New Heights East Tennessee - Fall 2014

Bemis committed to East Tennessee youth ... 3

Family Victories from Youth Villages East Tennessee

Loftons make room for one more ... 6

Youth Villages begins services in Oklahoma ... 3

Fall 2014

Great expectations

Tabitha sets new standards for herself and reaps the benefits of hard work — page 4

Caleb’s last, last chance After growing up in foster care, Caleb finally finds forever home — page 5

Johnson City Morristown

A message from our director

Knoxville

TENN.

Chattanooga

YOUTH VILLAGES BOARD OF DIRECTORS Bryan Jordan, Chairman

Clarksville

Bill Cookeville Giles, Vice Chairman Nashville Dickson Matthew Tarkenton, Secretary

The challenge for you isn’t the children

TENN.

Linden

If you’re a parent, you have more than likely witnessed how resilient a child

Paul Bower, Treasurer Columbia Marietta Davis Judith Edge Nicholas R. Ehlen Jack A. Eiferman Willie Gregory

can be. Conversely, you’ve also probably experienced how challenging children Paris

Joanna Jacobson

can be.

Karole Lloyd

Dyersburg

TENN. This newsletter highlights some of those challenges and shows how, given Jackson

Mark Medford

an opportunity and support, children can bounce back from traumatic

Johnny Pitts

environments and succeed.

Pat Ritz

Memphis

Tabitha often stayed home from school so she could protect her younger siblings from a home environment of abuse and neglect.

Motivated by her younger sister, she told a school counselor, who had the

Michael Rose Richard W. Talkov Scotland Thede

children taken from the home. The youth were placed with an outstanding

David Tyler

Youth Villages foster family, where the children began to thrive. Tabitha began

Chip Wade

participating in our transitional living program. Through intense therapy, Tabitha began turning her life around. She got a job and began college. She

Patrick Lawler, CEO

recently purchased her car outright and is now participating in Youth Villages’

Mike Bruns, Chairman Emeritus

YV Scholars program.

Caleb went through foster home after foster home, even, he said, having an adoption fail. He couldn’t remember being in his biological home and had disrupted so many foster homes, he had run out of options. In fact, he was close to being placed in a residential facility until he spent a weekend in the foster home of Kristen and Daniel Davis. They showed him unconditional love and support, and because he was an older teen, they let him make his own decisions. Caleb quickly bonded with Brian, another youth in the home, and a family began to take shape.

Both Tabitha and Caleb experienced something many other youth do daily in East Tennessee. Read their stories about how a foster family changed everything for these youth. I cannot express how much our foster families mean to us, because it is through their work that I’m able to share the stories of youth like Tabitha and Caleb.

Thank you for supporting Youth Villages.

Amanda Tillman Director of East Tennessee 865-560-2550 amanda.tillman@youthvillages.org

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East Tennessee

CONTACT US Chattanooga 6236 Air Park Road Chattanooga, TN 37421 phone: 423-954-8890 fax: 423-954-8880 Johnson City 3915 Bristol Hwy #101 Johnson City, TN 37601 phone: 423-283-6500 fax: 423-283-6550 Knoxville 9111 Cross Park Drive, Suite E475 Knoxville, TN 37923 phone: 865-560-2550 fax: 865-560-2580 Morristown 225 West First North Street, Suite 302 Millennium Square Building Morristown, TN 37814 phone: 423-522-2200 fax: 423-522-2180

*82.7% of youth were in state custody

Program Success at admission to the program.

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 KATHIE BEMIS

EAST TENNESSEE PROGRAM SUCCESS 100

Kathie Bemis has worked with some of the toughest youth who come through the

Outcomes

Knox County Juvenile Court

At One One-Year Year Post Post-Discharge Discharge

for nearly 27 years. Since collaborating with Youth Villages

80

91% In school or graduated

20

85% No involvement with the law

40

At home with family

60

85%

nine years ago, she has helped and supported these youth.

Melissa Jackson-Wade, assistant director of Youth Villages’ Intercept intensive in-home services for East Tennessee, praised Bemis’ commitment to helping the youth.

“She’s firm with the youth,” Jackson-Wade said. “But she always tries to help and keep them safe.”

0 The graph above represents the status of East Tennessee 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 EXPANDS TO OKLAHOMA Youth Villages began helping children and families in Oklahoma, opening an office in Tulsa in October.

Youth Villages Oklahoma will provide Intercept® inten-

continued on page 7

TL STUDY CONCLUDES WITH FAVORABLE OUTLOOK OF PROGRAM The first results from a randomized study of Youth Villages’ transitional living services point toward a valid

sive in-home services to 40 children and families in Tulsa

evaluation of the program,

through a partnership with the Oklahoma Department

said Michelle Manno, research

of Human Services and the George Kaiser Family Foun-

associate with MDRC, the

dation. Funding for the start-up of the Tulsa office was

national social research agency

provided by the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family

conducting the study.

