FAMILY VICTORIES FROM YOUTH VILLAGES FALL
ALSO IN THIS
• BUILDING FRIENDSHIPS, NETWORK OF SUPPORT THROUGH PEER-TO-PEER EVENTS
• NATIONAL COLLABORATIVE FOR TRANSITION-AGE YOUTH HOLDS GATHERING
• DONOR SPOTLIGHT: PARROTT GIVES BACK BECAUSE OF HER LIVED EXPERIENCE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
If you haven’t had the opportunity to hear Brayden speak, I encourage you to scan the code below and watch the video about his journey. His specialist, Emily, has worked with him for six years and often comments: “Anyone would be lucky to have someone like Brayden in their home and in their family.”
Recently, Brayden spoke at our annual Fall Celebration event. His experience is unique, but he is also one of 300 young people on a pathway to exit Oregon’s foster care system this year. Like Brayden, these young people often need a stable adult to walk beside them as they navigate the complex and challenging circumstances their peers don’t often encounter.
Over the past year, state contracts to help young adults like Brayden have strained providers to the point where some had to stop offering these essential services. Many young adults were left without the support they need to make a successful jump to adulthood. Youth Villages and others are working to improve these conditions, while standing strong in our commitment to these incredible youth. Our goal is for every young person aging out of foster care to get the help they need to be successful as adults.
Your support helps ensure high-quality services continue without disruption. And, as the provider working with the largest population of young people aging out of foster care in Oregon, your contribution also serves as an endorsement in advocating for needed change.
As we approach the season of giving, I invite you to consider how “lucky” you are to invest in youth like Brayden. He is paving the way for countless other youth impacted by foster care, and you have the opportunity to be part of his story.
Andrew Grover EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OREGON
andrew.grover@youthvillages.org 503-675-2232
Eli Pahl, Chair
David Durocher, Incoming Chair
MJ Dunne
Jenn Fortmann
Sister Guadalupe Guajardo
Joan Horstkotte
Ann Mestrovich
Amber Kelly
Jodie Oltmans
Pat Ritz
Colby Schlicker
Pete Stofle
Charlie Swindells
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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With the holiday season nearly upon us, Youth Villages is gearing up for the biggest Holiday Heroes in Oregon’s history!
Holiday Heroes is our annual campaign that provides holiday gifts and winter essentials to young people and families in our care.
Last winter, we received 370 wish list requests, a 60% increase from the previous year. Our community showed up in an incredible way to fulfill this increased need, with individuals and organizations contributing more than $24,500, as well as signing up to fulfill more than 175 wish lists through in-kind donations.
Over the past year, Youth Villages has grown to serve even more youth and families in our community, and we anticipate fulfilling more than 500 holiday wish lists this year. We need your support to ensure our growing community of families all have the gift of holiday magic this season.
Please consider signing up to be a Holiday Hero to fulfill a wish list for youth like Kaidien, a LifeSet participant. His holiday wish list consisted of Magic: The Gathering playing cards and a gaming control. Others requested sporting equipment, art supplies and even essentials like orthopedic shoes and scrubs for nursing school.
Another holiday tradition at Youth Villages is our annual Holiday Cheers & Volunteers gift-wrapping event. This event brings together donors and volunteers from around the community who want to put a bow on our Holiday Heroes campaign by beautifully wrapping the hundreds of gifts that have been collected.
To sponsor a youth for Holiday Heroes or to join the contact list for the Holiday Cheers & Volunteers event, contact Alexis Aviles at alexis.aviles@youthvillages.org or 503-675-2218.
Marlia at a financial literacy class learning to improve her budgeting skills.
MARLIA BUILDS NEW FUTURE FOR HER DAUGHTER THROUGH INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM
Young women who transition out of foster care are more likely to experience pregnancy than their peers. According to the National Foster Youth Institute, seven out of 10 girls who age out of care will become pregnant by their 21st birthday. Like all young adults, those who have experienced foster care have huge potential, but without support, they could struggle through childhood adversity in a critical time to adulthood.
