

Her persistence finally paid off when he was admitted to Youth Villages-Inner

Vice Chairman

Harbour.

Matthew F. Tarkenton

Michelle was told to give up on trying to help Dakota, her son, who was

Dakota’s back home and doing well, but it was because of the staff, Dakota’s

Secretary

family and our volunteers who made his success possible. And Dakota’s not

Paul Bower

the only one. There are countless other children who benefit from this valuable

Treasurer

service.

Jim Barton Jr.

Whether you volunteer to spruce up the campus or help in another way,

Eric Bolton

every effort plays a part in helping children in our programs. It shows children

Marietta Davis

something they may not have seen before — compassion, service and caring.

Judith Edge

Thank you to the many who come out to volunteer and also those who

Nicholas R. Ehlen

support Youth Villages. Your generosity helps ensure we will be able to help

Jack A. Eiferman

future children like Dakota for many years to come.

Bill Giles

Thanks again for supporting Youth Villages.

Willie Gregory Joanna Jacobson Karole Lloyd Mark Medford Johnny Pitts H. Patterson Ritz

Emily Acker Director of Residential Programs-Georgia 4685 Dorsett Shoals Road Douglasville, GA 30135 770-852-6298 emily.acker@youthvillages.org

Kate Cantrell Director of Programs-Georgia 1777 Northeast Expressway NE, Suite 150 Atlanta, GA 30329 404-320-2957 kate.cantrell@youthvillages.org

Michael Rose Richard W. Talkov Scotland Thede David Tyler Chairman Emeritus: Mike Bruns

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Program Successat admission to the program.

*82.7% of youth were in state custody

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.

BRANDY IS GEORGIA’S FIRST YV SCHOLAR

GEORGIA PROGRAM SUCCESS 100

Brandy is Youth Villages’ first YV Scholar from Georgia. She is a senior at The University of West Georgia,

Outcomes

studying early childhood education.

At six six-month month follow follow-up up

The YV Scholars program gives extra support to young people participating

94%

80

0

74% No involvement with the law

20

At home with family

40

72%

In school or graduated

60

The graph above represents the status of Georgia youth at six months after discharge through June 2013. Figures include only youth who received at least 60 days of service and reflect a response rate of 61 percent.

JOINT COMMISSION ACCREDITATION CONTINUED Youth Villages Georgia will continue its accreditation

by The Joint Commission following a successful survey.

The accreditation means Youth Villages went through a

in Youth Villages’ transitional living program who show strong academic potential. They receive financial aid for

Brandy

school provided they maintain academic and community service requirements.

“We’re proud of Brandy and what she’s been able to accomplish,” said Kamah Mowenn-Harmon, Youth Villages TL specialist. “YV Scholars is a great program supported by our donors, and we’re all thrilled to see how well Brandy’s doing.”

TL PROGRAM MAKING A DIFFERENCE Youth Villages’ transitional living program was named one of 15 local, state and national youth- and family-serving initiatives making a critical difference in the lives of youth in foster care by the Center for the Study of Social Policy, a national organization based in Washington, D.C. The program, pioneered in Tennessee and now serving

comprehensive audit of patient safety, records, finances,

youth in five other states including Georgia, was recog-

building and grounds, to name a few.

nized because of its commitment to building qualities that

“It’s the gold standard of accreditation,” said Emily

help young people – particularly those in the child welfare

Acker, Youth Villages director of residential programs.

system – mitigate or eliminate risk and promote healthy

“It recognizes Youth Villages for its best practices in

development and well-being. Since 1999, it has helped

meeting about 6,000 standards related to caring for chil-

more than 6,000 former foster children make a successful

dren, families, volunteers and staff. It means we meet the

transition to adulthood.

highest standard of care.”

An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 20,000

Approximately 26,000 young adults age out of foster care every year in the United States.

National studies have found that, with limited resources

health care organizations and programs in the United

and supports, these young people are more likely than

States. Joint Commission accreditation and certification

their peers to end up homeless or incarcerated and less

are recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality that re-

likely to have a job or go to college.

flects an organization’s commitment to meeting certain performance standards.

