FAMILY VICTORIES FROM YOUTH VILLAGES
PAY IT FORWARD SANTANGELOS GROW FAMILY THROUGH ADOPTION, BELIEVE IN YOUTH VILLAGES’ MISSION
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
• BRAYDEN REGAINS HIS VOICE
• LIFESET ™ PROVIDES TYRA PLATFORM TO ADVOCATE FOR OTHERS
• LIVED EXPERIENCE GRANT RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED
Your investment in youth and young adults could not have come at a better time with the growth we are experiencing. Youth Villages Oregon started 2024 with a 23% increase in families served through our intensive, in-home program (Intercept®), and we have solid plans for continued growth the remainder of the year. The children and families we help in this program struggle to stay safe and together without the support of high-quality programs like Intercept. Some youth are dealing with the impacts of childhood trauma, while others are working through significant mental health challenges or complex family systems problems. Whatever the case, Intercept meets these families where they are and helps them overcome challenges, access resources and achieve success.
There is another group of highly vulnerable young people needing our help more than ever: youth aging out of foster care. A change in our contracts to support these young adults makes it harder for providers like us to reach this already marginalized group and puts evidence-based programs, like LifeSet, for this population in jeopardy across the State of Oregon.
Thankfully, you believe in these youth and the success we know they are capable of achieving. When you invest in young people, you diversify the funding needed to support them and ensure any changes in state funding do not affect them reaching their goals.
When a child enters foster care, the State of Oregon becomes their legal guardian, and every single Oregonian becomes responsible for them. Together, we can offer a much greater chance at a bright future for youth removed — through no fault of their own — from their families and “aging out” of the system. Your support helps a youth like Brayden work with a specialist like Emily to achieve his goals. Your continued investments keep our programs on track and prevent disruptions to Brayden’s dreams.
Andrew Grover EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OREGON
andrew.grover@youthvillages.org 503-675-2232
Ann Mestrovich, Chair
Charlie Swindells, Outgoing Chair
MJ Dunne
David Durocher
Jenn Fortmann
Sister Guadalupe Guajardo
Joan Horstkotte, Emeritus Member
Amber Kelly
Jodie Oltmans
Elijah Pahl
Pat Ritz
Colby Schlicker
Pete Stofle
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 other high-performing agencies and advocacy, we collaborate to bring positive change to child welfare, children’s mental health and justice systems. Our 4,000 employees serve more than 39,000 children and young adults in more than 100 locations in 26 states and D.C. 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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INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM PROVIDES KEY SUPPORT SYSTEM.
As a 20-year-old, Brayden looks back on the day that transformed his outlook on life. “It’s weird to see how I was back then and to see all the things I’ve been able to work toward,” he said.
Like with many transition-age youth (youth turning 18 while in foster care), the pathway to success is never as smooth or as easy as it may seem. Without support, many young people experience adversity in that highly critical transition to adulthood. Youth Villages is committed to ensuring every young adult aging out of foster care has the tools they need to step into this new phase of life successfully.
At just 1 year old, Brayden entered state care and eventually wound up in kinship care with extended family. “It was difficult for me to feel like I had a voice to speak out,” Brayden said.
Due to not having a strong support system or an emotionally supportive household, Brayden started to show signs of behavioral challenges as he grew older.
“Throughout school, it was really hard for me because I had a lot of issues with behavioral stuff, learning how to talk to people and learning how to assimilate myself in a social background,” Brayden said.
After his extended family placed him back into state care, Brayden
She’s been like this web of comfort for me. Emily is just a bundle of joy. Every time I see her, she’s happy. We crack jokes, and I feel like she’s my friend.
- Brayden
bounced around foster placements, group homes and a couple of residential facilities.
Four years ago, Brayden’s narrative began to change when he entered extension of foster care and met his Independent Living specialist, Emily.
“The first time I was paired up with Emily, I was excited because all the specialists I had in the past were there to do assessments on me, do a behavioral analysis or go through the medication lists,” he said.
Emily would ask Brayden how he was doing, what his needs were and what goals he wanted to accomplish. Brayden had never been asked those questions. He was taken back, “I’m sorry, what goals do I have?” Brayden recalled.
