Youth Villages | MTN Newsletter | Spring 2023

THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME

MAX AND HIS ADOPTIVE FAMILY WERE INVITED TO ATTEND SUPERBOWL LVII BY THE TENNESSEE TITANS

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

• SAVING A LIFE

• INTERCEPT® HELPS A FAMILY IN CRISIS

• THANK YOU TO OUR HEROES!

FROM YOUTH VILLAGES REGIONAL DIRECTOR

Spring is here, a time for us to focus on ending our (fiscal) year strong by reaching our program goals. Two of these goals are to certify more foster families and hire additional staff to serve Middle Tennessee’s children and families who are most vulnerable.

Foster parents care for children who enter custody through no fault of their own, and there is always a need for more parents. They provide stability and support to a child or sibling group during their greatest time of need. Foster families can change a child’s life, such as one young man who was chosen by the Tennessee Titans to go to the Super Bowl with his adoptive dad.

Here’s other news happening in Middle Tennessee:

• In January, our Intercept program was featured on NewsChannel5 and showcased how our in-home services helped a family start to heal after reaching their breaking point.

• Earlier this year, a new law was enacted. The Access To Foster Care To 21 Act aims to provide guidance and support to young people aging out of foster care. This new law will increase the number of older youth we serve in LifeSet™, a bridge from foster care to adulthood.

• The American Academy of Pediatrics declared the mental health crisis amongst children a national emergency. Read more below about the new national mental health 988 crisis hotline, which connects people directly with counselors to get the help they need.

• The annual Youth Villages Golf Classic supporting LifeSet will be on Monday, June 12 at Temple Hills Country Club. To learn more, contact Lyndsay Wilkinson at lyndsay.wilkinson@youthvillages.org.

Thank you to our foster families, volunteers, supporters, community partners and our dedicated staff who do whatever it takes to help the children and families we serve in Middle Tennessee.

If you have a passion for working with children and young people or helping families find success together, consider a career with Youth Villages by visiting youthvillages.org/careers.

YOUTH VILLAGES MIDDLE TENNESSEE ADVISORY BOARD

Nate Kenney, Chair

Elaina Brintnall

Scott Brisson

Josh Corey

Sara Eatherly

Jason Egly

Meredith Forehand

Stephen Francescon

Matthew Gann

Bill Hamburg*

Chuck Hoelscher

Ben Madonia

*Honorary board

Sarah Mickle

Shannon Millen

Aylin Ozgener

Chris Patterson

Helen Roudi

Bailey Saunders

Tony Sharpe

Lisa Small*

Betsy Walkup*

Michelle Warren

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 3,600 employees help more than 36,000 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.

Use this QR code to complete our survey.

Brittany Farrar

REGIONAL DIRECTOR, MIDDLE TENNESSEE PROGRAMS brittany.farrar@youthvillages.org

615-250-7322

SAVING A LIFE

BY ADOPTING

Ruchala and Caleb Bone’s world changed with the birth of their first son who was diagnosed with a heart condition.

“We spent a lot of time at Vanderbilt,” Ruchala said. “He needed open heart surgery when he was three months old. We were thrust into the world of medically complex kids that way.”

While they were at the hospital at their son’s bedside, they saw other children with medical complexities at the hospital with no family present and learned that these children were in foster care. Upon hearing that, they knew they wanted to help kids in foster care with medical needs.

“Seeing those kids with no one broke our hearts, and we thought, we can do that. We can be there for them,” Ruchala said.

Caleb and Ruchala became certified foster parents in 2020 and opened their home to children with medical needs. Two of those children were Everitt and Maurice.

“Everitt was 11 weeks old and had epilepsy, cerebral palsy and seizures that they could not get control of,” remembered Ruchala. “Maurice was at the hospital as well, and he was the cutest, so he was very easy to fall in love with.”

The Bones ended up adopting both Everitt in 2021 and Maurice in 2022, giving them a forever home. Sadly, Everitt passed away due to his

Saving continues on page 7

MAURICE, THE BONE FAMILY WILL HELP HIM HAVE A CHANCE AT A HAPPY AND HEALTHY LIFE.

Ruchala and Caleb Bone with their children, including their adopted son Maurice, at their home in Nashville.

THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME

THE TENNESSEE TITANS SURPRISED ONE OF OUR YOUTH, A 17-YEAR-OLD NAMED MAX AND HIS ADOPTIVE DAD, KEVIN, WITH A TRIP TO SUPER BOWL LVII.

