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Youth in TL program visit White House ... 3
Knoxville youth help Second Harvest ... 6
Instead of presents, Addison asked for donations ... 7
Family Victories from Youth Villages East Tennessee Spring 2014
Strive for a better life on the roadOnce homeless, Jason is laying the groundwork for a productive career and life — 4
Alexis leans on TLYoung mother escapes difficult situation and gains independence — 5
2 Spring 2014 n New Heights n East Tennessee
A message from our director
Whatever it takes:every child, every time
This newsletter focuses on our transitional living program, a groundbreaking
program designed to help children aging out of foster care or children who have
little support after a difficult childhood.
We highlight two youth whose success alone is remarkable and also recognize
what their TL specialists did to help them.
Youth in the TL program set their goals and are helped and supported in their
efforts to reach those goals. Unlike younger children, TL youth decide those goals
and the TL specialists are there for support, providing whatever is needed for
the young people to achieve their goals. Staff have to be flexible — in addition to
being career counselors, mentors, friends and cheerleaders — to be able to meet
the needs of this age group. And sometimes they are also required to be amateur
attorneys or real estate agents.
Read Alexis’ story. It’s a remarkable account of a young lady with nowhere to
turn but her former TL specialist, Michael Williams. She’d discharged, but after
attempting to leave an abusive situation with a small child, she contacted Michael.
Homeless and without any family to turn to, Alexis and Michael navigated the
court system to make sure Alexis’ daughter was taken care of and found her a
place to live.
Jason was put out on his own with literally just the clothes on his back. Read
about how his TL specialist, Amy Holt, navigated area housing listings with Jason
to find something he could afford. Because Jason had never been in foster care,
benefits weren’t readily available. They both chose a positive attitude and in the
end, it worked. Jason is employed and has his own apartment.
These stories and the stories of thousands of others helped by Youth Villages
wouldn’t be possible without your help and support.
Please call me at 865-560-2550 to find out ways you can help. There are many
ways. You can even purchase a red kite license plate by contacting your local
county clerk’s office or calling 901-251-4823. The sale of the cusom plate benefits
Youth Villages.
Thank you for supporting East Tennessee young people and Youth Villages.
YOUTH VILLAGES BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CONTACT US
Bryan Jordan, Chairman
Jimmy Lackie, Vice Chairman
Matthew Tarkenton, Secretary
Paul Bower, Treasurer
Jim Barton Jr.
Eric Bolton
Marietta Davis
Judith Edge
Nicholas R. Ehlen
Jack A. Eiferman
Bill Giles
Willie Gregory
Joanna Jacobson
Karole Lloyd
Mark Medford
Johnny Pitts
Pat Ritz
Michael Rose
Richard W. Talkov
Matthew Tarkenton
Scotland Thede
David Tyler
Patrick Lawler, CEO
Mike Bruns, Chairman Emeritus
Chattanooga5741 Cornelison Road6400 BuildingChattanooga, TN 37411phone: 423-954-8890 fax: 423-954-8880
Johnson City3915 Bristol Hwy. #101Johnson City, TN 37601phone: 423-283-6500 fax: 423-283-6550
Knoxville9111 Cross Park Drive, Suite E475Knoxville, TN 37923phone: 865-560-2550 fax: 865-560-2580
Morristown225 West First North Street, Suite 302Millennium Square BuildingMorristown, TN 37814phone: 423-522-2200 fax: 423-522-2180
Memphis
Jackson
DyersburgParis
ClarksvilleNashville
Cookeville Johnson CityMorristown
KnoxvilleColumbia
Dickson
Linden Chattanooga
TENN.
Memphis
Jackson
DyersburgParis
TENN.
ClarksvilleNashville
Cookeville
Columbia
Dickson
Linden
TENN.
Johnson CityMorristown
Knoxville
ChattanoogaTENN.
Amanda Tillman
Director of East Tennessee
865-560-2550
Spring 2014 n New Heights n East Tennessee 3
EAST TENNESSEEPROGRAM SUCCESS
The graph above represents the status of East Tennessee youth at one year after discharge through December 2013. Figures include only youth who received at least 60 days of service and reflect a response rate of 49 percent.