Marlia was raised in a middle-class home while in kinship care with her aunt and uncle. But once the age of 14 hit, an incident in the home forced her to enter child welfare services.
“Up until then, my life was normal,” she said. Marlia bounced around from foster care placements to residential programs until she turned 18.
“Since I was 14, people were telling me what I should do but still expected me to act like an adult,” she said. “I get to make the decisions now instead of others making them for me.”
However, journeying out into the adult world without support can be incredibly challenging for young adults like Marlia with unexpected twists and turns along the way.
Obtaining a GED and finding a job were most important to Marlia. A caseworker initially introduced her to the Youth Villages Independent Living Program (ILP), a statesponsored program geared toward youth aging out of the foster care system.
At 18, Marlia met her specialist, Emily. Determined and goal orientated, Marlia wanted to get down to the business of getting all the adult things figured out like furnishing her first apartment, budgeting and even giving back to the Portland community through volunteer work. Due to a new job opportunity, Marlia moved away from Oregon but soon found out she would be a mother.
“I always knew I wanted to be a mom,” Marlia said. “But I was pretty much by myself (support-wise) the entire time.”
This is when ILP can be integral in providing support.
“Marlia called me and asked if I could help her get back into services,” Emily said. With little to no support, Emily
quickly stepped in to help her apply for vouchers to ensure stable housing and get connected to other pregnant/ parenting young people through Youth Villages’ monthly Peer-to-Peer gatherings.
“Meeting new girls in the groups has been really nice,” Marlia said. “I get to hear advice from the other moms and learn what stage is coming up next for the babies.”
These peer connections have helped parenting youth connect outside of Youth Villages gatherings, assisting each other with childcare and ultimately becoming each other’s support in critical times. Marlia says they even plan fun activities for the babies, such as outings to the pumpkin patch and tie-dying at a local park.
“Every mom is different, but I know lots of them feel loneliness and sadness,” she said. “So, the Independent Living Program and meeting others with lived experience were perfect for me.”
Marlia and her 7-month-old baby girl are trekking through their journey together, excited for where life might take them.
“Her personality is shining through,” Marlia said of her baby. “She’s goofy and happy all the time.”
Now, Marlia’s goals are angled toward setting her daughter up financially for the future and ending generational trauma. For the first time, she’s in the driver’s seat of her life.
“I want to help others who might be in a similar situation as me and take care of my daughter the best way I possibly can.”
Youth Villages Oregon hosts monthly skill-building activities for all youth and young adults in LifeSet and the Independent Living Program (ILP). Activities are designed to allow young people to connect with
Young adults impacted by foster care build friendships and a network of support through monthly peer-topeer events.
peers impacted by foster care as they learn new skills and make community connections. Life-skills support within this shared experience is a powerful resource in the journey toward independent adulthood.
Our peer-to-peer events are an awesome opportunity for youth to meet other young adults with similar backgrounds in a supportive and structured setting. I have seen incredible connections and friendships formed at many of our events. I have seen youth with social anxiety talk with new friends throughout an entire hike and beam with excitement when telling me about the savings match deposit they received and how they can finally afford to buy a car. Peer-to-peer events are an important part of our program, and it’s so rewarding to see youth come back over and over because they feel a sense of belonging and community.
NOAH GERBER
Independent Living Program Specialist
Connecting with my peers has made it so much easier to ask for help and build connections with others. By attending these peer-topeers, I can build confidence in myself and hopefully inspire others to reach out and make connections, building confidence for the long run. Most importantly, understand you are not alone.
MARLIA Independent Living Program participant
You or your business can positively impact young adults aging out of foster care by hosting and sponsoring a peer-to-peer event. By offering space for 30-40 youth to gather, providing dinner and door prizes and supporting costs like transportation for youth, you ensure these young adults can develop a strong peer network and gain valuable life skills on their path to independence.
Interested in sponsoring an event? Contact Alexis Aviles at alexis.aviles@youthvillages.org.