What Max thought was a tour of the Titans’ new practice facility turned into one of the greatest days of his life.

“I didn’t know anything, but when we got down to the locker room, I saw my name on a jersey, and thought ‘wow, this is awesome’ and never expected all of this,” said Max.

Then out walks Austin Hooper, tight end for the Tennessee Titans, and presents Max with two tickets to Super Bowl LVII in Arizona along with an autographed Titans jersey. Every year, the Titans give two tickets to the Super Bowl to someone in the community, and when Josh Corey, Director of Marketing, heard about Max and his family, he thought they would be the perfect recipients of this trip.

During the reveal, Max kept asking “why him, what made him special,’ and anyone who knows this young man can tell you exactly how special he is and that he and his adoptive dad, Kevin, are most deserving of this once-in-alifetime experience.

Max spent most of his life in foster care after being placed in custody due to neglect. Max was supposed to stay with the Richardsons for just a weekend, but when it was time to go, he did not want to leave, and Suzanne and Kevin Richardson did not want him to go either.

“I like to call it a Christmas miracle,” said Akelya Marks, foster care clinical supervisor. “Max called me and said he didn’t want to leave, he wanted to stay there, and can I make it happen. This was right before Christmas, but we were able to make it happen, and he was able to spend the holidays with the Richardsons.”

Max and his adoptive dad, Kevin, receive a private tour of the Tennessee Titans locker room at the Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park practice facility.

A few months after first coming to the home, the Richardsons took full guardianship over Max, giving him a home and a family for the first time. Since living with the Richardsons, Max’s grades improved, he got an after-school job, and he loves spending time with the family, specifically watching all Tennessee Titans games with Kevin and going to the games when they are able.

“We are huge football fans,” Max said of him and Kevin. “We both get super into the games!”

When the Titans heard about their story, they decided that they were the

best two fans to receive this “bucket list,” trip that most Americans do not have the chance nor the means to attend.

This gift from the Titans also helped the Richardson family heal after a devastating loss. Right after Christmas, the Richardsons fell victim to a house fire, destroying the house and everything inside.

“Everybody made it out safe, I’m thankful for that,” said Kevin. “But when you lose everything that you had, everything you worked for all your life in 30 minutes, it’s tough and I was heartbroken for my

Max was devastated. He lost all the gifts the Titans gave him, including the autograph Titans jersey by Austin Hooper. He also lost his first true home.

“It’s good to know that even after your lowest lows, there’s still a chance for whatever you have a dream for,” said Max. The family has been a fantastic support for each other as they look to rebuild their house and ultimately their lives. The Titans replaced the items Max lost in the fire, so Max could represent his favorite team at the Super Bowl. More importantly, this trip was a chance for Kevin and Max to forget about the fire for a weekend and even enjoy taking their first flight.

“I think we were both a little nervous about that,” Kevin said. “The joke was whether we would make it, but we did and had a great

time. Something I know I will always remember.”

These two huge football fans got to see the Kansas City Chiefs play the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII and enjoyed the halftime show performed by Rihanna. “From the things I have been through and the places I have come through, it’s crazy to think that I am here, and I got this chance,” Max said.

As the Richardsons rebuild, they continue to foster and care for children at their greatest time of need. If you would like to know more about becoming a foster parent or supporting foster care in your community, visit youthvillages.org/foster.

Above: Max and Titans mascot, T-Rac. Right: Kevin, Austin Hooper, tight end for the Tennessee Titans, Max, Akeyla, foster care supervisor, at the Super Bowl ticket reveal at the Titans practice facility in Nashville.

Our donor spotlight is no stranger to counseling, foster care and the adoption process. As a grant committee member of the Marlene and Spencer Hays Foundation, Julie Hays has truly lived these experiences from all angles.

With a social work degree from Case Western Reserve University, Julie was not only in the foster system as an infant, adopted, and had hands-on experience working in the field, she is now an integral part of the Hays Foundation that gives back to nonprofits who are helping children and families live successfully. Additionally, after working in the social work arena, Julie not only adopted her own child after having three biological children, she went on a mission to find both her foster parents and her biological mother.

Julie’s story is truly unique, and Youth Villages is very fortunate to have the support of the Hays Foundation so that our frontline staff can continue to help the nearly 9,000 youth we serve annually.

