New Heights Mississippi - Winter 2014

Backpack Heroes outfit children for school ... 3

Celebrity style benefits Youth Villages ... 3

Family Victories from Youth Villages Mississippi

A Tribute to Excellence, Garrard honored ... 6

Winter 2014

A CLEAN SLATE Through Youth Villages’ MYPAC, Ladainian is rewriting his story

A complete turnaround Mom and family come together to help Sean succeed at home and school

A message from our director

Hernando Tupelo Greenwood

Columbus

Mississippi Jackson

Helping Mississippi children succeed, one at a time

McComb

Meridian

Hattiesburg

Biloxi

Our ongoing partnership with the Mississippi Division of Medicaid has allowed us to reach out and help more than 1,000 children through our Mississippi Youth Pro-

YOUTH VILLAGES BOARD OF DIRECTORS

grams Around the Clock program. This is a milestone

Bryan Jordan, Chairman

that reflects the unwavering dedication of our staff as

Jimmy Lackie, Vice Chairman

well as the commitment of the state of Mississippi in

Matthew Tarkenton, Secretary

offering community-based alternatives to youth with

Paul Bower, Treasurer

significant mental health problems.

About six years ago, Youth Villages became a

Katja Russell

MYPAC provider through the Division of Medicaid to help children and families where they need it most — at home. Our goal is to work with families and assist them in creating a strong support network around the child and family to help ensure long-term success — more than 80 percent of youth are successfully living at home even two years after discharge.

Inside this newsletter, you can read about two youth, Ladainian and Sean, who are doing well at home and school after receiving help through Youth Villages’ MYPAC program.

In addition, we also highlight some of our community events, including our recent Backpack Heroes campaign, which provided much-needed school supplies to more than 120 children.

Our Holiday Heroes program helped hundreds of children and families in Mississippi. As a Holiday Hero, your efforts made sure children receiving help at Youth Villages were able to share wonderful experiences and build happy holiday memories. But we also need your help during the rest of the year. Call or e-mail me to find out how to get involved.

We continue to expand our foster care and transitional living programs so more children find permanency and become successful young adults. In ad-

Jim Barton Jr. Eric Bolton Marietta Davis 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 Scotland Thede David Tyler Patrick Lawler, CEO Mike Bruns, Chairman Emeritus

dition, Youth Villages has become a private mental health provider licensed under the state of Mississippi to help ensure that all youth enrolled in our through MYPAC, foster care or transitional living services for teens aging

MISSISSIPPI LEADERSHIP COUNCIL

out of foster care, our partnerships across the state produce positive results.

Amanda Jones Tollison

programs have access to needed behavioral health services. Whether it is

Thank you for supporting Youth Villages.

Jill Beneke Karla Steckler Tye Kathryn Simmons Michael Forster Stephanie Rippee

Katja Russell Executive Director of Mississippi katja.russell@youthvillages.org 601-572-3727

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Susan Smith Wesla Leech

Program Success

*82.7% of youth were in state custody 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.

CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL PREPARED

MISSISSIPPI PROGRAM SUCCESS 100 80

Backpack Heroes provide school supplies

Outcomes

At one year post discharge

86%

20

88% In school or graduated

40

No involvement with the law

At home with family

60

81%

0

To support the Youth Villages Backpack Heroes program, the

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

Trustmark Bank branches of Jackson, Madison and Ridgeland donat-

A STEP TOWARD HELPING CHILDREN www.milkandhoneyshoes.com Stand tall for America’s most vulnerable children in fabulous shoes.

The online custom shoe retailer Milk & Honey has teamed with five generous celebrities to offer Youth Villages supporters an exciting new way to help children.

Kristin Chenoweth, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Cari-

ed nearly $5,000 worth of backpacks and school supplies to Mississippi children receiving help for emotional and behavioral problems through Youth Villages.

The backpacks and school supplies helped children, many of whom live below the poverty line, make a successful start to the new school year.

Several Trustmark Bank branch vice presidents gathered with Youth Villages staff to fill more than 150 backpacks with school supplies.

Dee English, Ashley Williams and Kayla Farhang have designed shoes for Milk & Honey to benefit the children being helped by Youth Villages.

When you purchase a pair of these specially designed shoes, 100 percent of the proceeds benefit Youth Villages.

Visit www.milkandhoneyshoes.com and choose your shoes today for an easy and stylish way to help the kids who need it most.

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The Youth Villages MYPAC program provides intensive home-based services through a team-based wraparound approach. In-home therapy, family therapy, individual therapy, as well as psychiatric services are available to youth and their families if needed. In addition, our coordinators and therapists are on call 24/7 to provide support and crisis intervention services.

Ladainian ran a close race for class vice president. He’s also playing sports.

LADAINIAN DECIDES ON A NEW FUTURE Ladainian was already labeled as

The goal of the MYPAC program is to provide intensive support and assistance to families in building support networks that will enable the child to be successful long-term in his or her own home.

the child who couldn’t be helped.