Foundation.

“We are excited about this new and innovative partner-

moving into adulthood IMPLEMENTATION FINDINGS FROM THE YOUTH VILLAGES TRANSITIONAL LIVING EVALUATION

Michelle Manno Erin Jacobs Julianna Alson Melanie Skemer March 2014

“Our report shows that the transitional living program in Tennessee has been

ship between the George Kaiser Family Foundation, DHS

implemented as we would have expected,” she said.

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

MDRC’s implementation and participation findings are

is another opportunity to bring a nationally recognized

published in a 124-page report, Moving Into Adulthood.

agency with a proven program to Oklahoma to support

The first impact results from the study should be

our efforts in creating a comprehensive and effective child

available in mid-2015. Those results will show if the

welfare system.”

program is effective as compared to usual services for

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

former foster children in Tennessee.

The program helps youth who were formerly in foster

office will employ about 12 staff members of mostly family

care, the juvenile justice system or who otherwise find

intervention specialists.

themselves unprepared for adult life and need help making the transition to adulthood.

Fall 2014

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The 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.

Specialists help participants find housing and health services, learn how to access transportation and meet their basic needs. They teach life skills like time management, budgeting, menu planning and grocery shopping.

Tabitha stands beside her new car she recently purchased.

TABITHA’S CHANGING EXPECTATIONS Your support has allowed the most statistically vulnerable youth in the nation today make a positive start on adulthood. Across the state, about 600 youth are helped by Youth Villages’ transitional living program each day.

Tabitha expects good things to happen.

More importantly, she expects good things to happen to her.

“I think I’m ready to receive good things and accept accomplishments,” she said. “I’ve done a lot better for myself lately.”

go into the social work field.

Tabitha grew up abusing drugs with

“When she first started, we went

Tabitha has come a long way in just a few short years. She regularly visits

her family. She didn’t go to school,

over those things youth face transi-

her sisters, who were adopted by

choosing to stay home to protect her

tioning to adulthood,” said Audrey

their foster parents. She reads a lot

younger sisters from the abuse of

Covington, TL specialist. “But the

and carries herself with more confi-

their parents. At age 17, Tabitha told

effects of her environment were

dence and assurance.

a school counselor about her situa-

still there. It was a big step for her

tion, and the girls were taken from

to get out there and begin making a

the home. Her parents were recently

life. Tabitha needed consistency and

charged and faced a sentencing hear-

needed to know she had support.”

ing. Tabitha, now almost 20, was in the court room.

Tabitha recently purchased a car.

She also maintains a job and full

“I wanted to be there,” she said. “I

course load at school. She was named

wanted to be able to close the door on

a YV Scholar, where youth in the TL

that chapter of my life.”

program receive extra support for

Her foster home was fantastic.

“She wants to help younger people going through what she did,” Audrey said. “She’s gone from being a victim to learning how to be an advocate.”

college provided they maintain rigid

There, she was allowed to be a teen-

academic and community service

ager and received positive attention.

requirements.

She finished high school and entered

“Now we’re focused on balancing

“The interview was pretty scary, but it’s cool to be a YV Scholar,” Tabitha

Youth Villages’ transitional living

all the different aspects of her life,”

said. “Now, I feel like I can accomplish

program, where she began to thrive.

Audrey said. “We still have to go over

whatever I set my mind to. No girl

She found a job, learned money man-

coping skills and work through her

should have to go through what I did,

agement and got an apartment. She

past. We also work on self esteem and

and I want to be in a position to help

enrolled in college and would like to

maintaining healthy relationships.”

those who have.”

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East Tennessee

We began Youth Villages’ adoption program in 1999 as a natural extension of our treatment foster care program. For some people, fostering a child with special needs is the first step toward adoption. Many of our foster parents adopt the children in their homes when they become eligible for adoption. Other parents come to Youth Villages with adoption as their immediate goal.

SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST Caleb finds forever family as final option Caleb got one more last chance.

It wouldn’t have happened if Kristen and Daniel Davis had given up.

“Caleb had disrupted just about every foster home in the area,” said Amber Street, Youth Villages regional supervisor. “In every home, he was testing the rules and constantly push-

Caleb would like to enter the social work field and help children in situations similar to his.