He says Emily understood his background but wanted to know who he was as a person rather than who he was on paper, and that was a breath of fresh air.
Brayden continues on page 5
INVESTING IN YOUNG PEOPLE WITH EXPERIENCE IN FOSTER CARE TO HELP IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR OTHER TRANSITION-AGE YOUTH
Youth Villages’ mission is to help children, families and young adults live successfully, and a critical part of achieving that mission daily is continuing to invest in foster youth aging out of care — both locally and nationally.
For this group of young people, the journey to adulthood is made with little or no support and can present many challenges. Organizations led by individuals with lived experience in child welfare systems provide an essential voice and partner in transforming that experience for those who come behind them.
As an extension of our work in this community, Youth Villages has developed a deep commitment to extending access to high-quality services for all youth aging out of care. Many young people who have experienced aging out go on to launch their own efforts to improve services for other transition-age youth. Investing in transition-age youth and the innovative programs they lead helps to improve outcomes for everyone through programming, advocacy and systems reform.
“We share a common goal of supporting young people as they make the transition to adulthood,” said Catherine Smith, Youth Villages managing director of business planning and policy. “We look forward to partnering with these organizations and their respective leaders who will bring invaluable lived experience and important perspective. Together, we will have an even greater positive impact on services and outcomes for transition-age young people.”
Many of these strategic partnerships are exploring even broader engagement with Youth Villages to include things like functional support, aligning in advocacy efforts and co-sponsoring events and activities in the future.
All of the work that occurs with young people in Oregon continues to inform Youth Villages’ national efforts and reinforces our belief in what is possible with this resilient group of fellow citizens who are working to become their very best selves and oftentimes break generational barriers in becoming amazing adults.
California Youth Connection/ Oregon Foster Youth Connection (Oregon statewide)
To establish OFYC as an independent, transition-age youth led advocacy organization to drive policy change.
Florida’s Children First/ Florida Youth SHINE (Florida statewide)
To launch the first phase of the youthled “YouthCanSHINE” campaign to drive greater change through advocacy and create statewide awareness of the supports that young people in care need to be successful.
Found Village (Cincinnati, Ohio)
To expand the support offered to transition-age young people in Hamilton County, Ohio by investing in staffing and program development to deliver the “Launch to Independence” program, which offers focused and intentional ageappropriate coaching, life skills training and career advancement opportunities for young people exiting foster care.
Freedom Forward (San Francisco, California)
To fund a guaranteed income pilot for transition-age young people aging out of foster care who are survivors of sexual exploitation in San Francisco.
Propelling into Triumph (Miami, Florida)
To expand a life skills coaching and mentorship program for transition-age young people in Miami, Florida.
SUN Scholars (Connecticut; nationwide project)
To build an AI-powered online education resource for transition-age young people graduating high school and the education professionals who support them.
Winston Rhea Scholars (New Orleans, Louisiana)
To serve transition-age young people in Louisiana and South Carolina through the expansion of a high-touch, intensive coaching/mentorship program that includes post-high school goal setting and financial support.
YSS (Des Moines, Iowa)
To provide workforce/professional development for child welfare and juvenile justice involved youth through a sustainable farming initiative.
Brayden continued from page 3
Emily guided Brayden as he searched for housing and helped him get set up with a financial literacy program. Last year, he saved enough money to purchase a car. Brayden says he has more in store for this year.
“Right now, my goal with Emily is to finally close my case through the Independent Living Program and graduate out of the foster care system on my 21st birthday,” he said.
Brayden says there’s always a positive side for people who may be going through similar obstacles as he did.
“Find something that is passionate to you and hold on to it,” Brayden said. “Be goal oriented, recognize that you have the power to get through it, and know you are just as strong as anybody else.”
Join us this September in Portland for an evening of celebration as we raise funds to support young adults aging out of foster care in Oregon. This is an evening of fun, networking and inspiration that you won’t want to miss!
For youth aging out of foster care without support, the future can be daunting. Some young people experience homelessness, poverty, domestic abuse and involvement with law enforcement.
Because of the trauma that she suffered as a child, Tyra struggled when she aged out alone at 18. She was referred to the Youth Villages LifeSet program.
