FAMILY VICTORIES FROM YOUTH VILLAGES SPRING 2025
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: WE NEED HEROES
SUPPORTING BACKPACK HEROES AND HOLIDAY HEROES INITIATIVES
• HEROES ARE NEEDED
• YOUTH VILLAGES CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF CHAFEE
• DONOR SPOTLIGHT: EDDIE MCGRATH
UPDATE
FROM YOUTH VILLAGES
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
I’m thrilled to share incredible news — because of supporters like you, we’re reaching more young people and families across New England than ever before. Your belief in our mission has fueled this momentum, allowing us to expand into new communities while continuing our deep partnership with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to provide life-changing services to nearly 2,500 youth and young adults each year.
In just six months, our Rhode Island team has grown to provide critical support to 60 families. On Nantucket, we’ve welcomed our first specialist, strengthening our Cape and Islands team and delivering essential services to 40 families in coastal communities.
And in Maine, our own Clinical Supervisor Bri Hadley received the prestigious Gold Kite Award for her extraordinary dedication. Her persistence and quick thinking helped locate a missing youth in a dangerous situation, giving a desperate family the chance to bring their child home safely. As a parent myself, I can only imagine the relief and gratitude that family felt — this is the kind of impact your support makes possible. Read more about Bri’s incredible work on the next page.
We’re not stopping here. Our vision is to reach even more youth and families in need, and you can help spread the word by following our new Instagram handle: @youthvillagesnewengland. Stay connected for real-time updates and inspiring stories of transformation.
Thank you for being an essential part of this journey. Because of you, young people and families across New England have hope, support and a path forward.
Matt Stone EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR YOUTH VILLAGES NEW ENGLAND matthew.stone@youthvillages.org
781-937-7917
New England Advisory Board
Amanda Eisel, Chair
Peter Campanella
Ryan Hayden
Clarence Hinton
Fran Lawler
Kristen Lucken
Pamela Giasson Lynch
Malisa Schuyler
Marc Sorel
Pramila Yadav, MD
Youth Villages is a national leader in mental and behavioral health committed to finding the most effective solutions to help children, families and young adults overcome obstacles and live successfully. Working through direct services, partnerships with innovative public agencies and advocacy, we collaborate to bring positive change to child welfare, children’s mental health and justice systems. Our 4,500 employees serve more than 43,000 children and young adults in more than 100 locations in 27 states and the District of Columbia. Youth Villages has been recognized by the Harvard Business School and U.S. News & World Report and was identified by The White House as one of the nation’s most promising results-oriented nonprofit organizations.
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Receiving her award from Patrick Lawler, CEO, and Youth Villages leadership at our annual employee conference, October 2024. L to R: CEO Patrick Lawler; Brianna Hadley; Regional Supervisor Meg Hull; New England State Director Lori Sustek; and COO Charmaine Kromer.
HONORING BRIANNA’S IMPACT
The Gold Kite Award recognizes Youth Villages employees who best exemplify the mission and values of the organization and who demonstrate “The YV Way” in their daily work. It’s the most prestigious award an employee can receive from Youth Villages. In 2024, there were 274 nominations, 23 finalists and seven award recipients.
We are proud to recognize Intercept® Clinical Supervisor Brianna “Bri” Hadley for her exceptional work and dedication to Youth Villages’ mission. She has demonstrated unwavering commitment to both the youth and families she serves, exemplifying our core beliefs through every action.
One of Bri’s most impactful cases involved a youth who had been missing for an extended period, with her family fearing the worst. Bri quickly sprang into action, strategically listening to the mother’s concerns and pursuing every lead, including overlooked information that even local law enforcement had missed.
Through her innovative approach, Bri empowered the family to take action and ultimately located the youth across state lines and bring her home safely. The mother later shared, "If it wasn’t for Bri, my daughter wouldn’t be here today. She saved her life." Bri’s actions not only saved a life but also restored hope and strength to a family in crisis.
When reflecting on her experience, the mother said, “Bri helped me verbalize what I was feeling when no one else could. She brought me out of a paralyzed state and gave me the strength to keep fighting for my daughter.” This powerful testimony highlights Bri’s ability to connect deeply with families, restoring hope and resilience in the face of overwhelming circumstances.
Her leadership extends beyond individual cases. As one colleague noted, "Bri is an excellent leader who adapts her approach to meet the needs of both families and her team. Her commitment to ensuring everyone succeeds is evident in the outcomes we achieve."
Bri is a shining example of the dedication, heart and innovation that drive Youth Villages forward. She is just one of the many staff that work tirelessly to reunite families. We are incredibly grateful for her leadership and the positive difference she continues to make in the lives of our youth and families.
Hope in every backpack, a grateful mother and her children receive school supplies from generous donors.
