New
SPRING
HEIGHTS
2022
FAMILY VICTORIES FROM YOUTH VILLAGES
INTERCEPT RATED “WELLSUPPORTED” ®
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
• BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD HELPS EXPAND NORTH CAROLINA PROGRAMS • YOUTH VILLAGES CELEBRATES ANNIE SMITH’S 25 YEARS OF SERVICE • DONOR SPOTLIGHT: DEBRA BAILEY
UPDATE
FROM YOUTH VILLAGES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR For 17 years, Youth Villages has been providing better outcomes for youth, families and young adults in North Carolina through our intensive, community in-home counseling services. May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, and I want to take this opportunity to thank our staff who have worked tirelessly on behalf of the children and families they support and to our donors and volunteers who have invested in these evidencebased practices for our community. We are proud to serve this region and grateful for your involvement as community partners. It is with great pride that I share the Youth Villages Intercept program model has received a “well-supported” designation from the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse. You can learn more about this designation on the next page of this newsletter. Intercept is one of only 12 programs in the country to earn the “well-supported” distinction from the Clearinghouse. It shows that the program model provides better outcomes for children and families across the nation and will give North Carolina access to federal funding to supplement these critical programs for families. Additionally, we are proud to highlight our State Director, Annie Smith, who has dedicated 25 years to Youth Villages. She has not only been instrumental in the growth of our programs, like Intercept, but the stories she has collected throughout the years showcase her passion for the important work we do with youth and families. Thank you for your compassion and commitment to our mission. Your generosity allows us to improve outcomes for kids and young adults and gives them the tools to lead the successful lives they deserve. You make a difference in the lives of those we serve and for that, we are grateful.
NORTH CAROLINA OFFICE LOCATIONS Asheville Boone Charlotte Fayetteville Greensboro Greenville Louisburg Raleigh-Durham Waynesville Wilmington
Youth Villages is a national leader in children’s mental and behavioral health, committed to building strong families, delivering effective services and significantly improving outcomes for children, families and young people involved in child welfare and juvenile justice systems across the country. Founded in 1986, the organization’s 3,400 employees help more than 32,000 children annually in 23 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.
How are we doing? We’d love to hear feedback from you, so we can continue to improve and give you content you enjoy.
Paul Enderson EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NORTH CAROLINA paul.enderson@youthvillages.org 865-560-2548
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© 2022 Youth Villages, Inc. All rights reserved.
YOUTH VILLAGES INTERCEPT EARNS “WELLSUPPORTED” RATING FEDERAL FUNDING WILL EXPAND PROGRAM TO SERVE MORE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES The Youth Villages Intercept program model recently achieved an important milestone earning the “wellsupported” rating from the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse. The rating allows states to receive federal funding to pay for our effective in-home program that strengthens and restores families and reduces the need for foster care or out-of-home care. Intercept is one of only 12 models in the country to receive this highest rating. “Nearly 30 years ago, Youth Villages made intensive inhome services the foundation of everything we do,” said CEO Patrick Lawler. “This endorsement is a testament to the work of thousands of family intervention specialists and will enable the expansion of the program through direct services and implementing agency partners to help more children and families across the country.” Every year, more than four million families across the country find themselves at a difficult crisis point that could cause a child to be placed in foster care or an out-of-home treatment program. Family intervention specialists intercept struggling families, helping them find their way to wellbeing with behavioral and emotional health interventions for the child and systemic support for every member of the family. Last year, Intercept helped more than 10,000 families in 13 states. Youth Villages began intensive in-home services in 1995, through initial funding from the Plough Foundation, and the Intercept program has become an integral part of positive change in child welfare systems in the states where it serves.
