New Heights East Tennessee - Spring 2014

Youth in TL program visit White House ... 3

Knoxville youth help Second Harvest ... 6

Family Victories from Youth Villages East Tennessee

Strive for a better life on the road Once homeless, Jason is laying the groundwork for a productive career and life — 4

Alexis leans on TL

Young mother escapes difficult situation and gains independence — 5

Instead of presents, Addison asked for donations ... 7

Spring 2014

A message from our director

Johnson City Morristown Knoxville

TENN.

Chattanooga

YOUTH VILLAGES BOARD OF DIRECTORS Bryan Jordan, Chairman Clarksville Cookeville Nashville Jimmy Lackie, Vice Chairman Dickson

Whatever it takes: every child, every time

TENN.

Matthew Tarkenton, Secretary

Linden

Eric Bolton Marietta Davis Paris

TENN. program designed to help children aging out of foster care or children who have Jackson Memphis

We highlight two youth whose success alone is remarkable and also recognize what their TL specialists did to help them.

Youth in the TL program set their goals and are helped and supported in their efforts to reach those goals. Unlike younger children, TL youth decide those goals and the TL specialists are there for support, providing whatever is needed for the young people to achieve their goals. Staff have to be flexible — in addition to being career counselors, mentors, friends and cheerleaders — to be able to meet the needs of this age group. And sometimes they are also required to be amateur attorneys or real estate agents.

Read Alexis’ story. It’s a remarkable account of a young lady with nowhere to turn but her former TL specialist, Michael Williams. She’d discharged, but after attempting to leave an abusive situation with a small child, she contacted Michael.

Homeless and without any family to turn to, Alexis and Michael navigated the court system to make sure Alexis’ daughter was taken care of and found her a place to live.

Jason was put out on his own with literally just the clothes on his back. Read about how his TL specialist, Amy Holt, navigated area housing listings with Jason to find something he could afford. Because Jason had never been in foster care, benefits weren’t readily available. They both chose a positive attitude and in the end, it worked. Jason is employed and has his own apartment.

These stories and the stories of thousands of others helped by Youth Villages wouldn’t be possible without your help and support.

Please call me at 865-560-2550 to find out ways you can help. There are many ways. You can even purchase a red kite license plate by contacting your local county clerk’s office or calling 901-251-4823. The sale of the cusom plate benefits Youth Villages.

Thank you for supporting East Tennessee young people and Youth Villages.

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

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Paul Bower, Treasurer Jim Barton Jr.

This newsletter focuses on our transitional living program, a groundbreaking Dyersburg

little support after a difficult childhood.

Columbia

Judith Edge Nicholas R. Ehlen Jack A. Eiferman Bill Giles Willie Gregory Joanna Jacobson Karole Lloyd Mark Medford Johnny Pitts Pat Ritz Michael Rose Richard W. Talkov Matthew Tarkenton Scotland Thede David Tyler Patrick Lawler, CEO Mike Bruns, Chairman Emeritus

CONTACT US Chattanooga 5741 Cornelison Road 6400 Building Chattanooga, TN 37411 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.

TL YOUTH VISIT WHITE HOUSE

EAST TENNESSEE PROGRAM SUCCESS 100

students from across the country for a “History of Women White House March 7.

First Lady Michelle Obama hosted “I’m Every Woman:

84%

91% In school or graduated

85%

No involvement with the law

20

in Soul Music” educational program and concert at the

At One One-Year Year Post Post-Discharge Discharge

At home with family

40

than 120 middle school, high school and college-level

Outcomes

80 60

Twenty participants in the Youth Villages transitional living program for former foster children joined more

0 The graph above represents the status of East Tennessee youth at one year after discharge through December 2013. Figures include only youth who received at least 60 days of service and reflect a response rate of 49 percent.

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 youth in five other states, was recognized because of its commitment to building qualities that help young people – particularly those in the child welfare system – mitigate or eliminate risk and promote healthy development and wellbeing. Since 1999, it has helped more than 6,000 former foster children make a successful transition to adulthood.