For a long time, Stacy had worried her 12-year-old son, Jay, would be removed from her home. Despite Jay being very social, active among his peer group and good at engaging with other kids his age, he was often physically aggressive at home, struggled with substance use, general delinquency and was destroying items in his home.
Jay struggled daily to regulate his emotions. As Stacy watched his dysregulation progress, she also watched her family deteriorate. Although the family had multiple providers in place to help, Stacy felt none were making progress.
When Stacy and Jay were enrolled in the Youth Villages intensive in-home services program, Intercept, the first thing Jay’s clinical supervisor, Roberto, did was create a safety plan for his aggression. He taught the family the ‘exit and wait’ strategy which helps families identify their child’s triggers and warning signs before they become dysregulated so caregivers can intervene proactively and empower him to take space to self-regulate. The exit and wait strategy also is family focused so Stacy; his father, Jay Sr.; and his sister all participated in planning and identifying their warning signs, triggers and safe spaces.
As the family learned to employ their safety plan, they recognized although they could now successfully prevent Jay’s escalations, they were struggling to communicate about problems as a family. Family Intervention Specialist Melissa worked with the family on Collaborative Problem Solving, a strategy that focuses on building skills like flexibility, frustration tolerance and problem solving. They made a concentrated effort to discuss their concerns with Jay and provide him with a voice when they discussed incidents. They included him in the planning when they felt he needed appropriate consequences. Jay responded incredibly well to this. Feeling like his parents finally gave him the voice he was missing, Jay learned to appropriately speak up and share his concerns in an effective way.
“Youth Villages has been the missing piece of the puzzle to our family,” Stacy said. “They have brought us more happiness in the last month of working with them than I ever could have imagined.”
Since participating in the Intercept
program, Jay has not had one incidence of physical aggression, and the family collectively has a better understanding of everyone’s needs and concerns.
“They gave us the tools we needed to help our son,” Stacy said.
Stacy has been fighting and advocating to get Jay the help and support he needed since he was 5 years old and was relieved when she was offered Youth Villages services. Stacy felt that having someone who would see Jay in his home, in his own environment and on his schedule, was critical to his success.
“Without Youth Villages our lives would be chaotic,” Stacy said. “Youth Villages kept my son in the home.”
When Stacy dreams of Jay’s future, she hopes for him to graduate from high school and become a productive part of society. She wants him to have friends and spread positivity and kindness everywhere he goes. After working with Youth Villages, Stacy finally sees this as a possibility.
Jay (far left) and his parents discuss his progress at school with his family intervention specialist and supervisor.
RACHEL ETNIRE PARROTT IS A FORMER FOSTER YOUTH AND HAS BEEN A MONTHLY SUPPORTER OF YOUTH VILLAGES SINCE 2021.
How did you become involved?
I was introduced to Youth Villages by a mutual friend who served on their board. When I met their fundraising staff and learned more about their mission and support of young adults aging out of foster care — young adults who went through similar challenges as I faced in my life — I was hooked and knew this was an organization I wanted to support with my time and money.
What sets Youth Villages apart in its work with children and families?
There are so many competing needs in the child welfare space, and organizations like Youth Villages are often asked to do more with fewer resources. It truly does take a village in the face of this, and the fact that
so many people at so many different organizations are saying “yes,” and putting it all toward children and families impacted by the child welfare system gives me chills. I have seen Youth Villages be a leader in this space, stepping up in a critical time in the lives of children and families who are struggling. But what really sets Youth Villages apart are the people who work there. They are inspiring.
Why do you support Youth Villages with your philanthropic investment?
My parents fostered often before I was born, and my brother and I were both adopted as young children. My two biological siblings ended up in the system for much longer and, while it is not my story to tell, both of their stories in the system ended up involving abuse. My adopted brother
faced his own demons in coming from a foster home with abusive parents. How can we know this is happening to children and NOT help? I was raised with a deep understanding of the foster care system, and while public funding and support is important, I am energized by organizations like Youth Villages that are actively changing these kids’ lives and giving them the opportunities they deserve.