The rating is based on two studies led by Dr. Fred Wulczyn’s team from the Center for State Child Welfare Data at Chapin Hall at The University of Chicago. The studies found that Intercept had positive impacts on preventing placement in foster care and helping children achieve permanency quickly if out-of-home care is necessary. The evaluations concluded: Placement: Intercept reduced the chances of out-ofhome placement by 53% following the first maltreatment investigation. The effect of Intercept was sustained at six and 12 months after Intercept services ended. Permanency: Compared to a matched comparison group, after controlling for how long they were in care, the odds of achieving permanency were approximately 24% higher for the Intercept group. Placement–A Second Look: Examining a more recent sample of youth, Intercept reduced the chances of outof-home placement by 37% following a maltreatment investigation. Note that the observation window was shorter for this study, which may partially account for the difference in findings. The Clearinghouse—established by the Administration for Children and Families within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services—conducts objective and transparent reviews of research on programs and services intended to provide enhanced support to children and families and prevent foster care placements. It determines what services can be funded under the Family First Prevention Services Act.
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THE FORCE FOR FAMILY PRESERVATION Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) is partnering with Youth Villages, through its Healthy Blue Medicaid plan, to extend the reach of our community-based services to some of North Carolina’s most vulnerable communities.
The collaboration focuses on keeping families together to prevent children from entering foster care through our intensive in-home therapies. “We know the value that home, family and community have on the health of all people, but especially young people,” said Fran Gary, Blue Cross NC senior vice president of government markets. “We see it every day, and we are committed to creating the opportunity for every child and family across all of our communities to thrive.” There is no replacing the value of a stable family and the long-term impact it has on health, well-being and success. We are thrilled that Blue Cross NC is supporting Youth Villages again with a $50,000 Healthy Blue investment to launch Intercept, a program dedicated to keeping families unified, in New Hanover and surrounding counties. When children are at high risk of entering the foster care system or a group home, Intercept services help change the family’s trajectory with intensive support, new parenting and communication skills, and evidence- and strengths-based
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mental health intervention services. Family intervention specialists work with both the child and caregiver, meeting multiple times a week and providing aroundthe-clock, on-call crisis support. The comprehensive treatment approach includes advocating extensively to access community resources and linking to long-term, ongoing support. “Youth Villages is grateful for Blue Cross NC’s vision to improve the health of young people in our state,” said Paul Enderson, executive director of Youth Villages North Carolina. “Together, we can help children avoid out-of-home placements by facilitating consistent support and intervention to families and young people to pave the way for a healthier future.” Blue Cross NC has also helped older youth by investing $ 1 million in our LifeSet™ program, which helps young adults aging out of foster care make a successful transition to adulthood.
Love makes a family, and our outreach success creates smiles.
Creating Opportunity through Home, Family and Community Through evidence-based programing, Youth Villages helps children with emotional and behavioral problems and their families live successfully. LIFESET HELPS FOSTER CARE YOUTH TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD (RESULTS FROM FY19-FY21)
94%
living with family or independently
91%
in school, graduate or employed
94%
no trouble with the law
INTERCEPT KEEPS FAMILIES TOGETHER 53% reduction in out-of-home placement
Sustained success at 6 and 12 months after services end
24% increase in permanent in-home placement
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MAY IS NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH MONTH
INTERCEPT IS A GAME CHANGER IN MENTAL HEALTH INTERCEPT HELPED CASSIDY WITH HER MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES In 2019, 16-year-old Cassidy was in an in-patient mental health center. She struggled for years with depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation. In just one year, Cassidy was hospitalized for her mental health nine times. These hospitalizations were hard on Cassidy as she felt ripped away from her family and her community. Cassidy’s mom, Ellen, wanted to do everything possible to keep her daughter at home when she was referred to the Youth Villages Intercept program. Approximately five million children across the United States have a serious mental health condition, and unnecessary hospital stays can cause significant trauma to a young person. Youth Villages helps keep kids at home and in their communities while receiving mental health treatment by working with the whole family to provide intensive support, new parenting and communication skills, and evidence and strengths-based mental health intervention services. Cassidy struggles every day with anxiety, depression and self-harming behaviors. She also struggled with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts and was not allowed to be left alone for fear that she might hurt herself.