OutcomesAt One-Year Post-DischargeAt One Year Post Discharge
0
20
40
60
80
100
85% 84%91%
At hom
e with fam
ily
No involvem
entw
ith the law
In school or graduated
*82.7% of youth were in state custody at admission to the program.
Program SuccessAs a national leader in the field of behavioral health, Youth Villages has measured outcomes of children and families participating in its programs since 1994.
Twenty participants in the Youth Villages transitional
living program for former foster children joined more
than 120 middle school, high school and college-level
students from across the country for a “History of Women
in Soul Music” educational program and concert at the
White House March 7.
First Lady Michelle Obama hosted “I’m Every Woman:
The History of Women in Soul,” a student workshop in
the State Dining Room. The educational event was in
conjunction with the PBS music special “Women of Soul:
In Performance in the White House,” produced by The
GRAMMY Museum. It included a history of the origins
of soul music by Grammy Museum Executive Director
Robert Santelli. He was joined by special music guests
Patti LaBelle, Melissa Etheridge and Janelle Monáe, who
also appeared in the concert later that evening. During
the workshop, these artists shared their experiences and
answered students’ questions.
At the end of a question-and-answer session with
the performers, the students shared their own musical
talents with an impromptu sing-a-long of Arthur Conley’s
classic hit, “Do You Like Good Music?” The singers
included Youth Villages’ transitional living participants
Melissa Howard, Darrah Hall and Sherika Wilkes.
TL YOUTH VISIT WHITE HOUSE
Amy Serota, who works at the
Knox County Department of Chil-
dren’s Services office, partners
with Youth Villages on several
youth receiving YV services.
A recent case involved a moth-
er of two children overdosing on
drugs. Serota assisted YV staff
with placing the children in foster
care and continued to follow up to
help ensure their needs were being met.
“She partners with us on difficult cases and advocates
for us as a strong partner to DCS,” said Melissa Jackson-
Wade, Youth Villages’ assistant director of Intercept®
intensive in-home program. “She is a huge advocate for
our kids and families.”
A STRONG PARTNER AT DCS
TL PROGRAM MAKING A DIFFERENCEYouth Villages’ transitional living program was named
one of 15 local, state and national youth- and family-serving
initiatives making a critical difference in the lives of youth
in foster care by the Center for the Study of Social Policy, a
national organization based in Washington, D.C.
The program, pioneered in Tennessee and now serving
youth in five other states, was recognized because of its
commitment to building qualities that help young people –
particularly those in the child welfare system – mitigate or
eliminate risk and promote healthy development and well-
being. Since 1999, it has helped more than 6,000 former
foster children make a successful transition to adulthood.
Approximately 26,000 young adults age out of foster
care every year in the United States. National studies have
found that, with limited resources and supports, these
young people are more likely than their peers to end up
homeless or incarcerated and less likely to have a job or
go to college. In contrast, even two years after completing
Youth Villages’ transitional living program, about 80 per-
cent of participants are living independently or with family;
are in school, graduated or employed; and are crime free.
Amy Serota
4 Spring 2014 n New Heights n East Tennessee
It’s about 12 miles from Jason’s for-
mer home to the local shelter.
When his stepmother told him to
leave, he had friends to assist him
with the journey.
It still wasn’t easy.
His biological mother and father
had passed away. He said his step-
mother just didn’t want him around
any more. There was no warning.
Jason didn’t have transportation
and he was unprepared. So Jason,
now 22, left what he knew with just
the clothes he was wearing. Nothing
more.
When Youth Villages Transitional
Living Specialist Amy Holt first met
Jason, he’d been at the local home-
less shelter going on six months. It
was August of last year.
“The first thing I needed to do
was get to know Jason and get him
engaged in the program,” Amy said.
“His first goal was to have his own
home before winter.”
Jason wanted out of the shelter and
wanted to get away from some of the
influences there. He well knew the
stigma attached to walking around
looking for a job and living at the
shelter.
“I felt like a piece of trash,” he said.
“I got a double-dose of it every day,
and I didn’t want to be like that.”
First, Amy and Jason searched for
affordable housing. He was able to get
his own home just before Thanksgiv-
ing.