With the help of her LifeSet specialist, Tyra graduated high school, earned her associate degree and will receive her bachelor’s degree in psychology science this spring. She’s started her own business, bought her first home and got married. Now, she mentors young people and tells her story for those who need help — and for those who can help.
She was the keynote speaker at the Achieving Success: Partnering with Transition-Age Young Adults for Strong Mental Health Workshop
in Las Vegas late last year. She was also the featured speaker at the 5th annual Jam for Janie GRAMMY Awards® Viewing Party. The event raises donations for Janie’s Fund, the philanthropic initiative between rockstar Steven Tyler and Youth Villages that helps girls and young women who have experienced trauma.
ABUSE, CONSTANT MOVING PROVIDED NO SAFE SPACE, STABILITY
Her childhood was rocky. She was left with her grandmother when her mother moved away without knowing why.
While living with her grandmother, Tyra suffered physical, emotional and spiritual abuse, and feels as if she grew up on the streets.
Eventually, her behavior led her to involvement with law enforcement. “At 12 years old, I received my first juvenile legal charge and was sent to live with my mother who I never really knew,” Tyra said.
Tyra lived with her mother for eight months, and while there she suffered abuse from her stepdad. Her mother didn’t believe her story and sent Tyra off to live with her father with whom Tyra had no relationship. “By the time I was 16 years old, I was a meth addict and I attempted suicide for the first time in my life,” Tyra said.
Following the abuse, Tyra went to therapy, but she continued to struggle, and she was admitted to a mental hospital. A week later, she was in court for her pending charges and suicidal ideation.
Tyra was diagnosed with bipolar disorder PTSD, major depression and ADHD, and those manifested themselves in physical aggression, drug use, running away and negative relationships.
“The two years that I was incarcerated, I was in two mental hospitals, two juvenile detention
centers and multiple residential facilities,” Tyra said. “I was sent home, but after a few months, I was returned to foster care. While there, I relapsed on drugs, ran away from my foster home and went back into the system. Those long months changed my life and a lot more than I imagined.”
Tyra was referred to Youth Villages and began to work through her trauma with a therapist.
“She helped me make my trauma narrative and go through the process
of what had happened to me,” Tyra said. “That trauma narrative is the reason why I’m able to tell my story.”
Tyra had aged out at 18 but was able to still receive support through Extension of Foster Care (EFC). She was free and ready to start a new life; however, she faced another challenge. “I did not know this world. I was in
this new city, and I didn’t have any support, any family,” Tyra said. “I got so overwhelmed just two months after aging out that I attempted to take my life a second time. I was in ICU for 17 hours. This, though, was the last time I ever felt suicidal. I decided that I just wanted to live through whatever was coming.”
At around this time, Tyra was introduced to LifeSet and her specialist, Gladyn. With help from LifeSet, Tyra began to build her village — a network of support that led to her success.
LifeSet is an individualized, evidenceinformed community-based program where specialists meet with young people who age out of foster care face-to-face at least once each week. LifeSet stabilizes the toughest situations and helps young people build healthy relationships, obtain safe housing, education and employment.
Tyra faced another obstacle in late 2022 when she lost her home to a house fire. The fire brought more trauma for Tyra because the home had provided stability and permanency in her life. Despite the tragedy, Tyra remained strong.
“In this situation, I didn’t relapse into suicidal ideations because my life is so much different now,” Tyra said.
“If it weren’t for Youth Villages and other foster care programs being there, I don’t know what I would have done after losing everything and having to start over again.
“With the support, resources, therapists, treatment plans, coping skills, mentorships and ultimately my village, I can conquer anything. I’m still healing, I’m still on this journey, and I want to be able to be the advocate for kids in foster care or transitioning to adulthood now.”
Joining Youth Villages as a Corporate Partner means your company and employees will spread joy through our different volunteer activities and provide much-needed financial support to our programs. Our partnership opportunities include ways to connect your employees with our mission while growing public awareness.
At Kaiser Permanente, improving health is more than just highquality health care. As one of the nation’s largest nonprofit, integrated health care organizations, we are uniquely positioned to improve the conditions for health and equity in the communities we serve. Since 1945, Kaiser Permanente has invested in community health, making charitable contributions to nonprofit, community-based organizations like Youth Villages that share our vision for community health access and equity.