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Now, as part of the Intercept program, Ellen and Cassidy call the 24/7 Youth Villages crisis line to help de-escalate crisis situations when they arise. Mother and daughter meet with their family intervention specialist three times every week, sometimes at home, sometimes in the community—even at Cassidy’s favorite coffee shop. They work on coping skills and grounding techniques,
affirmations, communication and Cassidy’s self-esteem. Her specialist conducts safety sweeps at home and works with Ellen to create safety plans. Thanks to her time and success in the Intercept program, which recently was rated among 12 evidence-based models as “well-supported” by the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse, it has been more than a year since Cassidy’s last hospitalization. She is enrolled in a therapeutic school and is on the honor roll. Ellen and Cassidy both feel comfortable and safe leaving Cassidy at home alone now—something Ellen never thought she would be able to do again. Cassidy sometimes still struggles with self-image and negative thoughts. Her specialist created a personalized affirmation book for her to use as a tool when she is having a tough time. “Youth Villages has been an invaluable asset for my family,” Ellen said. “We are very grateful for their help, and they have been a game changer in my daughter’s mental health journey.” For the first time, Cassidy is looking forward to what is next. She now envisions a future for herself and dreams big. She has started visiting colleges and wants to pursue a career in art. “Our specialist managed to support not just Cassidy, but all of us,” Ellen said. “She made us a better family. I will be forever grateful for everything Youth Villages did to keep my daughter alive.”
ANNIE SMITH REFLECTS ON 25 YEARS AT YOUTH VILLAGES “ANNIE, YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE THAT EVER SHOWS UP.” THOSE WORDS HAVE STUCK WITH YOUTH VILLAGES NORTH CAROLINA STATE DIRECTOR ANNIE SMITH, WHO IS CELEBRATING HER 25TH ANNIVERSARY WITH THE ORGANIZATION.
psychotic episodes. Annie remembers the many late nights she sat in the hospital waiting room with the mother holding her hand because no one else from the family would come to sit by her side. The girl finally started to keep up with her medication, and with Annie’s help, she found alternative ways to deal with things that triggered her episodes. “I created a bond with both the mother and daughter, and I kept in touch with them for years,” Annie remembered. Annie’s dedication is a testament to the great services we provide to underserved youth, and the great workplace Youth Villages strives to provide for every employee. Throughout her career, Annie continued to challenge herself to learn and grow into a state leader, as she kept her passion for helping others at the forefront. At an event hosted for donors a few years back, Annie witnessed a transformational moment for keynote speaker Jenny, who was in our LifeSet program. Jenny was invited to speak about her past. It was the first time she’d ever spoken publicly about what she’d been through. Jenny was allotted 15 minutes to speak and ended up speaking for nearly 45 minutes about the abuse she endured throughout her childhood that led her to being placed in over 45 foster situations. “I will never forget the way she gripped that microphone,” Annie said. “I wouldn’t let anyone cut her off because you could see the world lifted off her shoulders. This was the final piece in her recovery. It transformed her, and we ended up getting her a microphone to forever remember that moment.” Annie’s success is credited to those she has encountered and worked with over the years, including Pat Lawler, CEO of Youth Villages; Charmaine Kromer, COO for Communitybased Programs; and Paul Enderson, executive director of North Carolina. Annie credits them for pushing her beyond her comfort zone, challenging her and bringing her strengths to the forefront.
Back in October of 1996, Annie began her journey with Youth Villages. After receiving her master’s degree in Germany, Annie flew back to the States and started working in the Multisystemic Therapy® program soon after its launch at Youth Villages. In this program, she worked with many youth who dealt with mental and behavioral issues, and many times their parents also showcased those same attributes. One young girl she worked with lost her father to suicide and was admitted to the program after having her own
All of Youth Villages’ leadership, including Annie, are thrilled that the Youth Villages Intercept program is now ranked “well-supported” by the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse. “I think we’ll continue to step out front nationally in the child welfare space,” Annie said. “Our way of working with families, backed in data and science, can help others envision that there’s a better way to keep children in their homes.” It is all those youth and families that she has encountered throughout her 25 years though that keep Annie going. “I have always been proud to work for Youth Villages because we show up and we never shut the door.”