The stigma followed him to school.

Difficult. Physically aggressive. Auditory and visual hallucinations. Fights all the time at home and at school.

“I did get into a lot of fights,” Ladai-

discussed triggers that caused Ladai-

nian said. “But the last two years I’ve

nian’s behavior issues, explained what

worked on how to not get into fights.”

Ladainian had learned and how to

His labels weren’t necessarily

best handle those situations. Brian

unwarranted, but they went further.

showed the family ways to spend more

People weren’t giving him a chance.

time with Ladainian so he didn’t feel

His parents felt as if no one under-

left out among his seven siblings. He

stood. His medication was constantly

began to go fishing and spend time

changed. He was picked on at school.

together with his parents.

Although very bright, Ladainian was

“I think Ladainian finally realized

suspended or written up often at

he had some people on his side and

school, and was put into a special class

had some support,” Brian said. “Then

for safety reasons. His family began

he saw the rewards of making good

working with Youth Villages through

decisions.”

Mississippi Youth Programs Around the Clock.

Ladainian went out for the city football team. He ran for class vice presi-

“I think he decided he was tired

dent at his school.

Ladainian with Youth Villages MYPAC Coordinator Brian Townsend

of getting into trouble,” said Brian

“I lost by one vote,” Ladainian said.

Townsend, Youth Villages MYPAC

“Next year, I’m going to run for presi-

situation, he walks away. He’s become

coordinator. “But there was a lot that

dent.”

closer to his siblings and his parents.

changed all at the same time that helped him as well.”

Now 12 years old, Ladainian’s true personality is showing — his wit, his

Brian and a previous Youth Villages

charm, his energy and the countless

Most importantly, he’s back to being a regular kid again.

“Brian believed in Ladainian and

coordinator showed Ladainian dif-

other things that make you smile

showed us ways to help him,” said

ferent ways to cope with frustrating

when you speak to him or see him.

Ladainian’s mom. “We also found out

or difficult situations. Brian worked

He’s back in regular school and do-

we had to do some work as well. It’s so

with the family and the school and

ing well. When faced with a difficult

much better now than what it was.”

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MYPAC provides intensive services to youth with significant emotional and behavioral problems and their families where they need it the most — at home.

For information, please call Reginald Starks toll-free at 866-604-6255 or e-mail Reginald.Starks@youthvillages.org.

COLLECTIVE APPROACH WORKS BEST FOR SEAN Family, school and Sean work together to achieve success Sean will soon turn 12.

He’s looking forward to junior high school, playing football, continuing his artwork and the upcoming mental challenges of being in his school’s gifted program.

His mother, Amanda, talks about her son with a mother’s pride. But her

Sean, Katina, Amanda and Kimberly

pride in her son also contains the context of his jour-

she said. “He’d lash out at

ney. Not just his journey,

them, his peers and anyone

behaved and informative,”

but the family’s.

else. He was disrespectful

Katina said. “During the

to adults. He even cut open

family’s first team meeting,

working with Sean. They

mattresses.”

we created a behavior plan

found effective and ap-

for the home and a de-esca-

propriate ways for Sean to

lation plan.”

communicate his feelings

When he was in kindergarten, Sean was diagnosed with ADHD. Subsequent di-

He was failing at school.

“Sean was very well-

were doing, and they got on board with helping Sean.”

Kimberly continued

agnoses followed as a result

But the cause was more

of numerous behavior prob-

than Sean’s medical condi-

lems – defiance and physi-

tion. His father lived in a

tion. Most importantly,

cal and verbal aggression.

different city, and he didn’t

he had to respect author-

Amanda worked a difficult

know how to cope with his

ity and accept being told

ball. In addition to being a

schedule that required her

mother’s job that kept her

no. Youth Villages Mental

great way for Sean to re-

to be away from the home

away from home every

Health Therapist Kim-

lease aggression, the sport

for long periods of time,

other week. Relatives and

berly Rose helped Sean

also introduced discipline

and extended family and

babysitters supervised him

cope with his environment

and responsibility.

babysitters then cared for

differently. The mixed mes-

through breathing and re-

Sean.

sages caused more prob-

laxation techniques. Fam-

school. Amanda says he

lems with Sean’s behavior.

ily meetings with aunts,

still has episodes, but he

It was untenable.

grandparents, babysitters

acts and behaves more like

and even Sean’s friends

a typical 11-year-old.

“We went through numerous babysitters,” Amanda said. “I never knew what to

Katina Veal, Youth Vil-

Sean had to accept direc-

expect when I was home,

lagage’ Mississippi Youth

resulted in consistent mes-

and I was anxious when I

Programs Around the

sages.

had to work.”

Clock Primary Service

She got called many times.

“They’d say, ‘We can’t do anything with him,’”

as well as ways to dissipate his aggression.