Thanks to Youth Villages staff and
donations, Jason was able to pur-
chase some clothing, including nicer
clothes for job interviews, and basic
essentials.
Daily treks to Labor Ready began to
pay off with regular work. Some days
it was construction, other days it was
retail work. Jason enjoyed the variety.
Amy and Jason are both persistent,
and their efforts transformed Jason’s
situation.
“Because he’d never been in foster
care, there weren’t that many re-
sources that were readily available,”
Amy said. “We did a lot of searching,
and I learned a lot about where to go
outside of the system to find help and
support.”
Now, Jason is learning how to man-
age his money and get insurance.
He’s started saving money. He role-
plays job interviews with Amy and is
learning more about conflict resolu-
tion in the work place. He’s getting
support he never had before.
“Before we began working together
I was kind of closed off and it both-
ered me,” Jason said. “But I want to
be somebody and get things done.”
Jason’s working toward a driver’s
permit. From there, he’d like to get a
car and more furniture for his apart-
ment.
Ultimately, he wants to be a truck
driver, like his father.
“I wouldn’t be where I am without
Amy, that’s for sure,” Jason said.
“I got my confidence back. Amy
stepped in to help me and things
started happening.”
JASON PREPARES HIS ROAD TO SUCCESSYour support has allowed the most statistically
vulnerable youth in the nation today to get a positive start on adulthood. Since 1999, more than 6,000 teens earned jobs, found homes and provided for themselves thanks
to your help. Young adults like Jason who have no means of support or stability rely on Youth Villages’ transitional living specialists to assist with independent living skills
and overcome difficult personal events.
Youth Villages’transitional living program
provides young adults leaving state custody the intensive support and guidance they need to make a successful transition to
adulthood. The program helps young people learn to deal with the minor and major
problems that come with adulthood. They help participants find housing and health
services, learn how to access transportation and meet their basic needs. Specialists teach life skills like time management, budgeting,
menu planning and grocery shopping.Jason with TL specialist Amy Holt
Spring 2014 n New Heights n East Tennessee 5
Alexis didn’t have anywhere else
to turn when she called her former
Transitional Living Specialist Michael
Williams.
A year before, she’d discharged
from TL and was doing well in high
school. She contacted Michael for help
getting out of an abusive relationship.
She had a small daughter as well.
“It was scary,” Alexis said. “I had
nowhere to go.”
Alexis didn’t have a home, had little
support, and was fighting to keep
custody of her daughter. Michael acted
quickly to get Alexis back into the TL
program.
“Because of the nature of her situation
with the domestic violence, I wanted
to help as quickly as possible,” Michael
said. “There was a lot going on and she
needed help getting through it.”
During that time, Alexis thought she
was going to lose everything. Through
help from the Tennessee Department
of Children’s Services and Michael,
Alexis began to slowly piece her life
together. First, she found a place to
live. She wasn’t in school, but she had
a job. Through help from Legal Aid of
East Tennes-
see and legal
assistance
from DCS,
Alexis was
able to gain
custody of her
daughter.
But it wasn’t
without a fight.
“I had so much going on, it was
kind of like, ‘What else can happen?’”
Alexis said. “It was one thing after
another, but I focused on keeping my
daughter.”
Also at this time, Alexis was finding
her own voice. While in the abusive
relationship, she described herself as
brainwashed in a way, to stay at home,
drop out of school … but she wanted
something different. Through the
struggles of getting out of the relation-
ship, finding a home and fighting for
custody, she began to find an inner
strength to build a life. It wasn’t easy,
as many of the meetings between
Michael and Alexis were many hours
long and sometimes two or three
times a week.
“She was very motivated to make
things happen,” Michael said. “But
there for a time it was slow going get-
ting through the legal process.”
Alexis continued to work part time
and learned about budgeting and sav-
ing. Michael assisted her with exten-
sion of foster care services, and she
began pursuing her GED. They found
community support through church
and local shelters.
“When the reality and urgency of the
situation set in, I had to learn quickly,”
Alexis said. “I learned how to listen
and understand new things and ask
good questions because there was so
much at stake.”
Now Alexis can move forward.