WE NEED HEROES
Supporting Backpack Heroes and Holiday Heroes initiatives
The need for kindness, compassion and community support has never been greater. At the heart of this effort are initiatives like Backpack Heroes and Holiday Heroes, which help children and families in need. These programs not only offer tangible relief but also inspire hope, resilience and a sense of normalcy.
The increase in the number of wish lists submitted for these initiatives over the last year is a testament to their significance and the growing awareness of the challenges faced by many children. What started as a modest effort to provide backpacks filled with school supplies or holiday gifts for children has evolved into a powerful movement driven by the needs of communities that often go unnoticed.
These numbers represent real families, real children and real dreams. The increase in backpacks and wish lists highlights the undeniable reality that, more than ever, we need heroes to step in and lend a hand.
Confident and ready, these students are set to shine this school year!
It’s easy to overlook how the profound impact these initiatives have on those we serve until we hear their voices as powerful reminders:
“Starting at a new school was already nerve-wracking for my son, especially after having to switch schools due to bullying. Thanks to the new backpack and school supplies, he feels a little more confident walking into his first day. As a parent, it’s such a relief to see him smile again, and I’m filled with hope for what’s ahead.”
- Bill, Intercept parent
“This thank you card is from a 3-yearold who loves her dot paint markers and has used them on every page in her new book! She’s expanding her vocabulary by naming the items and animals she colors. Mom and dad love coloring with her. A big thank you to Holiday Heroes for bringing her so much joy!”
- Riley, Intercept family specialist
None of this would be possible without the dedicated volunteers who make it happen. Whether it’s packing backpacks, shopping for youth or organizing events, volunteers are the backbone of these initiatives.
In the words of one volunteer, “I joined a group of enthusiastic volunteers to support the fantastic Backpack Heroes initiative that aims to make a positive difference in the lives of youth. The event’s mission was simple yet powerful: equipping young minds with the tools they need to thrive in their education and beyond! Thank you for the opportunity.”
While efforts so far have been incredible, the number of children needing support is expected to grow. With that growth, we need additional volunteers, donors and community partners to help meet this demand. Whether it’s by donating a gift, volunteering your time or simply being an advocate for those in need, we all have the power to be heroes.
Join us in making a difference today. Be a hero. Contact Sam at Samantha.Tyler@youthvillages.org.
YOUTH VILLAGES CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF CHAFEE
Chafee, the federal funding stream that provides services to young adults who age out of foster care, now includes additional funds to receive post-secondary education and job training.
Young people who age out of foster care services at 18 experience serious challenges as they make their way in adulthood. Providing support, opportunity and resources for them is a core mission of Youth Villages and our supporters.
Youth Villages LifeSet™, extension of foster care and independent living programs were in Washington, D.C., to take part in a celebration of the 25th anniversary of federal support for current and former foster youth through the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood program.
Thirty-five young people from 13 national organizations went to D.C. for two days of meetings themed: Our Voices, Our Vision — Policy Solutions. Young people advocated for a focus on healing, lifelong family connections and increased economic opportunities. The event was sponsored by the Journey to Success Campaign and partnering organizations, including Youth Villages. The young people are part of multigenerational advocacy that has brought about support and funding for former foster youth. In 1999, young people were influential in the passage of the John H. Chafee
U.S. Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), founder and chair of the Senate Caucus on Foster Care, speaks to young people and advocates.
Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood. Funded by $143 million in 2024, the Chafee program is still the primary federal funding stream that states use to provide services to young adults who age out of foster care systems.
The Chafee program now includes additional funding for young adults to receive post-secondary education and job training. The National Youth in Transition (NYTD) database that collects information and outcomes on youth and young adults currently or formerly in foster care is also funded by the Chafee program.
U.S. Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), founder and chair of the Senate Caucus on Foster Care, and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn), caucus member, spoke to the young people.
Grassley traced his decades of advocacy for foster youth to one young staff member, named Sarah,
who had been adopted and brought foster care issues to his attention.
“Your advocacy is very important,” Grassley told the young people.
“My inspiration to work on these issues came from young people who experienced foster care, and you continue to inspire me today.”
He said the Senate Caucus on Foster Care began in 2008 to create an avenue for youth advocacy and bipartisan collaboration on these issues.
“We’ve been very successful in getting things done,” Grassley said. “But there are some issues we still need to work on.”
Youth Villages is advocating for an increase in Chafee funding to ensure all 50 states can expand services to former foster youth to 21. Other bills would extend services to 26, an age when most parents are still providing financial support to their children.
DONOR SPOTLIGHT BUILDING STRONGER FUTURES TOGETHER
EDDIE MCGRATH
FOUNDER
AND CEO, ROCKLAND RECOVERY GROUP
How did you get involved with Youth Villages?
I first became involved with Youth Villages through the director of development who is also a family friend in the community. Youth Villages’ reputation and commitment to helping young people transition successfully to adulthood resonated deeply with the values of my own family and my organization. Their focus on comprehensive care aligns with our approach, making it a natural partnership.