Daniel and Kristen knew

adoption,” Kristen said.

pendent. They were aware

he went to Kristen and Dan-

they wanted to adopt Caleb

“Everything happened so

of what he was doing and

iel’s home for a weekend

that first day he came in.

fast, and there was so much

where he was, but they gave

“We wanted to foster

emotion. But we’re not ones

him the freedom to make his own choices.

ing those boundaries. Then

respite visit.”

teenagers,” Kristen said.

to give up. With Caleb, it

in 15 foster homes since he

“We wanted the children

was like, ‘Hey dude, you’re

was 3 months old. Growing

who were old enough to

not going to walk away —

Caleb was at a foster home

up, he was bullied quite a bit

know they’d spent all their

when we’re angry about

right before coming here,”

and never had any friends.

chances, but at the same

something we communi-

Kristen said. “But before

He had a prior adoption

time knew they needed

cate.’”

that, I think a lot of people

that failed.

just one more. We saw that

Caleb, 18, said he’s been

“Some of Caleb’s foster care homes were not good,”

Daniel and Kristen knew

“It began to change when

did too much for him and

when Caleb came through

what Caleb had been

didn’t let him make his own

the door.”

through, and it tempered

decisions. Caleb’s a young

the way they treated him.

man and he’s capable of

Amber said. “But his behav-

They were fostering one

ior also contributed to many

other teenager, Brian, who

Lessons learned in their

figuring things out for him-

of his disruptions.”

became fast friends with

home complemented those

self.”

Caleb. Soon, their conversa-

given to Caleb from other

The Davises challenged

Caleb is the first to admit he

tions drifted toward adop-

area foster homes where

Caleb to succeed at school,

had a lot of pent-up emo-

tion. It was finalized soon

he’d had good experiences.

then sat back and let him

tions and didn’t know how

after when Caleb was 17.

He learned coping and

figure out for himself that,

to cope with what he was

His behavior had changed,

anger management skills

yes, he could maintain good

feeling. To compound all

but he still tested his new

from Youth Villages’ staff,

grades. He reconnected

of this, he was constantly

parents.

and the Davises also em-

with former foster parents

That included fighting.

enrolling in new schools, as

“We had some tough

many as five over two years.

times, especially after the

powered Caleb to make his continued on page 7

own choices and be inde-

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B

eing a foster parent is a calling. For a child, there’s nothing more important than having a place to call home, a family to love and parents who believe in them. As a foster parent, you can transform the life of a child simply by becoming the first person to have faith in her, the first person to care where he is, the first person to believe in what she can become. If you have enough love in your heart for a child who desperately needs it, please help a child find the way home. Call 877-983-6786 to learn more about foster parenting.

ONE MORE IS GOOD FOR GREG AND THE LOFTONS Delorse and Sherman Lofton have made a life’s work out of helping children.

They have an ability to calm even the most difficult children, and for nearly 30 years, those who’ve stayed with the Loftons as foster children are better for it.

Originally from Michigan, where the couple fostered numerous children, they relocated to East Tennessee, where their passion to help children was rekindled after they saw a need.

Greg, center, on the couch with Delorse and Sherman Lofton

A little more than two years ago Greg came into

college or learn a trade,”

their home. Greg was placed in numerous homes and institutions before be-

Greg, 14, had been in 22 different foster homes

ing placed with the Loftons.

“When Greg came in,

Delorse said. “We want him to strive to be someone and do something.”

Greg enjoys playing video

wanted. But we don’t put up

lem for him to be at other

games and would like to de-

he was convinced that he

with that type of behavior

homes.”

sign them in the future. The

needed to go to the behav-

and he knew that also. He

ioral hospital,” Delorse said.

found out there are ways to

Loftons, Greg, 14, had been

himself. Just like the many

“I refused to accept that as a

behave and he knows his

in 22 different foster homes.

foster children who came

reason for his behavior and

boundaries.”

told him as much.”

Sherman said Greg has

The Lofton home was safe

Before staying with the

“It’s really good here,”

Loftons allow Greg to be

before Greg, the Loftons

Greg said. “I like it. We have

don’t try to change him. In

done a lot of work, and

family time, watch televi-

Greg’s case, they empower

and stable. Delorse and

after seeing how much he’d

sion together and do other

him to make his own deci-

Sherman held Greg ac-

grown in their care, they de-

fun things.”

sions.

countable for his behavior

cided to consider adoption.

at home and at school, and

“We didn’t want to adopt,”

When they asked Greg

“We just do the best we

about being adopted, he

can and let the kids be who

there were consequences

Sherman said. “We thought

didn’t respond. After a few

they are,” Sherman said.

when his behavior wasn’t up

we were getting out of the

weeks, Delorse just told him

“They follow rules, but we

to standards.

foster care business. We’re

they were adopting him.

want them to feel safe.

“I think there were places

getting older and wanted to

“Good,” he said.