Instead of being moment-to-moment,
she can plan for a future. She doesn’t
have to worry about where she’s going
to sleep. She can enjoy being a mother.
“Michael helped me a lot,” she said.
“Without his help, I’d probably be
homeless and without my daughter.”
ALEXIS OVERCOMES ABUSE, HOMELESSNESS
Michael had to be many things to help young mother
Through a public-private partnership with Youth Villages, Tennessee’s Department of Children’s Services offers intensive community-based services to each of the more than 1,000 young people who turn 18 in state custody every year without being reunited with their birth families or being adopted.
This makes Tennessee the first in the nation to offer comprehensive services to help all foster children who age out of state custody.
Alexis with TL Specialist Michael Williams
Gov. Bill Haslam recently visited Youth Villages’ Nashville of-fice during a TL workshop where youth in the TL program built resumes, role-played job interviews and were given tips on how to dress for success.
6 Spring 2014 n New Heights n East Tennessee
About 26,000 young adults age out of foster care every year in the United States. National studies have found that, with limited resources and supports, these young people are more likely than their peers to end up home-less or incarcerated and less likely to have a job or go to college. In contrast – even two years after completing
Youth Villages’ transitional living program – about 80 percent of participants are living independently or with family; are in school, graduated or employed; and are crime free.
A group of young people helped
by Youth Villages’ transitional living
program in the Knoxville, Tenn., area
enjoyed an opportunity to give back
to the community recently.
The youth visited Second Har-
vest Food Bank of East Tennessee
in Maryville, along with YV staff
members. The group spent two
hours loading, unloading, sorting
and stacking canned goods that
were used to help feed families and
individuals who otherwise might
have gone hungry during the holiday
season.
Many of the TL youth who partici-
pated have experienced homeless-
ness or poverty at some point and
understand how beneficial low-to
no-cost community resources like
food banks can be.
The youth turned volunteering
into a competition, seeing who could
pack the most cans. They estimated
that they packed around 4,000 cans
of corn in two hours.
KNOXVILLE TL YOUTH HELP SECOND HARVEST
Before becoming a specialized
crisis counselor, Sarah Simulis was an
Intercept in-home services counselor
based in Chattanooga. Recently, Sarah
was assessing a youth with suicidal
thoughts and became concerned the
boyfriend might also be at risk if there
was a suicide pact. Sarah worked with the school’s guid-
ance counselor to assess both children. The following
day, she continued to advocate for assessment on her
way to another crisis, and was then asked to return to
assist with an assessment she’d advocated for.
“It’s a pleasure having Sarah on the Chattanooga crisis
team and being a part of her passion to help kids in
crisis,” said Deanna Doran, Youth Villages Specialized
Crisis Services Southeast program supervisor.
VARIETY CLUB SUPPORTS HOLIDAY HEROES
MEET SARAH SIMULIS
BACKPACK HEROESAbout 220 East Tennessee children being helped by Youth Villages received back-packs stocked with school supplies for the school year. Thanks to the Knoxville Area Association of REALTORS, more than $7,500 was contributed to purchase supplies and backpacks for youth being served through all four of Youth Villages’ East Tennessee offices.
The Variety Club of East Tennessee continues to support Youth Villages in East Tennessee. Last year, the group gave $18,000 to benefit Youth Villages’ Holiday Heroes program, where holiday gifts are purchased for children and families in YV programs. Many of those families cannot afford to purchase gifts. Amanda Tillman, third from left, Youth Villages director of East Tennessee, and Melissa Jackson, third from right, Youth Villages assistant director of East Tennessee, stand with board members of the Variety Club of East Tennessee.
Spring 2014 n New Heights n East Tennessee 7
There are numerous ways to help. Mentor,
foster parent, volunteer or financially donate to
our programs. Your support can have a di-
rect impact on the future of the more than 450
children we help every day in East Tennessee.
Please call or e-mail Youth Villages to find out
how to help.
JOIN OUR EFFORTS Become a force for families
9111 Cross Park Drive, Suite E-475
Knoxville, TN 37923
865-560-2550
Whether you’re planning
such a gift as writing a will or
setting up a trust for Youth
Villages, we have a portion of
our website devoted to dona-
tions and planned giving.