How does your professional life intersect with the work Youth Villages is doing?
My professional life intersects with Youth Villages through our shared mission of supporting individuals with complex needs. At Rockland Recovery Group, our mission and values align with Youth Villages’ because we share a deep commitment to supporting families in their journey to recovery. Whether addressing mental health challenges, behavioral issues or transitional support, both organizations emphasize person-centered care. Our program often collaborates with community resources like Youth Villages to ensure continuity of care for families, creating a network of support that maximizes success.
If you could give one piece of advice to a young person and/or family we serve, what would that be?
I would encourage young people and families to believe in the possibility of change and to lean into the support systems around them. As a person in long-term recovery, if I hadn't asked for help and utilized community resources, I would not be where I am today. Growth and healing
take time, but with the right resources, transformation is possible. Don’t be afraid to ask for help; it’s a sign of strength, not weakness.
What is the inspiration to continue to support Youth Villages?
The inspiration to continue supporting Youth Villages comes from witnessing the impact they have on the lives of young people and their families. Their focus on providing a strong foundation for the future aligns with our mission of fostering resilience and independence in the individuals we serve. Knowing that our support contributes to lifechanging outcomes motivates us to remain involved and committed to their mission.
Eddie McGrath
LIFESET GIVES SHARON MICHELLE A PURPOSE TO LIVE
The teenage years are a tough time for most young people to handle. In her younger teens, Sharon Michelle faced more uphill climbs than many her age. She lived in three different homes, exposed to substance use and required to follow strict rules. She was never allowed to make friends, attend after-school activities and get a job, all the things her peers enjoyed.
The LifeSet program empowered Sharon Michelle to overcome her challenges and build a brighter future for herself.
The trauma she suffered took away her hope for a promising future. “I believed when I turned 18, I was going to run away and disappear,” Sharon Michelle said.
CHANGES, ABUSE LED TO A DARK TIME
The challenges for Sharon Michelle started just before middle school when she lived with her mother who abused drugs. As a result, she was removed and placed with her grandfather. During her time there, she never enrolled or attended school.
Two years later, Sharon Michelle moved again, this time to live with her father, and re-enrolled in school. Despite missing the previous two years of school, she was placed in eighth grade.
“I kept myself reading those two years,” Sharon Michelle said. “Reading was how I got through a lot of things.”
The time in her father’s home quickly turned downhill due to substance use by her father and stepmother. Arguments broke out, and their anger frequently spilled over to Sharon Michelle.
“It got to the point where it was no longer just emotional abuse,” Sharon Michelle said. “They had gotten physical with each other. Over time, they began to get physical with me.”
At school, Sharon Michelle was a good student but was only allowed to attend class and nothing else. Her father made her come home immediately after school every day.
Finally, she talked with her school counselor who encouraged her to contact Child Protection Services. She did, but after CPS came by the home, the situation got worse. Friction in the home grew.
“It was a toxic household,” Sharon Michelle said. “I had been in a dark place for some time. Those suicidal thoughts came back that day, and I was taken to a medical facility.”
LIFESET OFFERS
SHARON MICHELLE A NEW OUTLOOK
After her time at the medical facility, Sharon Michelle was referred to Youth Villages’ LifeSet program, and Erna Sveinsdottir became her specialist. LifeSet is a program that helps young people who have lived experience in foster or kinship care have a successful journey into adulthood.
The challenges, though, didn’t end. Sharon Michelle’s father and stepmother were against her specialist coming to the home, and Sharon Michelle still struggled with suicidal ideation.
“I was so mentally drained and depressed from living there, I had no motivation to do school at all,” Sharon Michelle said. “I was scared to leave because I couldn’t just tell them.”
LifeSet helps young people as they transition to adulthood by teaching life skills, goal setting, help in finding a job and housing, budgeting and more. With encouragement from Erna, Sharon Michelle moved out of her father’s home to a new place where she started working on her plan of finishing high school and attending college.
After her move, Sharon Michelle achieved her first goal: she graduated high school as an honor roll student and enrolled in nursing school.
LifeSet also taught Sharon Michelle, now 19, how to take better care of herself. After no doctor visits for five years, Erna helped Sharon Michelle arrange more than 40 appointments to catch up on her health.
“I’ve worked on taking care of myself more,” Sharon Michelle said. “No one had taught me those things, but Ms. Erna did. She always reminds me to take a day for myself.”
Aside from goal setting, LifeSet helped Sharon Michelle gain self-confidence. She has the courage to set boundaries with others and be more assertive. Most of all, she is happy.
“Before LifeSet, I would look at myself, and I was disgusted,” Sharon Michelle said. “I felt unworthy of living. Being in LifeSet, it gave me a new purpose, a reason to live.”