In Greg’s case, even if he

that couldn’t control Greg

enjoy our later years. But

He was officially adopted

leaves when he turns 18,

and he knew that,” Delorse

through prayer and looking

after being in foster care in

there will always be a home

said. “He knew he could

at Greg’s history, we knew

their home for two years.

for him.”

throw a fit and get what he

that it would be a prob-

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East Tennessee

“We want him to go to

BEMIS PLACES A PRIORITY ON CHILDREN

JOIN OUR EFFORTS

from page 3

Become a force for families

Bemis loves working with youth, especially teens.

“It’s a difficult time for them,” Bemis said. “They’re not a child, yet not an adult. I know they face inner struggles in addition to trauma and instability while growing up.”

Bemis sets priorities to help make sure the youth in the most distress are helped as soon as possible.

“Supportive organizations like Youth Villages really help,” she said. “The in-depth approach Youth Villages takes in working with my youth and myself has been invaluable.”

There are numerous ways to help. Mentor, foster parent, volunteer or financially donate to our programs. Your support can have a direct impact on the future of the more than 450 children we help every day in East Tennessee.

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

9111 Cross Park Drive, Suite E-475

The same goes for Jackson-Wade.

Knoxville, TN 37923

“We recently shared with her a case of an extraordinarily dif-

865-560-2550

ficult youth,” Jackson-Wade said. “Kathie went out of her way to develop alternatives for him and provide support through an extremely difficult time. We appreciate all she does for us, the community and the youth of Knox County.”

Thinking of a planned gift?

CALEB MAKING HIS WAY TOWARD SUCCESS from page 5

If you’re planning a gift in your will or trust for Youth Villages, you can find help on our website.

Simply go to youthvil-

and mended many of those relationships.

“We wanted him to stay connected to those who helped him in the past,” Kristen said. “Even though he’d burned some bridges, we wanted him to maintain those connections and keep those

lages.org/plannedgiving and you’re there.

You will find an introduction to planned giving and

people in his life.”

Talking to Caleb now, a high-school graduate soon to leave for

Steve Benskin

a category titled “How Can

Army basic training, you don’t get a clear picture of his journey,

I ...,” which lists all the vehicles included in

but you know it’s been a long one.

a plan, such as wills and bequests, gifts of

“Caleb is a leader,” Daniel said. “He has the ability to make

appreciated stock or gifts of real estate. In addition, there is a section on “why do I need

people feel really good about themselves.”

a will,” a glossary of terms, an estate intention

The energy he once used to disrupt and test others has become something positive that helps others. He recently told

form and much more. For information, please

his story to a group of foster parents who were graduating from

contact Steve Benskin at 901-251-4820 or e-

Parents as Tender Healers, their training class.

mail steve.benskin@youthvillages.org.

“He gives his testimony to youth groups,” Kristen said. “He doesn’t take things too seriously. He can be goofy and laugh, and

Stay in touch online

SPECS he makes other people laugh. It’s as if he takesYOUTUBE all theLOGO stress and

puts it to the side, and it’s a real strength.”

PRINT

on light backgrounds

He wants to go into the social work field and help young peomain red

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and embrace a positive life wouldn’t have happened without the white

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Davises and other positive influences around him — and one C0 M0 Y0 K0

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www.twitter.com/youthvillages no gradients

www.facebook.com/youthvillages

more last chance.

“Caleb’s success has really made me think,” Amber said. amount of care. We were ready to put him in a residential

www.youthvillages.org

watermark

watermark

stacked logo (for sharing only)

stacked logo (for sharing only)

“I’m much more cautious about recommending the right

www.linkedin.com/company/youth-villages

facility and with the Davises, it was that one more chance he needed to begin again.”

youthvillages.wordpress.com

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ple going through the same thing he did. His ability to change C0 M96 Y90 K2

www.youtube.com/youthvillages

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YOUTH VILLAGES 9111 Cross Park Drive, Suite E-475 Knoxville, TN 37923 (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 East Tennessee is published by Youth Villages Please e-mail amanda.tillman@youthvillages.org or call 865-560-2550 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 RestorationŽ 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.

Atlanta Douglasville

Georgia

Emily Acker

Kate Cantrell

YOUTH VILLAGES CHRIS CRYE MENTORING PROGRAM Patrick W. Lawler Chief Executive Officer pat.lawler@youthvillages.org 901-251-5000

Lori Casey

Senior Intensive Care Coordinator Lowell Community Service Agency

JOIN OUR EFFORTS

Become a force for families There is no better time to be in fundraising than during the holidays! To see the outpouring of generosity from corporations and individuals alike is always humbling.

This season, I have been truly moved by the selfless acts of kindness of our supporters.

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Because of the help of so many, more than 70 struggling families were able to put their stressors aside and create joyful holiday memories as a family.

Kristin Wright, Development Manager 781-937-7931, kristin.wright@youthvillages.org

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Message from our state manager PHOTO

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