Approximately 26,000 young adults age out of foster care every year in the United States. National studies have found that, with limited resources and supports, these young people are more likely than their peers to end up homeless or incarcerated and less likely to have a job or go to college. 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.

The History of Women in Soul,” a student workshop in the State Dining Room. The educational event was in conjunction with the PBS music special “Women of Soul: In Performance in the White House,” produced by The GRAMMY Museum. It included a history of the origins of soul music by Grammy Museum Executive Director Robert Santelli. He was joined by special music guests Patti LaBelle, Melissa Etheridge and Janelle Monáe, who also appeared in the concert later that evening. During the workshop, these artists shared their experiences and answered students’ questions.

At the end of a question-and-answer session with the performers, the students shared their own musical talents with an impromptu sing-a-long of Arthur Conley’s classic hit, “Do You Like Good Music?” The singers included Youth Villages’ transitional living participants Melissa Howard, Darrah Hall and Sherika Wilkes.

A STRONG PARTNER AT DCS Amy Serota, who works at the

Knox County Department of Children’s Services office, partners with Youth Villages on several youth receiving YV services.

A recent case involved a mother of two children overdosing on drugs. Serota assisted YV staff with placing the children in foster

Amy Serota

care and continued to follow up to help ensure their needs were being met.

“She partners with us on difficult cases and advocates for us as a strong partner to DCS,” said Melissa JacksonWade, Youth Villages’ assistant director of Intercept® intensive in-home program. “She is a huge advocate for our kids and families.”

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Youth Villages’ transitional living program

Jason with TL specialist Amy Holt

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.

JASON PREPARES HIS ROAD TO SUCCESS It’s about 12 miles from Jason’s former home to the local shelter.

When his stepmother told him to leave, he had friends to assist him with the journey.

It still wasn’t easy.

His biological mother and father had passed away. He said his stepmother just didn’t want him around

Your support has allowed the most statistically vulnerable youth in the nation today to get a positive start on adulthood. Since 1999, more than 6,000 teens earned jobs, found homes and provided for themselves thanks to your help. Young adults like Jason who have no means of support or stability rely on Youth Villages’ transitional living specialists to assist with independent living skills and overcome difficult personal events.

any more. There was no warning.

Jason didn’t have transportation

and I didn’t want to be like that.”

support.”

and he was unprepared. So Jason,

First, Amy and Jason searched for

now 22, left what he knew with just

affordable housing. He was able to get

age his money and get insurance.

the clothes he was wearing. Nothing

his own home just before Thanksgiv-

He’s started saving money. He role-

more.

ing.

plays job interviews with Amy and is

When Youth Villages Transitional

Thanks to Youth Villages staff and

Now, Jason is learning how to man-

learning more about conflict resolu-

Living Specialist Amy Holt first met

donations, Jason was able to pur-

tion in the work place. He’s getting

Jason, he’d been at the local home-

chase some clothing, including nicer

support he never had before.

less shelter going on six months. It

clothes for job interviews, and basic

was August of last year.

essentials.

“The first thing I needed to do

Daily treks to Labor Ready began to

“Before we began working together I was kind of closed off and it bothered me,” Jason said. “But I want to

was get to know Jason and get him

pay off with regular work. Some days

engaged in the program,” Amy said.

it was construction, other days it was

“His first goal was to have his own

retail work. Jason enjoyed the variety.

permit. From there, he’d like to get a

home before winter.”

Amy and Jason are both persistent,

car and more furniture for his apart-

and their efforts transformed Jason’s

ment.

Jason wanted out of the shelter and wanted to get away from some of the influences there. He well knew the

situation.

“Because he’d never been in foster

be somebody and get things done.”

Jason’s working toward a driver’s

Ultimately, he wants to be a truck driver, like his father.

stigma attached to walking around

care, there weren’t that many re-

looking for a job and living at the

sources that were readily available,”

Amy, that’s for sure,” Jason said.

shelter.