What would you say to encourage others to financially support Youth Villages?
I became a monthly donor to Youth Villages in 2021 because sustained giving makes a huge impact. It’s money the organization can count on, and it’s convenient for me. Every dollar counts. Every hour volunteered adds up. I will say as an elder millennial that Youth Villages makes it SO easy to get started. Within 30 seconds, I connected to PayPal and began a recurring donation.
Donors who give monthly provide reliable and consistent revenue to help us plan our program’s growth.
In addition, many companies provide a matching gift to support employee giving.
$10 $20 $50 $100 PER MONTH PER MONTH PER MONTH PER MONTH
supports one youth in our programs with winter essentials and fulfilling their holiday wish list.
sponsors an activity to help a group of former foster youth learn life skills like financial literacy, cooking, career readiness and more.
funds prosocial activities for youth in our intensive, in-home program seeking to keep families together.
provides one month of evidence-based LifeSet support for a young person aging out of foster care.
Visit our donation page and enter your company name to see if your gift — and impact — could be doubled.
Lived experience experts from across the country are part of the National Collaborative for Transition-Age Youth.
Youth Villages, APHSA and Foster Club support a new collaborative to influence better help for young people.
Imagine it’s 2034. What will the world look like for transition-age youth leaving foster care or other children’s services?
The newly formed National Collaborative for Transition-Age Youth hopes to influence the answer to that question.
The group is bringing together young adults, lived experience experts, national stakeholders and state/ federal policymakers to co-design a playbook to improve services across the country. The effort is sponsored by Youth Villages, Foster Club and the American Public Human Services Association (APHSA.)
Recently, the Collaborative held its first convening after the APHSA National Human Services Summit 2024 in Arlington, Virginia.
“This gathering represents a pivotal moment in our collective efforts to ensure the well-being and success of transition-aged youth in the child welfare system,” said Nick Henderson, a child welfare leader from Stearns County, Minnesota. “We are privileged to bring together
Young adults participated in activities and discussions with child welfare leaders and transition-age youth advocates.
insights from young adults with lived experience, state and local child welfare leaders and national stakeholders to illuminate the path forward.”
The Collaborative includes 10 lived experience experts from across the country: Knowledge Grant of Florida, Jasmine Green of California, Jeremiah Vivekanandan of New York, Brina Williams of Michigan, Charissa Keebaugh of Washington, Shayne McCrae of Kansas, Kari Robles of New York, Natalie Clark of Utah, Maddie LeMay of New Hampshire, and Dina Santos of Florida.
At the first convening, the young adults led panel discussions with child welfare leaders from California, Colorado, Minnesota, Michigan, North Carolina, New York, Texas and Virginia who are a part of the Collaborative.
Clark, from Utah, had some advice for state leaders and stakeholders.
“Start paying close attention to what the young people are saying, typically we’re onto something when we’re sharing with you,” she said. “Question under-utilization of the resources that currently exist, and invest in lived experience positions within your areas of influence.”
Everyone agreed effective services to families were needed to reduce the number of young people aging out of care in the future. Services that strengthen and support families can help children safely avoid any out-of-home or foster care placement.
Young people suggested some actionable steps states and agencies can take immediately:
• Provide cultural competency training for staff and caregivers.
• Implement anti-discriminatory practices to ensure access to appropriate services regardless of a young person’s background or identity.
• Recruit more diverse foster families, so families can be found to match with a young person’s needs and goals.
• Foster community connections and allow youth to engage in decision making.
The Collaborative has two additional virtual meetings and will conclude with an in-person meeting at the Achieving Success Convening in Las Vegas, Nevada, in November.