ELI PAHL
Director of Mental Health and Addiction Medicine Quality at Kaiser Permanente, Youth Villages Board Member
Join our Local or Ambassador Boards and help lead the way in improving the lives of foster youth in our community.
Become a table sponsor at one of our annual fundraising events.
Gresham/PDX Dutch Bros. is honored to have partnered with Youth Villages since 2021. Having an impact on the at-risk youth of the Portland Metro area that we serve gives meaning so much greater to each cup of coffee served. Not only do we hope we bring light to local youth impacted by Youth Villages, but our teams within the walls of our coffee shops get the opportunity to be part of something bigger. There’s no greater reward than having a positive influence on the next generation.
AUSTIN SMITH Dutch Bros Operator
Being on the Ambassador Board at Youth Villages has been such a gift this past year. It’s incredibly uplifting and encouraging to witness the hard work this organization does for the foster youth in our community. My favorite part of being involved with Youth Villages is seeing so many people connect and come together with the common goal of serving these children and families.
JOSI MCDERMOTT
Accounting Manager at Boly:Welch, Youth Villages Ambassador Board Member
Make the most of your contributions to Youth Villages by leveraging your employer’s matching gift program.
Make a lasting impact with an organizational grant to Youth Villages.
I’m so grateful for and proud of The Standard’s employee matching program which we call Employee Giving 365. As a supporter of Youth Villages, I know my contribution becomes significantly greater, making the impact to Youth Villages even more impactful. As an employee of The Standard, the employee matching program demonstrates the company’s commitment to making a difference in the communities we work and live in.
ANN MESTROVICH
Project Manager at The Standard, Youth Villages Board Member
Purchase and donate wish list items for specific youth in need as a group or individual and join us for the annual Cheers & Volunteers gift-wrapping event.
As someone who believes deeply in the value of community, to the extent that I advocate for community giving and involvement to be one of Boly:Welch’s core values, I understand the critical role organizations like Youth Villages Oregon play, especially for vulnerable populations like foster youth. Having witnessed firsthand the challenges these young individuals face, I recognize the importance in providing essential resources and opportunities for them to thrive. Boly:Welch was delighted to have our accounting manager, Josi, lend her expertise on the Ambassador Board, and to donate space for the Holiday Drive this year. We support Youth Villages Oregon not just to give back, but because we’re investing in the future of our community.
PAT WELCH Co-Founder & CEO at Boly:WelchProvide a challenge match to a paid media campaign with Youth Villages to expand awareness and empathy for youth aging out of foster care while highlighting your company’s commitment to community.
Host a group of 20-30 foster youth to learn about budgeting, taxes, cooking and more.
Join us as an in-kind partner for a fundraising event or donate dinner for one of our monthly youth peer-to-peer events.
After adopting their son, Hayden, from foster care, Marcus and Samantha Santangelo share their perspective on Youth Villages’ transformational work with youth and families.
We first became involved with Youth Villages when a family friend referred Marcus to their Ambassador Board. Given our personal connection to Youth Villages’ mission — our son joined our family through adoption after spending much of his life in foster care — they thought Marcus would be a good fit with the organization. As we learned more about Youth Villages’ work, mission and the strong community that supports them, we have gotten more immersed in their work.
Youth Villages has a unique approach to serving youth within, or on track to enter, the foster care system. Their work is comprehensive: helping families to stay unified through Intercept; supporting youth and families through crises; and assisting youth aging out of the foster care system through LifeSet. Additionally, the unique methods used allow them to support youth in a way that most services cannot. Intercept, for example, meets the high needs of youth and families with high frequency
Marcus and Samantha Santangelo with their son, Hayden, along with a friend.
through its in-home or in-school services. Many young people, especially those with trauma, can benefit far more from services in the safety of their home or in the environment where it is most needed. As volunteers and supporters of Youth Villages, we have seen how youth-driven their work is. Their team works very hard to ensure they hear the needs directly from program participants, helping to provide the education and resources that foster youth need.
Why do you support Youth Villages with your philanthropic investments?
We support Youth Villages because of the essential work they do. When we look at how our family grew through adoption and the progress we have made, we personally understand the challenges that come for youth impacted by foster care and want to support other youth and families on this journey. We feel so grateful that our son now has our constant love and support moving forward. So many young adults do not have this support in their lives, and we want to provide any help we can. Supporting Youth Villages allows us to do so.