Amy said. “We did a lot of searching,

“I got my confidence back. Amy

and I learned a lot about where to go

stepped in to help me and things

outside of the system to find help and

started happening.”

“I felt like a piece of trash,” he said.

“I got a double-dose of it every day,

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“I wouldn’t be where I am without

Through a public-private partnership with Youth Villages, Tennessee’s Department of Children’s Services offers intensive community-based services to each of the more than 1,000 young people who turn 18 in state custody every year without being reunited with their birth families or being adopted.

This makes Tennessee the first in the nation to offer comprehensive services to help all foster children who age out of state custody.

Gov. Bill Haslam recently visited Youth Villages’ Nashville office during a TL workshop where youth in the TL program built resumes, role-played job interviews and were given tips on how to dress for success.

ALEXIS OVERCOMES ABUSE, HOMELESSNESS Michael had to be many things to help young mother

East Tennessee and legal assistance

Alexis didn’t have anywhere else

from DCS,

to turn when she called her former

Alexis was

Transitional Living Specialist Michael

able to gain

Williams.

custody of her

A year before, she’d discharged from TL and was doing well in high school. She contacted Michael for help getting out of an abusive relationship.

She had a small daughter as well.

“It was scary,” Alexis said. “I had nowhere to go.”

Alexis didn’t have a home, had little support, and was fighting to keep

daughter.

But it wasn’t

Alexis with TL Specialist Michael Williams

without a fight. ting through the legal process.”

“I had so much going on, it was kind of like, ‘What else can happen?’”

Alexis continued to work part time

Alexis said. “It was one thing after

and learned about budgeting and sav-

another, but I focused on keeping my

ing. Michael assisted her with exten-

daughter.”

sion of foster care services, and she

Also at this time, Alexis was finding

began pursuing her GED. They found

custody of her daughter. Michael acted

her own voice. While in the abusive

community support through church

quickly to get Alexis back into the TL

relationship, she described herself as

and local shelters.

program.

brainwashed in a way, to stay at home,

“When the reality and urgency of the

drop out of school … but she wanted

situation set in, I had to learn quickly,”

with the domestic violence, I wanted

something different. Through the

Alexis said. “I learned how to listen

to help as quickly as possible,” Michael

struggles of getting out of the relation-

and understand new things and ask

said. “There was a lot going on and she

ship, finding a home and fighting for

good questions because there was so

needed help getting through it.”

custody, she began to find an inner

much at stake.”

“Because of the nature of her situation

During that time, Alexis thought she

strength to build a life. It wasn’t easy,

Now Alexis can move forward.

was going to lose everything. Through

as many of the meetings between

Instead of being moment-to-moment,

help from the Tennessee Department

Michael and Alexis were many hours

she can plan for a future. She doesn’t

of Children’s Services and Michael,

long and sometimes two or three

have to worry about where she’s going

Alexis began to slowly piece her life

times a week.

to sleep. She can enjoy being a mother.

together. First, she found a place to

“Michael helped me a lot,” she said.

“She was very motivated to make

live. She wasn’t in school, but she had

things happen,” Michael said. “But

“Without his help, I’d probably be

a job. Through help from Legal Aid of

there for a time it was slow going get-

homeless and without my daughter.”

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A

bout 26,000 young adults age out of foster care every year in the United States. National studies have found that, with limited resources and supports, these young people are more likely than their peers to end up homeless or incarcerated and less likely to have a job or go to college. 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.

KNOXVILLE TL YOUTH HELP SECOND HARVEST A group of young people helped

by Youth Villages’ transitional living program in the Knoxville, Tenn., area enjoyed an opportunity to give back to the community recently.

The youth visited Second Har-

BACKPACK HEROES About 220 East Tennessee children being helped by Youth Villages received backpacks stocked with school supplies for the school year.

