New Heights Oregon - Winter 2013

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Family Victories from Youth Villages Oregon

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A message from our director

( SV[ HJJVTWSPZOLK PU [^V `LHYZ" T\JO TVYL [V KV [V OLSW JOPSKYLU We are very excited to share good news — the results are in and we are changing lives for children and families throughout Oregon!

To be honest, when we began our work to transform the trajectory of the lives of children and families throughout Oregon in 2011, we had no idea how hard this work would be.

Yet now that we are seeing the results, we know it was worth the effort in every way.

And our work has just begun — not only are we serving

@6<;/ =033(.,: 69,.65 )6(9+ 6- +09,*;69: Beth Berselli

twice as many families at a lower-per-family cost with improved outcomes, but we

Bethany Bounds

also have expanded to serve all youth, whether their paths have taken them to

Scott Bruun

the child welfare, mental health or juvenile justice systems of care. For us, it is and

Nick Ehlen*

always has been about the special challenges any child faces in finding permanency

Alistair Firmin

and life success, and addressing those challenges with whatever it takes.

Fred Granum

As I look at our evolution over the past decade, it is amazing to realize the prog-

Joanne Horstkotte

ress that has been made. Due to our unique focus and 20 years of experience mea-

Jodie Hueske

suring outcomes and performance, we know our services make the critical differ-

Steve Hull

ence. We follow up with all our youth at six, 12 and 24 months post discharge and our

Carole Kinnune

success level is more than 80%. Of course, this is a great organizational benchmark,

Krina Lee

but what does it mean to Oregonians?

Charles McGee

It means hope and promise. It means that in a state where 1 in every 2 children is

Megan Murphy

born on Medicaid, there are solutions to ensure that education, family and treat-

Kevin O’Boyle

ment goals are attained. It means that in a state where there are twice as many

H. Patterson “Pat” Ritz*

youth in foster care as in other states our size, we have proven tools to make rapid

Sharr Stark

reductions in the number of youth without permanent families. It means tight public

Scotland Thede*

resources can be deployed for services that are proven effective. And most impor-

Claudia Valderrama

tantly, it means Oregon kids can reach their full potential instead of running the

Dale Walker

gauntlet of services and interventions.

I have a New Year’s resolution and I need your help to achieve it: please join me

* also members of Youth

in seeing transformation. Come see our upgraded facilities — the Clark Youth and

Villages’ national

Family Services Center, our Clackamas River Campus or one of our classrooms. Or

board of directors

join us for a ridealong to see Intercept intensive in-home services in action. I guarantee you will be transformed by the experience and inspired by the results. I look forward to your call.

Read on — I know you will enjoy this issue of our newsletter. And thank you for your past, present and future support. We have only just begun and are propelled by the success of thousands of youth and families throughout Oregon.

Lynne Saxton Executive Director of Oregon 503-675-2207 lynne.saxton@youthvillages.org

2 Winter 2014

New Heights

Q

Oregon

Q

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

Program Success (Z H UH[PVUHS SLHKLY PU [OL Ă&#x201E;LSK VM ILOH]PVYHS OLHS[O @V\[O =PSSHNLZ OHZ TLHZ\YLK V\[JVTLZ VM JOPSKYLU HUK MHTPSPLZ WHY[PJPWH[PUN PU P[Z WYVNYHTZ ZPUJL

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Status

Adam Becenti, an enrolled mem-

At one one-year year follow follow-up up

ber of the Navajo Nation, has been named tribal liaison/cultural coor-

80

0

No involvement with the law

20

At home with family

40

72%

88% In school or graduated

60

84%

dinator for the Cedar Bough Native American program at Youth Villages Oregon.

The program offers culturally responsive residential treatment for Native American youth and other young people who can benefit

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Growing up, my grandfather taught me traditional Navajo culture and practice, giving me a strong foundation.â&#x20AC;?

from a strong cultural and spiritual program.

In his position, Becenti helps Native American youth connect

The graph above represents the status of Oregon youth at six months after discharge through Dec. 2012. Figures include only youth receiving Intercept in-home services, a new and expanding program in the Oregon area, for at least 60 days of service and reflect a response rate of 65 percent. All youth are followed for two years after discharge.

or reconnect to their cultural

(550=,9:(9@ *,3,)9(;065

Advisory Council led by Dr. John

Becenti

and spiritual heritage in the program. He also works with the programâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Native American Spence.

From the clan of Red Running Into the Water, Becenti grew up on the border of the Navajo Tribal Nation in Gallup, N.M.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Growing up, my grandfather taught me traditional Navajo culture and practice, giving me a strong foundation,â&#x20AC;?