Youth Villages earned its first accreditation from The Joint Commission in 1986.

In contrast, even two years after completing Youth Villages’ transitional living program, about 80 percent of participants are living independently or with family; are in school, graduated or employed; and are crime free.

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Dakota, center, with his mother, Michelle, and her fiancé, Dave. Michelle said Youth Villages-Inner Harbour saved Dakota’s life.

The Youth Villages-Inner Harbour Campus offers a therapeutic environment for seriously troubled children. The campus includes a lake, a sports field, ropes course, hiking trails, climbing wall and playgrounds for recreational activities. Our goal is to return children to a less restrictive environment to continue their progress through intensive in-home services, with their family when possible, or therapeutic foster care when it is not.

DAKOTA MAKES THE MOST OF HIS LAST SHOT Michelle was told Dakota was a lost cause — her son, 17, was hopeless, abusing drugs and alcohol and breaking the law.

were spiraling out of control, even ac-

Dakota would tell me, ‘I don’t want to

cidentally overdosing a few times.

go home until everybody believes I am

Dakota’s admission to Youth Villag-

ready. I don’t want to continue doing

es-Inner Harbour Campus was a final

the same things and making the same choices.’”

In fact, Dakota amassed 20 crimi-

shot. It was either Youth Villages-In-

nal charges in four months, including

ner Harbour or jail. It took the efforts

theft, drug possession, vandalism and

of Michelle, Dakota’s probation officer

then decided that he was ready. He

other charges.

and others to get him admitted.

plays basketball and was even fea-

Today, Dakota is completing his

“I think Michelle blamed herself for

He went home for a weekend and

tured on the sports section front of the

junior year of high school and on track

a lot of Dakota’s behaviors and choic-

local newspaper. He cares about his

to graduate.

es,” said Shereka Shaw, Inner Harbour

appearance, and although 17, carries

therapist who worked with the family.

himself with a wisdom brought only

mother’s perseverance as well as

“She fought to get Dakota the assis-

through overcoming something so

Dakota’s decision to change his life.

tance and treatment he needed and

difficult.

It’s about the transformation a fam-

honestly identified her needs as well.”

But this story is as much about a

ily made in response to tragic events

Through intensive therapy in a safe

“The accident caused Dakota to grow up faster than most,” Shereka

and dire choices. Dakota’s father had

environment, Dakota found posi-

said. “But he’s learned to communi-

a severe motorcycle accident when

tive outlets for his feelings. He went

cate with his mother and talk things

Dakota was 12 and he was left in a veg-

through 7 Challenges, a drug and

through.”

etative state. Michelle had dual duties

alcohol program for adolescents. He

of raising a teenager and taking care

helped other youth. Most importantly,

kota visited his probation officer and

of Dakota’s father, and it took the ten-

he saw where he was headed and de-

showed her his djembe, a drum used

sion in the home to extreme levels.

cided to change. Through therapy and

as part of therapy at Inner Harbour,

“Dakota was on the wrong path

trust-building sessions, Dakota saw his

which he still practices. He then went

mother as a support.

home and ate dinner with his family.

and we couldn’t pull him out,” Dave, Michelle’s fiancé, said.

“It felt good knowing that Mom had

“Dakota was very close to his father, and when that happened he kind of went off the deep end,” Michelle said.

On the day he was discharged, Da-

He’s since had all his juvenile charges

my back,” Dakota said. “I didn’t have

dismissed and is off probation. He’s

to carry it all myself.”

not sure what he will do after high

“Dakota had a willingness to change

school, maybe train to be a motorcycle

“He went to three different rehabilita-

that I hadn’t seen before,” Shereka

tion centers and spent time in juvenile

said. “Other youth are constantly

detention.”

asking about discharge, not worrying

for Dakota,” Michelle said. “I believe

about what they need to change or ac-

Youth Villages-Inner Harbour saved

cepting responsibility for their actions.

his life.”