Thanks to the Knoxville Area Association of REALTORS, more than $7,500 was contributed to purchase supplies and backpacks for youth being served through all four of Youth Villages’ East Tennessee offices.

vest Food Bank of East Tennessee in Maryville, along with YV staff members. The group spent two hours loading, unloading, sorting and stacking canned goods that were used to help feed families and individuals who otherwise might have gone hungry during the holiday season.

Many of the TL youth who participated have experienced homelessness or poverty at some point and understand how beneficial low-to no-cost community resources like food banks can be.

pack the most cans. They estimated

The youth turned volunteering into a competition, seeing who could

that they packed around 4,000 cans of corn in two hours.

MEET SARAH SIMULIS Before becoming a specialized crisis counselor, Sarah Simulis was an Intercept in-home services counselor based in Chattanooga. Recently, Sarah was assessing a youth with suicidal thoughts and became concerned the boyfriend might also be at risk if there was a suicide pact. Sarah worked with the school’s guidance counselor to assess both children. The following

VARIETY CLUB SUPPORTS HOLIDAY HEROES The Variety Club of East Tennessee continues to support Youth Villages in East Tennessee. Last year, the group gave $18,000 to benefit Youth Villages’ Holiday Heroes program, where holiday gifts are purchased for children and families in YV programs. Many of those families cannot afford to purchase gifts. Amanda Tillman, third from left, Youth Villages director of East Tennessee, and Melissa Jackson, third from right, Youth Villages assistant director of East Tennessee, stand with board members of the Variety Club of East Tennessee.

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day, she continued to advocate for assessment on her way to another crisis, and was then asked to return to assist with an assessment she’d advocated for.

“It’s a pleasure having Sarah on the Chattanooga crisis team and being a part of her passion to help kids in crisis,” said Deanna Doran, Youth Villages Specialized Crisis Services Southeast program supervisor.

A GIFT OF HELPING OTHERS

JOIN OUR EFFORTS Become a force for families 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 Knoxville, TN 37923 865-560-2550

Addison recently turned 8 years old, and at her birthday party, she requested a different sort of gift. Addison asked those attending her party to make a donation to Youth Villages instead of giving a present. She raised $210 to benefit Youth Villages.

Thinking of a planned gift?

Whether you’re planning such a gift as writing a will or setting up a trust for Youth Villages, we have a portion of our website devoted to donations and planned giving.

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 865-560-2550.

YV Pillar

$25,000 - $49,999

Variety of Eastern Tennessee

YV Leader

$10,000 - $24,999

The Haslam 3 Foundation

Friend of Youth Villages up to $999

Ms. Sarah Bettens Boones Creek Christian Church Buffalo Wild Wings Ms. Ellen Campbell Mr. David Case Ms. Brandi Cates Chattanooga Area Combined Federal Campaign Mr. and Mrs. Frank Dorman Frozen Smiles Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Griess Mr. Joseph Jacobsen Ms. Lois Jones Knoxville Ice Bears

It contains information that may be valuable to you.

Simply go to youthvillages.

Steve Benskin

org/plannedgiving and you’re there.

You will find an introduction to planned giving

and a category titled “How Can I ...,” which lists Dr. Julie Maldon all the vehicles included in a plan, including Ms. Mary Martin wills and bequests, gifts of appreciated stock or Mr. Harold Mason gifts of real estate. In addition, there is a section Mr. William McCarter on “why do I need a will,” a glossary of terms, an Ms. Joellen Meredith MM Johnson Interests LLC estate intention form and much more. For inforNewport Cinema 4 mation, please contact Steve Benskin at 901-251Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Rausin 4820 or e-mail steve.benskin@youthvillages.org.

Ms. Barbara Sampson Ms. Carolyn Seeley YOUTUBE LOGO SPECS Mrs. Sheryl Thomson Mr. David Tower on light backgrounds on dark backgrounds youthvillages.wordpress.com Ms. Kimberly Towery Mrs. Shoshannah Walker Ms. Melinda Williams www.twitter.com/youthvillages Mr. and Mrs. Philip Zaretzki www.facebook.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 from offices in the following cities: Alabama: Auburn, Birmingham, Mobile 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 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 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.