Now, Sharon Michelle is in her second semester of nursing school and doing well in her classes. She is a LifeSet Scholar, which provides additional support of a mentor to go along with her specialist.
“LifeSet has given me multiple reasons to live,” Sharon Michelle said. “They have done so much for me that it’s hard to put into words. I had nothing; now I have so much.”
For more information on LifeSet, scan the QR code or visit youthvillages.org/lifeset.
Sharon Michelle and her LifeSet specialist, Erna Sveinsdottir.
NEW ENGLAND CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN
JULY 1 – DEC. 31, 2024
INNOVATOR
$ 100,000+
Liz and Phill Gross
The Klarman Family Foundation
The Mellen Charitable Foundation
One8 Foundation
VISIONARY
$ 50,000 to $ 99,999
Simpson Partners, LLC
PILLAR
$ 25,000 to $ 49,999
Anita and Joshua Bekenstein
LEADER
$ 10,000 to $ 24,999
Anonymous
Mickey and Bob Atchinson
Beth Israel Lahey Health
Barbara and Michael Eisenson
The Paul & Phyllis Fireman
Charitable Foundation
Gifford Family Foundation
Hamilton Company Charitable Foundation
Harvest Cove Talent Partners
PROTECTOR
$ 5,000 to $ 9,999
Anonymous
Anonymous
Herbert Dike
Jason Hayes Foundation
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals
Yvette Lowenthal
Lisa and Paul Magidson
Kristin and Paul Marcus
Kathleen and Jeff Mortimer
Jennifer and Seth Stier
Jenny and Rob Swartz
TD Charitable Foundation
BUILDER
$ 1,000 to $ 4,999
Anonymous
Carrie and Timothy Burr
First Congregational Church in Winchester
Sarah and Joshua Greenhill
Leader Bank Charitable Foundation
Maggie and Josh Leffler
Patricia Leonard
Pamela and Tom Lynch
ViB
Memorials
Elaine and Edward McNiff
Kathleen and Jeff Mortimer
*If
Jessica and Josh Lutzker
SBLI
CALLING ALL BACKPACK HEROES!
Help us make a difference this year!
As Backpack Heroes, we have the power to ensure every student starts the school year with the supplies and confidence they need to thrive. Together, we can make this year’s drive the most impactful yet! Join us in spreading the joy of learning and supporting the next generation. Let’s build a brighter future, one backpack at a time!
Reach out to Sam Tyler at Samantha.Tyler@youthvillages.org to learn how to make a lasting impact on students in need.
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN YOUTH VILLAGES’ PROGRAMS.
JOIN OUR EFFORTS BECOME A FORCE FOR FAMILIES
There are many ways you and your company or organization can get involved. Become a volunteer, host a drive at your office, attend an event or sponsor a young person through one of our initiatives. Your support will directly impact the hundreds of young people we serve every day in New England.
GET INVOLVED
Donations & donor-advised fund/foundations
Katie Dilly, Director of Development of New England
Katherine.Dilly@youthvillages.org | 617-680-9034
Events & general support
Mackenzie Giuffre, Development Manager
Mackenzie.Giuffre@youthvillages.org | 781-258-3275
Volunteering & initiatives management
Sam Tyler, Development Coordinator
Samantha.Tyler@youthvillages.org | 781-937-5219
STAY IN TOUCH ONLINE
linkedin.com/company/youth-villages x.com/youthvillages
instagram.com/youthvillagesnewengland facebook.com/youthvillages youtube.com/youthvillages
YOUTH VILLAGES
12 Gill St., Suite 5800
Woburn, MA 01801
(Address Service Requested)
Youth Villages is a private nonprofit that serves more than 43,000 children and their families each year from the following cities and states:
Alabama: Auburn
Arizona: Phoenix
Arkansas: Fayetteville, Little Rock
Florida: Lakeland
Georgia: Atlanta, Douglasville
Indiana: Bloomington, Columbus, Indianapolis
Kentucky: Lexington, Louisville
Louisiana: Metairie
Maine: Portland
Massachusetts: Boston, Marlborough, Springfield, Raynham, Woburn
Mississippi: Biloxi, Greenwood, Hattiesburg, Hernando, Jackson, Meridian, Tupelo
New Hampshire: Manchester, Plymouth
North Carolina: Asheville, Boone, Charlotte, Fayetteville, Greensboro, Greenville, Louisburg, Raleigh-Durham, Waynesville, Wilmington
Ohio: Dayton, Worthington
Oklahoma: Oklahoma City, Tulsa
Oregon: Bend, Portland, Salem
South Carolina: Columbia, Rock Hill
Rhode Island: Providence
Tennessee: Chattanooga, Clarksville, Columbia, Cookeville, Dickson, Dyersburg, Jackson, Johnson City, Knoxville, Memphis, Morristown, Nashville, Paris
Washington, D.C.