None of the rehabilitation attempts worked. His alcohol and drug abuse

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mechanic or attend college.

“Shereka was wonderful and good

HAPPY HOPEFUL PROUD!

Youth Villages hosted a star-studded gala at the home of event chair Rick Baker in Atlanta April 26. Happy, Hopeful, Proud attracted some new Atlanta friends to meet such honored guests as Pattie Boyd, Neal Preston, Fredricka Whitfield, Karyn Greer and Bo Jackson and bid on iconic rock ‘n’ roll photographs on exhibit at the famous Morrison Hotel Gallery in New York. Money raised at the event benefits Youth Villages’ programs in the greater Atlanta area.

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Thank you for supporting Youth Villages. The following donors made gifts to Youth Villages between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2013. The board of directors and staff of Youth Villages gratefully acknowledge these thoughtful contributions. If you made a contribution during this time but it is not listed, please call 404-320-2967.

YV Pillar ($25,000 to $49,999) The Coca-Cola Foundation The Sartain Lanier Family Foundation United Way of Greater Atlanta

YV Leader ($10,000 to $24,999) Catlin Insurance Company Inc. Credit Suisse Americas Foundation Marilyn Cox Douglas Charitable Foundation John and Mary Franklin Foundation The Rich Foundation

YV Builder ($1,000 to $9,999) Mr. David Albano AT&T Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Campbell Mrs. Liz Cannon Mr. Edwin Cook Ms. Marietta Davis Mr. and Mrs. Robert Douglass Mr. and Mrs. Ronnie Goldman The Goodendorf Family Fund Mr. and Mrs. George H. Johnson Kiwanis Foundation of Atlanta Inc. Mr. Gregory McClain Mr. Gene McClure McKenna Long & Aldridge Mendicino Family Foundation Microsoft Matching Gifts Program Outdoor Foundation Ms. Cynthia Parks/Parks IP Law Pittman Family Foundation Prudential Foundation Matching Gifts Realan Foundation Inc. Ms. Carolyn Stefanco Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Tarkenton Tull Charitable Foundation Mr. and Mrs. David Tyler Walmart Foundation Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation Whole Kids Foundation Youth Service America

Friend of Youth Villages (up to $999) Mr. Thomas Adger Mr. and Mrs. M. Allen Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Alper Ms. Mary Amory Mr. and Mrs. David Armitage Atlanta Women’s Club Ms. Ghislaine Austin Avondale Education Association Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Bacon Barnes Distribution

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Ms. Kelley Basinger Ms. Katya Battle Collen Beard Ms. Claire Beck Mr. Tim Begley Ms. Lindsay Belton Ms. Elizabeth Berry Ms. Erika Birg Ms. Kari Bjorhus Mrs. Jennifer Blasingame Mr. John Boria Mr. Kevin Brady Breakthrough Business Solutions LLC Ms. Joellen Bringardner Ms. Janet Brodie Mr. George Bruce Ms. Sharon Burnette Ms. Laverne Calvert Mr. David Cantor Mr. John Carpenter Mr. Walter Carter Mr. Richard Chrismer Mr. and Mrs. Robert Clayton Mr. Nicholas Clendenin Mr. and Mrs. Earl Clime Mr. Philip Clinch Ms. Tarisha Cockrell Mr. Stockton Croft Mr. Doug Davidson Mr. Alan Davis Ms. Claudia Day Mr. David Delaney Mr. Timothy Dod Ms. Julie Doss Mr. Cornelius Doyle EarthShare Chapters Georgia Ms. Bernadette Faber Mr. Robert Farrelly Ms. Lisa Fey First Baptist Church of Douglasville Mr. Geoffrey Fishman Ms. Mary Ann Fraundorf Ms. Christy Fulton Mr. Joe Golden Ms. Regina Green Mr. Lesley Guyot Mrs. Jennifer Guyton Mrs. Connie Hayes Mr. Billy Hendrix MSgt. Harry Hengel, USAF Ret. Ms. Tonya Henry Miss Zulna Heriscar Mrs. Marie Hicks Mr. Jeff Hilimire Ms. Sylvia Hill Mr. Bert Hixson Mr. Mark Horncastle Mr. Eddie Hudson Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Hulgan Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Hunter Mr. Elliott Hutchinson Mr. Brandon Jackson Mr. Jimmy James Ms. Linda Javadi Mr. James Jaxon Mrs. Carolyn Jenkins Mr. Christopher Jenny Mr. James Johnson n