This Q&A will tell you more about Julie Hays’ life and why she feels one of the most important things she can do is support youth and families.

Why do you feel this it’s important to support youth and families?

We support kids in any way we can. When you have kids in foster care, they have already suffered from a lot of losses, but with Youth Villages, they can get the support they need to heal. Any way we can help kids to have good placements and help them get to a more permanent situation is the goal.

What was your experience like working with youth in the foster system?

This one time, I had to go to the hospital to pick up a newborn. The mother was

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

very young and gave up her rights. I had to take this newborn to the pediatrician, then the foster home, and think I am still trying to process that experience as a young social worker early in my career.

You have photos of when you were in your foster home. How did you go about learning more about your foster parents that you were only with a short time?

I got a hold of my records, and they had the name of my foster family, and I immediately wanted to learn more, so I started digging. I called everyone with that last name in the phone book in Nashville. These photos were special because they were the only photos I had from when I was born. I was too young to remember them, but everything I heard about this family was that they were very sweet and that they were long-time foster parents. I went over to their house for dinner one night and met all their other kids. Foster care is amazing when it works.

You also eventually went searching for your biological parents, correct?

My mom had me when she was very young, in college, and was just not in a place to care for a baby. I also found my dad; we have the same birthday. I feel really close to my half-sister I met ten years ago. Every time I’m with her she feels more like a sister. It’s fun. I now have all these people in my life!

Why did you decide to adopt?

I just always knew I wanted to adopt, and at that point, international adoption was happening a lot, and we decided to go forward with the process. She is now 20 years old, and she is a pistol. She just moved to Austin, Texas, and plans to pursue a degree in fashion. We are going to try to find her birth parents in China when she is ready.

Why do you and the Hays Foundation support Youth Villages?

We support because they can give the support these kids need. They might not get that from a public entity, but the public entities are so overwhelmed, that if we didn’t have Youth Villages …well, we’ve seen what happens to these kids when agencies are too overwhelmed. I think any way we can support kids by finding them good placements, then hopefully they can find a more permanent situation.

The Hays Foundation has specifically supported our LifeSet program, Why?

I think the LifeSet program is so important. I know I would not put my 18-year-old out there to go it alone, and for some of these kids, they have no choice because they have no one. You are technically an adult, but you have no adult skills, and I think a better term is that they are emerging adults and need guidance and help.

Saving continued medical complexities, but the Bone family brought a photo of Everitt along to Maurice’s adoption.

“He is still part of our family,” said Caleb. “He was a huge blessing to all of us.”

“He always will be,” added Ruchala. “It was such a joy to welcome him into our home.”

Maurice’s adoption means he will be able to get on the kidney transplant list. When children are in custodial care, it makes it harder for them to receive an organ transplant because they lack a legal caregiver who can take responsibility over that child’s ongoing medical needs. In addition to getting Maurice on the list, Ruchala and Caleb have gone through testing to see if either one of them could donate a kidney.

“Both Caleb and I are a potential live donor match, so we’re working through the Vanderbilt Transplant Team to see if we’ll be able to give him a live donor kidney transplant that way,” said Ruchala.

Maurice is finally receiving the love and care he needs to have a chance at living a healthy life. Currently, there are between 20,000 to 40,000 children considered medically complex in foster care across the country each year. These children are typically harder to place in a foster home because of their ongoing medical needs. Ruchala and Caleb would encourage other families to consider fostering and provide the love and care these kids need and deserve, even if there are uncertainties.

LifeSet provides guidance and help to these emerging adults who are working towards reaching their housing, education, employment and life skills goals. LifeSet is proven to help reduce homelessness, improve mental health, reduce domestic violence and increase lifetime earnings for its participants, thus improving communities in Middle Tennessee.

Since 2019, the Marlene and Spencer Hays Foundation has funded renovations and enhancements to the Wallace girls group home in Nashville and provides ongoing support for the LifeSet program.

Thank you to Julie Hays for sharing her personal story and mission. To learn how you can directly support youth in foster care or exiting foster care, contact Rae Ryan, development director for Middle Tennessee, at rae.ryan@youthvillages.org.

“We are very ordinary people,” Ruchala continued. “It’s been the greatest experience of our life. It brought us two sons. I’m glad we said, ‘yes,’ even when it was a little scary and there were a lot of unknowns. It’s just the way we’ve chosen to live our life. When you know there’s a child that can go home and is just waiting for a family, it makes the decision easier.”