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(left) Sha’Kyra was thrilled to receive a laptop for school from donors to Youth Villages’ Backpack Heroes program.
When she was 12 years old, Sha’Kyra went through a similar experience with the passing of her grandfather. Everyone thought they knew what was best for her. Sha’Kyra, an introvert, tried other ways—mostly negative— to handle her grief. Sha’Kyra’s grandparents gained full custody when she was 2 because her mother was unable to financially care for her. While in her grandparents’ care, she and her grandfather developed a special relationship. She was his favorite. When he passed away, her life turned upside down. “When her grandfather passed, Sha’Kyra suffered trauma and went into depression,” said Devon Martinez, Youth Villages Regional Supervisor who worked with her near the end of her treatment. The way Sha’Kyra dealt with her grandfather’s death affected her actions at school, where she faced disciplinary incidents and bullying on a regular basis. Her home life wasn’t any better. Her grandmother Tonya’s outspoken personality engulfed her shy nature. This built more communication barriers between them.
HEALING THROUGH WORDS SOMETIMES, THE CLOSEST PEOPLE TO US—FAMILY AND FRIENDS—DON’T UNDERSTAND. THEY MAY THINK THEY KNOW THE SITUATION BETTER THAN ANYONE, EVEN THE PERSON WHO IS SUFFERING. INSTEAD OF HELPING THAT PERSON, IT MAY LEAD TO FURTHER ISSUES. 8
Sha’Kyra was referred to Youth Villages Intercept. The program intercepts families at a critical crossroad—serious mental health needs of a child, family substance abuse or neglect, a child’s juvenile court charges—and gives the comprehensive support needed to keep the family together. Despite Tonya not being “all-in,” Sha’Kyra began the sessions, and the family didn’t miss any. As the sessions continued, she shared more about the relationship with her grandmother before and after her grandfather’s death. For the next step, the specialist recommended she write about her feelings in a trauma narrative and read it to Tonya. Seven months into the program, she did that. It was Sha’Kyra’s narrative that started Tonya not only believing the program was working but also seeing their relationship mending. “Sha’Kyra conquered that fear about the relationship with her grandmother,” Devon said. “Tonya learned to listen and trust.” Their home life improved. In only a month after sharing her trauma narrative, Sha’Kyra was discharged from services. “After months of working with us, it opened her (Tonya’s) eyes about how helpful mental health services can be,” Devon said. “To see how far they’ve come is really cool.”
BECOME A HERO BIRTHDAY // BACKPACK // HOLIDAY
Help spread joy throughout the year by becoming a Birthday, Backpack or Holiday Hero to youth and young adults we serve. To learn how you can become a Hero:
alysyn.brewer@youthvillages.org To learn how your company can sponsor these statewide campaigns:
erica.ellis@youthvillages.org
youthvillages.org Information | Online Donations | Corporate Partnerships
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DONOR SPOTLIGHT DEBRA BAILEY Why did you become involved with Youth Villages? I learned about this group when reading about Janie’s Fund, Steven Tyler’s partnership with Youth Villages for abused girls. My own past had a lot of abuse, and I knew the impact it had on my life. So, I was drawn to donate to that cause. I learned that he had researched organizations and had chosen to work with Youth Villages because of the quality of their programs and their demonstrated effectiveness. I looked at the website for Youth Villages and was impressed. So, I signed up to be a donor.
What is one moment or story that sticks with you about impact Youth Villages is having?
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It was reading this on the Youth Villages website: “Every year, approximately 20,000 young people turn 18 in foster care; they need comprehensive support as they transition from state services to independence. With few resources, they must work to overcome the impact of childhood adversity as they navigate the adult world. LifeSet puts transition-age youth in the driver’s seat of their lives with a trained specialist by their side to help them identify and achieve goals.”