What would you say to encourage others to financially support Youth Villages?
When we look back at our own lives at 18 or 20 years old, we are constantly grateful for the encouragement from our families. Our parents and extended families provided so much stability, emotional and financial support as we went through our teens and into our 20s. This guidance set us up for success later in life. We encourage others to think about the resources they had — or maybe didn’t have — when they started out and then imagine the youth aging out of care and entering adulthood without a safety net or support system. Thinking of how challenging and scary this would be, we encourage others to consider how their donation can help build skills and structure for those who need it so much.
JULY 1, 2023-DEC. 31, 2023
$50,000 to $99,999
Marcia H. Randall Foundation
Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund
OnPoint Community Credit Union
$25,000 to $49,999
OCF Joseph E. Weston Public Foundation
James and Shirley Rippey Family Foundation
$10,000 to $24,999
Clark Foundation
Delbrueck Family Fund of Oregon Community Foundation
Dutch Bros Coffee
Jackie Gordon
Tasca and Paul Gulick
Harry A. Merlo Foundation
Oregon Community Foundation
Ritz Family Foundation
The Renaissance Foundation
Wheeler Foundation
Youth Villages Oregon Employees
Our Family Campaign
$5,000 to $9,999
David and Ginny Bennett
CareOregon
Clark Lewis Family Foundation
Terry and David Durocher
First Tech Federal Credit Union
Mary Ann Frantz
Hoover Family Foundation
In-N-Out Burger Foundation
Juan Young Trust
June & Julian Foss Foundation
Les Schwab Tire Centers
Portland Women in Business for Good
Samuel S. Johnson Foundation
Pete Stofle and Dawn Johnston
West Coast Metals
$1,000 to $4,999
Barran Liebman, LLP
Patricia Bradley
Brown Family Fund of Oregon Community Foundation
Craig and Barb Cameron
Jeanine Carlson
CFM Advocates
Susan Conrad
Ron and Faye Driscoll
Mohammad and Janice Elhindi
Daniel Fagan
Les and Nancy Fahey
Hoffman Corporation
Marlow and Denice
Hornberger
iQ Credit Union
Robert Jones
Scott and Teresa Learn
Keith Legg
Anita and Gerald Lindsay
Elizabeth and Jesse Milan
Miller Nash, LLP
Nancy Horstkotte Memorial Fund of Oregon Community Foundation
Oregon-Aire, Inc.
R&H Construction
Steve Reinisch
Stan and Madelle Rosenfeld
Marcus and Samantha
Santangelo
Sisters of the Holy Names of
Jesus and Mary
Darci and Charlie Swindells
The Churchill Foundation
The Standard
Cheryl and Richard Viskov
Micheal and Kay Wells
Claudine and Geoff Wilson
Sally Wilson
Lynzie and Marco Zawadzki
Sergey Zhurbilo
Erika Aboites
Alliance Counseling Center
Andrea Barney
Patricia Bradley
Jennifer Cadiente
Sarah and Steven Cantor
Candace Elliott
Kathleen Faherty
Nicole and Ian Galloway
Charie Gonzales
Alex Hutchinson
Sarah Levine
Rachel Parrott
Fred Roach
Christine and Colby Schlicker
Robin van der Hoest
Cheryl and Richard Viskov
Daniel Whitmore *If
This year’s Oregon tax kicker is an unprecedented $5.61 billion.
If you are in a position to do so, consider donating your refund to Youth Villages Oregon.
Scan the QR code below for more information.
5331 S Macadam Ave, Ste 287
Portland, OR 97239
(Address Service Requested)
Youth Villages is a private nonprofit that serves more than 39,000 children and their families each year from offices in the following cities:
Alabama: Auburn, Birmingham, Mobile
Arizona: Phoenix
Arkansas: Jonesboro, Little Rock, Searcy, West Memphis
Florida: Lakeland
Georgia: Atlanta, Douglasville
Indiana: Bloomington, Columbus, Indianapolis
Kentucky: Lexington, Louisville
Louisiana: Metairie
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: Dayton, 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.