May is Foster Care Awareness Month and the perfect time to take the next steps for welcoming a

child into your home.

Youth Villages trains, certifies and supports its own foster parents, and we can answer any questions you might have regarding the process. For more information call 1-888-MY-YV-KID or visit youthvillages.org/foster.

MOVING PAST CRISIS

Kristie Bain was at her breaking point managing her two adoptive daughters’ extreme behaviors. Kristie and her husband adopted Jazilynn and Vega when they were toddlers, after the unexpected passing of their father, Kristie’s brother-in-law.

“Under the circumstances that they were born and, you know, the kind of trauma that they went through, we needed to find mental health support for the girls,” Kristie said.

As the girls got older, they started developing more extreme behaviors and emotions which caused a lot of disruptions in the house. The family was at a crisis point and they knew they needed to find help.

The problem is the Bains live in Smithville, a rural community in DeKalb County about 45 minutes south of Cookeville, where accessing services can be challenging. Kristie spent months searching for services but continued to hit barriers that included long waitlists and long travel times to appointments nearly an hour away.

“I actually had to call the crisis hotline, because the girls got to the point where they were becoming physically abusive, and there were incidents where they grabbed knives to hurt each other,” Kristie said. “During the crisis call, they referred me to Intercept with Youth Villages and explained they would actually come to the house to see your children in the home.”

Intercept helps struggling families find success with mental, behavioral, and emotional health interventions for the child and every member of the family. Trained clinical counselors meet the child where they are at, in the home, and provide therapies that will strengthen the family with the goal of preventing an out of home placement such as foster care or hospitalization. This intensive in-home approach is proven to restore families by giving them the tools they need for long-term success.

“I just felt that was fantastic,” Kristie said. “It was a blessing that they can come to you, and I did not have find the time and gas money to travel outside of DeKalb County.”

Jacie Boyd, family intervention specialist with the Intercept program in Cookeville, started working with the family, specifically with 8-yearold Vega during the summer of 2022. Vega was becoming very hard to

manage and would have hour-long meltdowns daily.

“Vega was really struggling to manage her behaviors, and she had been asked to leave school at the end of the year, so one of our big goals was to get her back in school,” Jacie said.

Jacie worked with the family to set goals and implemented different therapies to help Vega and her family acquire the skills they needed to work together. In addition, Intercept provides a customized approach for each child and family to help ensure success after exiting the program.

“We needed to get Vega to where she was more regulated and would be able to calm down. Then we needed to help build those skills with Vega so that she can regulate herself and can recognize when she’s getting out of control,” Jacie said. “‘We call it flipping her lid.’”

After 8 months working with Youth Villages, Vega has changed drastically, and what were once daily meltdowns lasting for hours at a time are now at most once a week and last for minutes.

Jacie also works with Jazilynn (age 9) on her separation anxieties, especially with Kristie, by practicing mindfulness and focusing on an activity when Kristie leaves the home.

“It’s wonderful for our family because I know it had to be just as hard for the girls as it was for me to have to deal with the emotions going on inside of them and then not knowing how to express how they feel,” Kristie said. “Jacie also would take time out of each session to ask how I was doing and what support I needed.”

Youth Villages currently serves 458 children and families in the Intercept program in Middle Tennessee. For more information about Intercept and the work we do to keep families together, visit youthvillages.org/intercept.

Vega and Jazilynn with mom, Kristie, and Jacie Boyd, family intervention specialist with Youth Villages.

THANK YOU TO OUR HOLIDAY HEROES

Holiday Heroes continues to smash records as the campaign engaged more than 400 community and corporate volunteers to sponsor and fulfill the wish lists of 2,441 children and young people this year during the holidays.

Holiday Heroes has been helping children in the Middle Tennessee community for more than 15 years by connecting corporate and community volunteers with the task to fulfill holiday wishes for local youth who would not receive any gifts for the holidays, otherwise.

A special thank you to 615 Ventures for donating the space used for the Holiday Heroes workshop, and to all the volunteers who helped make Holiday Heroes a huge success!

THANK YOU TO OUR HOLIDAY HEROES AND HOLIDAY CHEERS, BEERS, AND VOLUNTEERS SPONSORS:

615 Soul Line Dancers

Advance Financial* AHEAD*

Anonymous

ARCO/Murray National Nashville, Inc.