Georgia

Ms. Lorraine Johnson Mrs. Peggy Johnson Mr. Thomas Johnston Mr. Archie Jones KaBOOM!/Dr Pepper Snapple Group Mr. John Kallis Mr. Robert Karem Mr. Michael Keener Ms. Geri Kelly Key Maintenance Supply Inc. Ms. Nancy King Mr. Krunch Kloberdanz Ms. Sandra Koslow Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Kursch Mr. Hollis Lamon Ms. Lillian Land Ms. Meredith Leapley The Ledlie Group Mr. William Levine Ms. Deborah Lewis-Spencer Dr. Betty Lumby Mr. Michael Malloy Ms. Melissa Marley Mr. and Mrs. Nick Marshall Ms. Maggie McCarty Mr. John McCollum Ms. Rebekah McCorvey Ms. Nancy S. McGarry Mr. Thomas McLaren Mr. Barry McWhirter Ms. Jennifer Medlin Ms. Diane Mercer Ms. Lynn Merrill Mitchell Family Fund Ms. Adrienne Mittons Mr. and Mrs. Walter Moeling Mr. Henry Moog Mt. Zion United Methodist Women Ms. Helen Muirhead Mr. Mickki Murray Mr. Eugene Nicholson Mr. Perry Nicodemus Mr. John O’Hara Mrs. Hallie Olsen Ms. Rhonda Page Mr. and Mrs. Robert Palumbo Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Parkis Mr. Al Petrangeli Mr. Tom Pierce Ms. Jennifer Queen Mr. Ruben Rabadan Mr. Stephen Raeber Mr. Robert L. Rearden III Mr. Thomas Regan Mr. and Mrs. Kyle Reini Dr. Martha Rider Mr. Phil Ringo Mr. Brent Robbins Ms. Gladys Rodriguez Mrs. Patience Rubyor Mr. Stanley Sampson Mr. and Mrs. Don Scarbrough Mr. Carl Schuessler Mr. Chase Scott Mr. Ted Scovill Ms. Julie Seitz Ms. Lucylle Shelton Mr. Gordon Sherman

Dara Mann Youth Villages Georgia welcomes J. Todd Giles, Carolyn Stefanco and Dara Mann, above, to the local board.

Giles is managing director at BMO Harris Bank. Stefanco is a history and women’s studies professor at Agnes Scott College, where she is also dean of the college and vice president of academic affairs.

Mann is a partner at the law firm of McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP.

M. Silveira Mr. Dashiell Smith Mr. David Smith Mr. Gregory Smith Smyrna Optimist Club Mr. Cecil Snyder Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Sorg Ms. Sarah Sprinkle Ms. Jamie Steuer Ms. Wendy Strassner Mr. Mark Sullivan Mrs. Elizabeth Summerhill Mrs. Stanley Tate Mr. Stephen Terrell Ms. Frankie Tester Mr. Philip Theodore and Ms. Beth Lanier Mr. Andrew Thompson Ms. Vicki Tramble Transport Services Inc. Truist Altruism Connected Ms. Marjorie Turnbull Ms. Dima Turpin Ms. Carrie Viberg Ms. Constance Visco Mr. Michael Wade Mr. Jamie Wall Dr. James Wallace Mrs. T. Walraven Ms. Patricia Walsh Ms. Adrienne Whitehead Mr. John Wieland Mr. Chris Williams Rev. Joseph Zawada

JOIN OUR EFFORTS Become a force for families There are numerous ways to help. Mentor, volunteer or financially donate to our programs.