And then, there was foot-

Sean is back in regular

“It just shows how things can change when everyone

“Each adult had strengths

gets on board to help,” she

Coordinator, first met the

to use toward decreasing

said. “We’re continuing to

family at a fast-food restau-

Sean’s negative behaviors,”

work, but it’s so much bet-

rant and explained what

Katina said. “We showed

ter now.”

would happen.

school officials what we

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HONORING EXCELLENCE Youth Villages Mississippi recently honored Susan Garrard, president and CEO of the Mississippi Children’s Museum, at its first annual Tribute to Excellence.

The event recognizes community leaders who have made a great impact in the lives of Mississippi’s children and showcases Youth Villages’ outcomes in

Garrard was honored for her efforts to care for and educate Mississippi children privately and as president and CEO of the Mississippi Children’s Museum.

restoring and strengthening families. Through her leadership, Garrard has created a place where thousands of Mississippi children can be inspired and learn in a fun and positive environment. Nearly 200 people attended the event at the Country Club of Jackson and the event raised more than $23,000 for Youth Villages

Above, Youth Villages CEO Patrick Lawler with Garrard, center, and Fred Burns.

Below, Katja Russell, executive director of Youth Villages Mississippi, with Hu Meena, CEO of C Spire Wireless

Mississippi.

Thank you to our sponsors

Platinum C Spire Wireless

Supporting

Silver

Breese Law Office PLLC

Capitol Resources LLC

Community Trust Bank

Tellus Operating Group LLC

Jack and Sigrid Conway Karla Steckler Tye

Table Sponsor

Gold

Susan and William Smith

Magnolia Health Plan

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Kathryn Simmons Dr. Michael Forster Nick Greener Pileum Corporation

Bronze

On Demand Medical Testing

BankPlus

Maggie and Seymour Pooley

Butler Snow

River Hills Bank

Amanda Jones Tollison

Speed Commercial Real Estate

McNeely Plastics

Nerhus Properties

Thank you The following donors made gifts of $50 or more to Youth Villages between Jan. 1 and Oct. 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 the Youth Villages Community Relations department at 601-572-3750.

YV Protector ($5,000 to $9,999) C Spire Wireless

YV Builder ($1,000 to $4,999) John & Lind Bussey Capitol Resources LLC Hiram Creekmore Terry Godfrey Magnolia Health Plan Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall Tellus Operating Group LLC

Friend of Youth Villages (up to $999) Martha Andre BancorpSouth BankPlus Henry Barbour Buddie Barksdale Kenneth and Lucette Bennett Dean and Ann Blackwell Paige Branch Robert E. Branch Kim & Katie Breese Breese Law Office PLLC Brooks Buchanan Buffalo Wild Wings Casey Butts Lorene Christmon Kimberly Hampton Clark Jack & Sigrid Conway James Corley L. P. Daniel Ralph Daniel Richard David Polly Dean Mary Everett Mayo & Renee Flynt Alton Folks

JOIN OUR EFFORTS Michael Forster Senator Hillman Frazier Friends of the Ridgeland Library John & Jan Gadow Nick Greener Carlvin A. Greenway Russell Harrison Thomas Hawthorne Tish & Haden Hughes Gayle P. Johnson Michael Jones Martin & Betty Jue Savitri Kamath Charles & Virgi Lindsay Darden & Molly Macwade John C. McCants McNeely Plastics Scott & Starr Miller Jude and Fred Muse David Napier Nehrus Properties Sherry Nox On Demand Medical Testing Carolyn Pillow Paula Pixler Seymour & Maggie Pooley Stephen Rozman St. Philip’s Episcopal Church Kathryn Simmons Charles R. Smith Cynthia Smith Susan Smith Butler Snow Speed Commercial Real Estate Paul & Cindy Tauchar Amanda Tollison Tracy Topps Carolyn Townes Trustmark National Bank Prentiss Turman Karla Steckler Tye Irene Walton Ashley Warren Lee Weeks Paula Whitfield Kelley & M’Lee Williams Georgia Wise Brandi Worthington

Honorariums Lee Rone Frances Morrison Waymond L. Rone Susan Garrard Bill & Hope Bynum

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

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

Often, our children come

André Conway

from extremely disadvantaged situations.

In Mississippi, we can accept clothing or household items for children of all ages and families. For information on how you can make a difference, please contact:

André Conway 601-572-3750 Andre.Conway@youthvillages.org

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.

It contains information that may be valuable to you. Simply go to youthvillages.org/

Steve Benskin

plannedgiving and you’re there.

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 wills and bequests, gifts of appreciated stock or gifts of real estate. In addition, there is a section on “why do I need a will,” a glossary of terms, an estate intention form and much more. For information, please contact Steve Benskin at 901-2514820 or e-mail steve.benskin@youthvillages.org.

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YOUTH VILLAGES 805 South Wheatley Street, Suite 240 Ridgeland, MS 39157 (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 Mississippi is published by Youth Villages

Managing Editor: Katja Russell

Associate Editor: Chris Pennington Please e-mail andre.conway@youthvillages.org or call 601-572-3750 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.