Bibles and Beauty

Big Yellow Dog Music

Blue Sky Cottage

Brasfield & Gorrie, L.L.C.

Bridgestone

Americas IT

Capital Resources, LLC

Cardinal Health

Carr Riggs & Ingram, LLC*

Caterpillar Financial Corporation & Benefits

Change Healthcare

Churchill Foundation*

Community DEI

CPI Card Group

DBH Distributing, LLC

Delek US

Dell EC

Florim*

Fridrich & Clark Realty, LLC*

Genesco*

GEODIS

GFP Fleet Culture Crew

Philoptochos Society of the Holy Trinity*

Gutterglove

Hannah Constructors*

His Children Foundation

Informa Financial Intelligence

International Scholarship and Tuition Services, Inc. (ISTS)*

Jackson*

JetRight Aerospace Holdings LLC

Junior League of Nashville*

Klein Solomon Mills

Laura Stasko*

M3 Technology

MHR (part of GEODIS)

Nashville

Jr. Predators Hockey

naviHealth*

NFIB

On The End CrossFit*

Optum

Project Play Therapy

R.C. Mathews

Contractor

Reliance Heating & Air

Renasant Bank

Riffe Family

Rogers Group*

Star Spangled Brewing Company

TechnologyAdvice*

Tennessee Soccer Club*

Tennessee Titans

The Burbs (Evan Hamel)

The Caleb Cares Project

Thomas & Company

Ticket to Dream*

Tractor Supply

TrailRunner International

Trane Technologies

Transformation

Title and Escrow

Trevecca Nazarene

University Grad Counseling CSI

Theta Nu Upsilon

Trinisys

Turner Construction Company UBS

United Way of Maury County*

Unity of Nashville

Vanderbilt University

Medical Center

Vision Software

VolCorp Credit Union

Wood Personnel Services

Zeal Church Small Group

Julie Abbott

julie.abbott@youthvillages.org

| 615-250-7266

youthvillages.org/holidayheroes

Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee

Greek Orthodox

Silicon Ranch Corp.

Southern Orthodontic Partners

(* reflects financial contributors)

It’s a wrap! Journeys and Jackson® teamed up with Youth Villages to host the annual wrapping party called Holiday Cheers, Beers & Volunteers benefiting Youth Villages to wrap gifts for LifeSet youth as part of Holiday Heroes.

Caiden’s Intercept specialist incorporated Caiden’s love of art and sculpting into their sessions to help Caiden feel more comfortable with opening up.

CAIDEN’S STORY

On a rainy spring day, an Intercept specialist received a voicemail from Jade, a 23-year-old mother whose son, Caiden, was in our

“Thank you so much for coming here today and always supporting me through this whole thing. I told my case worker that even when our case closes, I 100% recommend you for other families where parents are in addiction. I truly believe if it wasn’t for you, I would not be getting my kids back. I am so truly thankful for Youth Villages, and there has been

a complete change from when we started working with you to now. You gave my family a chance. I appreciate you very much!”

Jade had Caiden when she was 16 years old and struggling with addiction. She was homeless and unemployed and could not take care of her child. Caiden was placed with his grandmother. Over the next few years, Jade was in and out of rehab and had two more children, who also were placed with their grandmother. Determined to become the best mother she could, Jade was ready to take the necessary steps to get her children back. The state told Jade about Youth Villages’ intensive in-home services program, Intercept. They shared that this program would help stabilize her children in their

grandmother’s home while also helping Jade with her goals and regaining custody of her kids.

“I thought Youth Villages was just going to be another headache,” Jade said. “I was told they were very strict; services were intensive, and they would see us more frequently. I didn’t want to work with them. But I wanted my kids back, so I was willing to give it a chance.”

The state gave Jade one year to complete an extensive list of things to accomplish before they would consider reuniting her with her children. Jade worked hard to become and stay sober, find a job and secure a place to live.

Jade made incredible progress through the Intercept program, and the state agreed to place her children back in

Jade and her son, Caiden, are grateful to Intercept for bringing their family back together.

her care. Jade was nervous to have all three of her children in her home for the first time, but Youth Villages continued to work closely with the family even after they came home. Their Intercept specialist worked with Caiden on his mental health struggles, including ADHD, and made sure he had the proper support both at home and at school. They worked with Jade on how to safely and calmly deescalate difficult situations among the children and getting everyone into a regular routine. Youth Villages made sure the family had all the essential items and resources they needed to ensure success and even provided tips on how to organize their new home and prevent clutter.