It contains information
that may be valuable to you.
Simply go to youthvillages.
org/plannedgiving and you’re
there.
You will find an introduction to planned giving
and a category titled “How Can I ...,” which lists
all the vehicles included in a plan, including
wills and bequests, gifts of appreciated stock or
gifts of real estate. In addition, there is a section
on “why do I need a will,” a glossary of terms, an
estate intention form and much more. For infor-
mation, please contact Steve Benskin at 901-251-
4820 or e-mail [email protected].
Thinking of a planned gift?
Steve Benskin
Stay in touch online
www.facebook.com/youthvillages
www.twitter.com/youthvillages
youthvillages.wordpress.com
www.youthvillages.org
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YV Pillar$25,000 - $49,999Variety of Eastern Tennessee
YV Leader$10,000 - $24,999The Haslam 3 Foundation
Friend of Youth Villagesup to $999Ms. Sarah BettensBoones Creek Christian ChurchBuffalo Wild WingsMs. Ellen CampbellMr. David CaseMs. Brandi CatesChattanooga Area Combined Federal CampaignMr. and Mrs. Frank DormanFrozen Smiles Inc.Mr. and Mrs. Daniel GriessMr. Joseph JacobsenMs. Lois JonesKnoxville Ice Bears
Dr. Julie MaldonMs. Mary MartinMr. Harold MasonMr. William McCarterMs. Joellen MeredithMM Johnson Interests LLCNewport Cinema 4Mr. and Mrs. J. E. RausinMs. Barbara SampsonMs. Carolyn SeeleyMrs. Sheryl ThomsonMr. David TowerMs. Kimberly ToweryMrs. Shoshannah WalkerMs. Melinda WilliamsMr. and Mrs. Philip Zaretzki
MemorialsMr. Mike DunfordMs. Melinda Williams
Ms. Rita HeadMrs. Sheryl Thomson
A GIFT OF HELPING OTHERS
Addison recently turned 8 years old, and at her birthday party, she re-quested a different sort of gift. Addison asked those attending her par-ty to make a donation to Youth Villages instead of giving a present. She raised $210 to benefit Youth Villages.
The following donors made gifts to Youth Villages between
Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2013. The board of directors and staff of Youth
Villages gratefully acknowledge these thoughtful contributions.
If you made a contribution during this time but it is not listed,
please call 865-560-2550.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING YOUTH VILLAGES
YOUTH VILLAGES9111 Cross Park Drive, Suite E-475Knoxville, TN 37923(Address Service Requested)
NONPROFIT ORGU.S. POSTAGE
PAIDYOUTH VILLAGES
Please e-mail [email protected] or call 865-560-2550 to have your name removed from our mailing list.
New Heights East Tennessee is published by Youth Villages
Founded in 1986, Youth Villages is a leading national nonprofit dedicated to providing the most effective local solutions to help emotionally and behaviorally troubled children and their families live successfully. We help more than 22,000 children and families each year from more than 20 states and Washington, D.C. Youth Villages’ Evidentiary Family Restoration™ approach involves intensive work with the child and family, a focus on measuring outcomes, keeping children in the community whenever safely possible, and providing unprecedented accountability to families and funders.
A private nonprofit organization, Youth Villages serves more than22,000 children and their families from offices in the following cities:Alabama: Auburn, Birmingham, MobileArkansas: Jonesboro, Little RockFlorida: Lakeland, MiamiGeorgia: Atlanta, DouglasvilleIndiana: Bloomington, Columbus, Jasper, Jeffersonville, MadisonMassachusetts: Arlington, Lawrence, Plymouth, Springfield, Woburn, WorcesterMississippi: Biloxi, Greenwood, Hattiesburg, Hernando, Jackson, TupeloNew Hampshire: ManchesterNorth Carolina: Asheville, Boone, Charlotte, Concord, Greensboro, Greenville, Pinehurst, Raleigh-Durham, WaynesvilleOregon: PortlandTennessee: Chattanooga, Clarksville, Columbia, Cookeville, Dickson, Dyersburg, Jackson, Johnson City,Knoxville, Linden, Memphis, Morristown, Nashville, ParisWashington, D.C.