KEEPING INNER HARBOUR BEAUTIFUL

Your support can have a direct impact on the future of the children we help every day in

Many in our community volunteer at Youth Villages-Inner Harbour, including AT&T, Parks IP Law, Credit Suisse and families and staff from The Westminster Schools and Pace Academy (photos).

Georgia. Please call or e-mail Youth Villages to find out how to help.

1777 Northeast Expressway NE, Suite 150 Atlanta, GA 30329 404-320-2920

Thinking of a planned gift?

THANK YOU FOR HELPING OUR KIDS The Coca-Cola Foundation helped kick off Project

Whether you’re planning such a gift as writing a will or

ticipating in Inner Harbour

setting up a trust for Youth

programs.

Villages, we have a portion of

EmpowHER with the girls in the Douglas Center at

our website devoted to donaThrough the Our Family

tions and planned giving.

Youth Villages-Inner Har-

Campaign, Youth Villages’

It contains information

bour. Project EmpowHER is

employees donated more

that may be valuable to you.

a significant enhancement

than $1 million to benefit

Simply go to youthvillages.

to the existing recreational,

Youth Villages’ programs.

org/plannedgiving and you’re

experiential and exercise

Youth Villages in Georgia

there.

therapy programs at Inner

contributed more than

Harbour.

$58,000.

Steve Benskin

You will find an introduction to planned giving, and a category titled “How Can I ...,” which lists all the vehicles included in a plan, including

Win Cook, associate at

Youth Villages Georgia’s

wills and bequests, gifts of appreciated stock or

Bryan Cave LLP, led efforts

Holiday Heroes program

gifts of real estate. In addition, there is a section

last year to get holiday gifts

was a big success. More

on “why do I need a will,” a glossary of terms, an

and donations for Holiday

than $31,000 was donated

estate intention form and much more. For infor-

Heroes to help ensure the

to help ensure Atlanta-area

mation, please contact Steve Benskin at 901-251-

girls in the Douglas Center

children in Youth Villages’

5000 or e-mail steve.benskin@youthvillages.org.

at Youth Villages-Inner Har-

programs and children at

bour were able to enjoy the

Inner Harbour received

holidays.

holiday gifts. The money also on light backgrounds

PRINT

supported additional holiday main red

Ninth-grade students

Stay in touch online

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Harbour Campus for a day of service and learning.

For their years of service

watermark

Students participated in

on the local board, thank

campus beautification and

you to Lynn Merrill and Ken

participated in team-build-

Campbell.

ing activities with youth par-

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YOUTH VILLAGES 1777 Northeast Expressway NE, Suite 150 Atlanta, GA 30329 (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 from offices in the following cities: Alabama: Auburn, Birmingham, Dothan Arkansas: Jonesboro, Little Rock Florida: Lakeland, Miami Georgia: Atlanta, Douglasville Indiana: Bloomington, Columbus, Jasper, Jeffersonville, Madison Massachusetts: Arlington, Lawrence, Plymouth, Springfield, Woburn, Worcester Mississippi: Biloxi, Greenwood, Hattiesburg, Hernando, Jackson, Tupelo New Hampshire: Manchester North Carolina: Asheville, Boone, Charlotte, Concord, Greensboro, Greenville, Pinehurst, Raleigh-Durham, Waynesville Oregon: Portland Tennessee: Chattanooga, Clarksville, Columbia, Cookeville, Dickson, Dyersburg, Jackson, Johnson City, Knoxville, Linden, Memphis, Morristown, Nashville, Paris Washington, D.C.

New Heights Georgia is published by Youth Villages Please e-mail james.waddey@youthvillages.org or call 404-320-2967 to have your name removed from our mailing list.

Founded in 1986, Youth Villages is a leading national nonprofit dedicated to providing the most effective local solutions to help emotionally and behaviorally troubled children 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.