The Youth Villages team says Caiden and his siblings are incredibly happy to be home with their mom. They love spending time playing outside as a family and every day, they go to bed excited about what the next day will bring.

“Everyone at Youth Villages is so caring,” Jade said. “[The team] puts so much into their jobs. They care about us, and I truly love them.”

MIDDLE TENNESSEE DONORS

JULY 1, 2022 TO DECEMBER 31, 2022

VISIONARY

$50,000 TO $99,999

Anonymous

Anonymous TechnologyAdvice

The HCA Foundation

PILLAR

$25,000 TO $49,999

Anonymous

Marlene and Spencer Hays Foundation

LEADER

$10,000 to $24,999

Advance Financial Foundation

Ashley HomeStore

Carlson Family Foundation

Carolyn Smith Foundation

Dutch Bros Foundation

Journeys

The Memorial Foundation

naviHealth (Optum)

Mrs. Laura Stasko

PROTECTOR

$5,000 to $9,999

AHEAD

The Arbor Rouge Foundation

Mr. Terry Catignani

The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee

Fischel Family Foundation

Dr. and Mrs. John Greer

Jackson®

Junior League of Nashville

Ms. Donna Lett

McLeroy Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Millen

Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Speyer

Thomas & Company

Ticket to Dream Foundation

David Trenner

BUILDER

$1,000 to $4,999

Abound Wealth Management LLC

Leticia Acosta

Anonymous

Ascension Health

Mr. Kevin Baker

Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Ballesteros

Mrs. Cassidy Bentley

Berkshire Hathaway

Woodmont Realty

Brittany Boyer

Mr. Peter Candelaria

Caterpillar Financial

Charity Golf International, LLC

Clubhouse Event Group

Dell

Senator and Mrs. Steve and Katrina Dickerson

Dollar General

Literacy Foundation

Dutch Bros Coffee

Mr. Tim Farmer

Florim USA, Inc.

Mr. and Mrs. Tyler and Meredith Forehand

Mr. Stephen Francescon

Mr. and Mrs. Harris Gilbert

Greek Orthodox Philoptochos Society of Holy Trinity

William Hamburg

Hannah Constructors

In December, Ticket to Dream & Famous Footwear donated to fund winter coats, boots and accessories to children in our care.

Highland Corp

Charitable Foundation

Yarbrough Family Foundation

Mr. Taylor Johnson

Mr. and Mrs. Ken Kimble

Mrs. Kim Lapidus

Law Office of Daniel A Horwitz

Lewis Thomason

Charitable Giving, Inc.

Rebecca Lord

Mrs. Kristin Nishanian

Oakworth Capital Bank

On the End CrossFit

Aylin Ozgener

Mrs. Esen Ozgener

Riley & Jacobson, PLC

RJ Young

Rogers Group, Inc.

Mr. and Mrs. Clark Rollins

Lisa and Stephen Small

Mr. and Mrs. Van Swofford

Mr. David Taylor

The 4th Wall Acting Studio

The Churchill Foundation

The Stratton Foster

Charitable Foundation

Ms. Chrissy Thigpen

Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Townsend

United Way of Maury County

Mr. and Mrs. Knox Walkup

Lorraine Ware

Elizabeth Washko

Mr. Orlando Waters

A NEW ‘LINE’ OF HOPE, HELP

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to shine a light on the often-stigmatized topic and to educate others on the warning signs and how to get help. People, young and old, can be saved with knowledge and intervention.

Recent studies, though, show the U.S. still has a long way to go in this area. Reports reveal the declining mental health of the population in the United States, especially among children and teenagers. According to the Census Bureau, over two-thirds of Americans live in areas lacking mental health professionals. In addition, four in five teens who attempt suicide gave clear warning signs according to The Jason Foundation, which is dedicated to preventing youth suicide.

While warning signs are evident, family and friends may not know the direction to take—or number to call—to get help and care. Now, the way to access help for those struggling with mental health challenges has been made simpler.

In the summer of 2020, the U.S. began transitioning from its 10-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number to 988 to call or text for around-the-clock crisis care. By July 16, 2022, all telephone service and text providers were required by law to activate the 988 number.