Debra with her son, Matt, and husband, Ed.
THAT is what I really responded to—you can’t just take a child and say, “You’re 18 ... You’re done ... You’re on your own.” That is just not realistic. ALL of us need support to get started. An 18-year-old in today’s society NEEDS that support. That hit me.
Why do you personally support Youth Villages with your monthly donation? I have a place in my heart for abused youth, for kids who have faced so many challenges early in life. And I know from raising my own son, that it isn’t about being rich, it’s about constant, consistent support and care. You can have a great organization with great staff, but there are the practical realities—bills that need to be paid—that affect whether a group like Youth Villages can be there for these kids. Those kids deserve to have some constant, consistent support in their lives. Too often they have not had that. So, steady giving—no matter how much or how little— but steady, constant support can make all the difference. To have consistent monthly donors lets Youth Villages make a budget and know what they can do. So, I am here for Youth Villages, for these youth and families, every single month.
NORTH CAROLINA CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN JULY 1 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2021
VISIONARY
50,000 to $99,999
$
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation
PILLAR
25,000 to $49,999
$
Anna and Chris Hunter | Novant Health Piedmont Natural Gas
LEADER
10,000 to $24,999
$
Mansfield Family | Sara and Brian Boehm
PROTECTOR 5,000 to 9,999
$
$
Doug Miskew | Gastonia Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Heather and Daniel Bradshaw | Rick Linville United Bank | Vaya Health
JOIN OUR EFFORTS
BECOME A FORCE FOR FAMILIES Choose to become a Youth Villages Ambassador, volunteer or donate to our programs. Your support can have a direct impact on the thousands of youth and families we serve each year in North Carolina.
GET INVOLVED Become an Ambassador, make a donation with a check, stock or donor-advised fund Erica Ellis, Development Director erica.ellis@youthvillages.org | 704-510-5642
Volunteer as an Individual or Group Alysyn Brewer, Development Coordinator alysyn.brewer@youthvillages.org | 704-510-5603
STAY IN TOUCH ONLINE twitter.com/youthvillages facebook.com/youthvillages instagram.com/youthvillages linkedin.com/company/youth-villages youtube.com/youthvillages
BUILDER
1,000 to $4,999
$
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. Anchor Capital Management Company, LLC B and M Vending, LLC | Charles Holloman Columbia Forest Products | Debra and Allen Campbell James Edmonds | Stephanie and Paul McDonald Sarah and Taylor Vaughn | The Joey Logano Foundation Urban Skin RX
YOUTHVILLAGES.ORG
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YOUTH VILLAGES
NONPROFIT ORG
8604 Cliff Cameron Drive, Suite 152 Charlotte, NC 28269
U.S. POSTAGE PERMIT 1324
(Address Service Requested)
YOUTH VILLAGES
Youth Villages is a private nonprofit that serves more than 32,000 children and their families each year from offices in the following cities: Alabama: Auburn, Birmingham, Mobile Arkansas: Jonesboro, Searcy, West Memphis, Fort Smith Florida: Lakeland Georgia: Atlanta, Douglasville Indiana: Bloomington, Columbus, Indianapolis, Madison Louisiana: Metairie Kentucky: Lexington, Louisville Massachusetts: Boston, Marlborough, West 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: Worthington Oklahoma: Oklahoma City, Tulsa Oregon: Bend, Portland, Salem Tennessee: Chattanooga, Clarksville, Columbia, Cookeville, Dickson, Dyersburg, Jackson, Johnson City, Knoxville, Memphis, Morristown, Nashville, Paris Washington, D.C. New Heights North Carolina is published by Youth Villages Prefer not to receive a printed newsletter? Email cynthia.vanelli@youthvillages.org or call 901-251-5000. To also receive a digital copy of our newsletters and join our email list, sign up at youthvillages.org/stay-informed.