Becenti said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m proud to be helping Native children and youth in this program and will be meeting with tribal leaders throughout Oregon and the Pacific Northwest to learn more about their needs and expectations for our services.â&#x20AC;?

Becenti has bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degrees in psychology and ethnic studies from the University of Colorado and a masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in public policy with an emphasis on education policy from the University of Michigan.

He worked to recruit and retain Native American students for the University of Colorado and has diverse Youth Villages Oregon celebrated the second anniversary of the merger between Youth Villages and ChristieCare with a special luncheon outside Christie School. In the above photo, Christie School chefs Karen LaVallee, left, and Paula Wilde, pose for a photo.

experience in Native American programs including College Horizons, United National Indian Tribal Youth and the Patty Iron Cloud National Native American Youth Initiative.

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3

40*96:6-; .9(5; ,5/(5*,: @6<;/ =033(.,:» :,9=0*,: A Microsoft grant of more

search and apply for their

than $7.4 million in software

first jobs.

and technology to Youth

Microsoft YouthSpark is a

Villages is powering a new

global initiative committed

electronic medical records

to creating opportunities for

system for staff who provide

300 million youth in more

intensive in-home, residen-

than 100 countries over the

tial and transitional services

next three years. This com-

in Oregon.

panywide initiative includes

The grant, a part of Micro-

company programs that

soft’s YouthSpark initiative,

empower youth to imagine The Microsoft grant allows Youth Villages to upgrade its technology services to children and youth being helped on residential campuses.

and realize their full poten-

external communications

on the Christie and Clacka-

reporting to parents and

greater opportunities for

systems.

mas campuses completed

referral partners.

education, employment and

also will enhance Youth Villages Oregon’s internal and

“We’re pleased to have

training and recently began

The grant will also allow

tial by connecting them with

entrepreneurship.

Microsoft as one of our most

using Netsmart’s Evolv-CS

an upgrade of Youth Vil-

“Through YouthSpark,

important partners,” said

web-based electronic health

lages Oregon’s Microsoft

we’ve made a commitment

Lynne Saxton, executive

record software system.

Sharepoint internal com-

to provide opportunities for

director of Youth Villages

The grant from Microsoft

munications intranet.

youth to succeed in today’s

Oregon. “This grant allows

has allowed infrastructure,

us to support our staff with

server and workstation en-

grant will be used to up-

said Marietta Davis, gen-

modern clinical records and

hancements, bringing more

grade technology services

eral manager of Microsoft’s

office technology, enabling

access and efficiency to the

provided to children and

Greater Southeast District.

them to do their best work

new system.

youth being helped on resi-

“The Youth Villages grant

Youth Villages Oregon

for children with emotional

Across Youth Villages, the

competitive marketplace,”

dential campuses. Young

will give at-risk youth the

and behavioral problems

staff members use the

adults in the Youth Villages

technology and training

and their families.”

health record system to

transitional living program

critical to success in the

perform critical functions

use computers powered

technology economy. I’ve

work in Youth Villages Ore-

each day, such as accessing

by Microsoft to study for

been so impressed with the

gon’s Intercept intensive in-

medical records, document-

their GED, apply for col-

organization that I joined its

home services program and

ing treatment plans and

leges, prepare resumes and

national board of directors.”

Counselors and staff who

YV colleagues participate in Bridge Pedal event Youth Villages Oregon staff got together and posed before participating in the Portland Bridge Pedal bike ride to benefit children’s health care in the Portland area.

4 Winter 2014

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Youth Villages Oregon’s Mosaic group home program in Oregon City helps young adults ages 17-24 who are transitioning from the children’s mental health system and need ongoing, intensive mental health treatment. The Mosaic staff helps residents build independent living skills and develop educational and employment plans.

( .0(5; /,(9; -69 ,=,9@65, ;6 :,, Chad overcomes difficult past and plans for future success From time to time, people come along who defy convention.

Chad is one of those.

Physically imposing at more than 6 feet 5 inches, he’s more aptly described with such words as gentle, soft-spoken and thoughtful.

But growing up, his size and his

Chad outside Christie School

history followed him from state placement to state placement. Many times,

Chad during his five years in the pro-

tor. He made mistakes, but Mosaic

he was handled more roughly or

gram.

staff were there for support.

“Trust was the big issue during his

“It has been rough at times,” Chad

first year,” Rachel said. “He had some

said. “But when challenging situations

fered a family tragedy and was taken

rough moments, but he saw we were

arise, I reflect on what I learned at Mo-

from his home. He then went through

a support for him and not there to

saic and it helps.”

myriad foster homes and state facili-

dictate what he did.”

severely because of his size.