“It was federally recognized that there was a need for people to more easily access services when experiencing a crisis and that led to 988 being rolled out on a federal level,” said Raquel Shutze, program director for Youth Villages Specialized Crisis Services.

Once a call or text is made, the individual is connected to a call center with crisis professionals who can assist and provide intervention at whatever level is needed. According to Shutze, the calls and texts—at times—are passed to a mobile crisis provider in the area.

The 988 number provides an access point for care no matter where the individual is in the U.S.

“The 988 number gives us a universal language across the country as a way to access help when someone is experiencing a mental health crisis, much like 911 is used for emergency services,” said Brittany Farrar, regional director for Middle Tennessee programs. “If someone is in a different state from where they live, they don’t have to look up a local or state crisis number. Instead, 988 gives them an access point that no matter where they are in the United States.”

The 988 number is gaining traction in the U.S., as more are using it as a first step for mental health care. In turn, the increase in 988 calls brings in a Youth Villages community-based program—Intercept—that, according to Farrar, helps those in midst of a crisis to remain safe and stable in their home and community.

“It’s important that, as we increase those entry points to reach help, we also have more accessible community-based services like Intercept that are proven effective to work with this population,” Farrar said.

Check out the Youth Villages social media accounts in May for more about Mental Health Awareness Month.

YOUTH VILLAGES GOLF CLASSIC

MONDAY, JUNE 12, 2023

Shotgun Start at 8:30 a.m. (Registration opens at 7 a.m.)

Temple Hills Country Club in Franklin, TN

This annual event engages corporate and community sponsored foursomes in a golf scramble to benefit the LifeSet program. LifeSet provides critical guidance and helps young people exiting the foster care system make a successful transition into adulthood.

Team sponsorships start at just $1,500 and include 18 holes of scenic golf, breakfast, lunch, beverages throughout the course, bar carts, welcome bags and more!

$25,000

LifeSet Leader Sponsor (presenting)

$15,000

Empowering LifeSet Sponsor (partner)

$10,000

LifeSet Champion Sponsor

$7,500

LifeSet Education Sponsor

$5,000

LifeSet Changemaker

$2,500

LifeSet “Friend In Need” Sponsor

$1,500 Team Sponsor

$3,000 Air Cannon Sponsor

$3,000 Putting Contest Sponsor $1,000 Hole Tent/Table Sponsor $500 Hole Sign Sponsor $300 Event Supporter

For more information, contact:

Lyndsay Wilkinson

lyndsay.wilkinson@youthvillages.org

615-250-7278

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN YOUTH VILLAGES’ PROGRAMS.

Financially support Youth Villages

Rae Ryan, Director of Development

3310 Perimeter Hill Drive, Nashville, TN 37211 rae.ryan@youthvillages.org | 615-250-7207

1. GIVE A ONE-TIME OR MONTHLY GIFT ONLINE AT YOUTHVILLAGES.ORG/ MIDDLE-TENNESSEE

Check to see if your employer will match your gift!

2. SEND A CHECK IN THE ENVELOPE INCLUDED OR RECOMMEND A GRANT FROM YOUR DONOR-ADVISED FUND

When granting through your DAF, use this information: Tax ID: 62-1652079

Contact Rae Ryan once the gift has been made.

3. GIVE A GIFT OF STOCK

Reach out to Rae Ryan to receive these instructions.

4. FROM YOUR IRA

If you are 70½ or over, you can give any amount (maximum up to $100,000) per year from your IRA directly to a qualified charity such as Youth Villages Middle Tennessee without having to pay income taxes on the money. Gifts of any value of $100,000 or less are eligible for this benefit and you can feel good knowing you are making a difference. This popular gift option is commonly called the “IRA charitable rollover,” but you may also see it referred to as a “qualified charitable distribution” or QCD.

YOUTH VILLAGES

3310 Perimeter Hill Drive

Nashville, TN 37211

(Address Service Requested)

Youth Villages is a private nonprofit that serves more than 36,000 children and their families each year from offices in the following cities:

Alabama: Auburn, Birmingham, Mobile

Arkansas: Little Rock, Searcy, West Memphis

Florida: Lakeland

Georgia: Atlanta, Douglasville

Indiana: Bloomington, Columbus, Indianapolis

Louisiana: Metairie

Kentucky: Lexington, Louisville/Jeffersonville (Indiana)

Massachusetts: Boston, Marlborough, Raynham, West Springfield, 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.