For more information on the Collaborative:
Shaquita Ogletree shaquita.ogletree@youthvillages.org
Ivy-Marie Washington ivymarie@aphsa.org
Celeste Bodner systemchange@fosterclub.com
JAN. 1 – JUNE 30, 2024
$50,000 to $99,999
Lawrence E. Tokarski Charitable Trust
$25,000 to $49,999
Cousens Trust
A. Killough Foundation
Pat & Trudy Ritz
Spirit Mountain Community Fund
Darci & Charlie Swindells
WRG Foundation
$10,000 to $24,999
The Willard L. & Ruth P. Eccles Foundation
Byron & Cynthia Grant
The Healy Foundation
Herbert A Templeton Foundation
$5,000 to $9,999
Clark Lewis
Family Foundation
Terry & Dave Durocher
Mary Lago
Northwest Natural
Providence Health & Services
Harold & Arlene Schnitzer
CARE Foundation
Marta & Ken Thrasher
Umpqua Bank
Ron & Tammy Witcosky
$1,000 to $4,999
Boly:Welch
Cedar Glen Estates
Christopher Andersen
iQ Credit Union
Scott Eisenstein & Kelly Ritz-Eisenstein
Jenna Hasson
Marlow & Denice Hornberger
Nancy Horstkotte Memorial Fund of Oregon Community Foundation
Kaiser Permanente
Mort & Mary Lang Bishop
Teresa & Scott Learn
Lewis & Clark Bank
Gary R. Maffei
David & Dolorosa Margulis
MAS Family Charitable Foundation
Mal & Janeen McAninch
Jeff Mengis
Trudi & Richard Morrison
Gary & Kary Myers Fund of Oregon
Community Foundation
Peter & Cassie Northrup
OnPoint Community Credit Union
PacificSource Health Plans
Steve Reinisch
Cheryl & Richard Viskov
VISIONARY
Pat & Trudy Ritz –Ritz Family Foundation
LEADER
Byron & Cynthia Grant
Darci & Charlie Swindells
PROTECTOR
Ron & Tammy Witcosky
BUILDER
Christopher Andersen
Marlow & Denice Hornberger
Teresa & Scott Learn
Gary R. Maffei
Jeff Mengis
Peter & Cassie Northrup
Steve Reinisch
CHAMPIONS
Erika Aboites
Alliance Counseling Center
Andrea Barney
Patricia Bradley
Sarah & Steven Cantor
Stacie Criscuolo
Candace Elliott
Kathleen Faherty
Jenn Fortmann
Cheryl Grochau
Harold Goldstein
Nicole & Ian Galloway
Alex Hutchinson
Luke Lesh
Lou Junior Mariette
Rachel Parrott
Janice Phillips
Fred Roach
Kelle Summerfield
Robin van der Hoest
Cheryl & Richard Viskov
Daniel Whitmore
Beth Wilhelm
THERE ARE NUMEROUS WAYS YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN YOUTH VILLAGES’ PROGRAMS.
We were honored to be joined by more than 200 supporters at last month’s Fall Celebration gala, raising crucial funds for youth aging out of foster care in Oregon.
Together, we raised more than $150,000 for Youth Villages programs serving these young adults. We are immensely grateful to our sponsors and supporters that made this evening a success.
JOIN OUR EFFORTS
BECOME A FORCE FOR FAMILIES
Partner with Youth Villages as a donor, emerging professional or corporation. Your support can have a direct impact on the future of the hundreds of children and families we help every day across Oregon.
GET INVOLVED
Financially support Youth Villages Donations | Donor-advised funds | Foundations
Become a superhero for our youth
Backpack Heroes | Holiday Heroes | Birthday Heroes
Become a corporate partner
Event sponsorships | Volunteering | Matching gifts
Learn about board leadership positions
Local Advisory Board | Ambassador Board for emerging professionals
Shauna Lugar, Development Director shauna.lugar@youthvillages.org | 503-675-2256
Jonathan Whitmore, Development Manager jonathan.whitmore@youthvillages.org | 503-675-2206
Alexis Aviles, Development Coordinator alexis.aviles@youthvillages.org | 503-675-2218
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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
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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
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