Chad was very young when he suf-

ties before landing in a good foster

And that’s the big difference be-

For many, the Mosaic program offers them an opportunity to interact in the

home in the Portland area. He spent

tween state services for children and

adult world outside of the clinical or

a year there and at 17, he left foster

adults, Rachel said. As a child, your

system setting.

care to participate in Youth Villages

path is highly monitored and account-

Oregon’s Mosaic program.

ed for.

Now 23, Chad will soon move to a

“In the adult system, if you don’t

“They have to decide what their goals are,” Rachel said. “Our big focus is getting to know the youth and build

new town to reunite with his older

want to engage in treatment, you don’t

trust. Once they decide what their

brother and be close to another adult

have to,” Rachel said. “As an adult, you

goals are, we offer support to help

who supports him.

have to make the appointments and

them achieve their goals.”

“The Mosaic program was very im-

then get to the appointments. If you’ve

Chad wants to work for himself. He

portant for me,” Chad said. “It helped

never done that before, it can be a

enjoys fishing, and said he’d like to tie

me learn and grow.”

struggle the first few times.”

his own fly-fishing flies. But he saved

And that’s not all. Chad had basic in-

“I went from having no control over

securities and behavior issues because

what I did to being given the reins to

of his traumatic past. On top of that, he

my everyday life,” Chad said. “At first

was obstinate, and didn’t like being told

it kind of threw me for a loop.”

his highest praise for the Mosaic program and staff.

“If I hadn’t gone there, I would probably be in some state facility

what to do. When he entered Mosaic,

Chad looked for a job. He managed

he learned basic life skills, how to be

a budget and bought food for himself,

myself,” Chad said. “It’s easy, but you

more self-sufficient and how to make

preparing his own meals and washing

have to work at it. You have to take

good choices on his own. Program

his clothes. Chad found work as a prep

advantage of the program and get the

Manager Rachel Johnson supported

cook and also as a peer support opera-

most out of it.”

unaware and unable to take care of

Winter 2014

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5

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The Lake Oswego chapter of the National Charity League helped Youth Villages Oregon get into the Halloween spirit by decorating the Christie Campus. The National Charity League is a mother-daughter philanthropic organization that seeks to change lives by inspiring and empowering women to succeed as confident, well-rounded and socially aware contributors in their communities.

The Lake Oswego chapter has partnered with Youth Villages Oregon for the past five years, planning activities for the children in Youth Villagesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; programs, decorating the campus during holidays, serving at special events and donating hygiene packets and art supplies. Kids and staff also celebrated Halloween with a trick-or-treating party at Youth Villages Oregonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new Clark Youth and Family Services Center.

.63-,9: :<7769; */03+9,5 (; @= 69,.65 *<7 796 (4 More than $68,000 was raised to benefit children in Youth Villages Oregon programs at the 10th Annual YV Oregon Cup Pro Am golf tournament at Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Portland.

Eighty golfers from across Oregon and Washington competed in the YV Oregon Cup, the only pro am golf tournament sponsored by the Oregon PGA benefitting a nonprofit organization.

Above, the winning team members pose with Youth Villages Oregon Executive Director Lynne Saxton, including professional golfer Mark Keating of Meriwether National Golf Club in Hillsboro, Mike Graham of Gearhart, Peter Roscoe of Astoria, John Pyle of Portland and Richie Schroder of Portland.

At left, overall professional winner Tim Hval of Portland Golf Club with Saxton.

6

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Thank you The following donors made

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gifts of $1,000 or more to Youth Villages Oregon between

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July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2013.

The board of directors and staff of Youth Villages Oregon gratefully acknowledge these thoughtful contributions.

If you made a contribution during this time and it is not listed, please call the Youth

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Villages Development Department, 503-675-2206.

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.,; *,3,)90;@ :;@3," /,37 */03+9,5 Stand tall for Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most vulnerable children in these fabulous shoes.

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1605 6<9 ,--69;: Your support

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Please call or e-mail

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an estate intention form and much more. For information, please contact Steve Benskin at 901-251-4820 or e-mail steve.benskin@youthvillages.org.

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503-675-2206

kids who need it most.

Winter 2014

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NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID YOUTH VILLAGES

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New Heights Oregon is published by Youth Villages Managing Editor: Betsy Miller Associate Editor: Chris Pennington Please e-mail betsy.miller@youthvillages.org or call 503-675-2206 to have your name removed from our mailing list.

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