Sending a consistent message to help children
Harvard case study examines Youth Villages
Family Victories from Youth Villages, North Carolina
Katie’s journey ALSO INSIDE:
Meet one of the Youth Villages staff New Day Program: Sicoia won’t be a statistic
How effective is Youth Villages?
Spring 2010
A Message From Our Director Welcome to Youth Villages’ first North Carolina newsletter Youth Villages is pleased to offer our first newsletter for friends and families in North Carolina. Since 2005, Youth Villages has partnered with local governments, community agencies, schools, mental health professionals and others to serve troubled children and their families. We are excited about the partnerships we have built in communities across the state and the positive outcomes we continue to see. This newsletter allows us to periodically share what Youth Villages is doing, as well as stories of the young people with whom we work. During the past five years, we have experienced tremendous growth, serving more than 1,600 youth through the mental health and juvenile justice systems. We opened nine regional offices across the state and employ more than 130 dedicated and caring professionals to fulfill our mission. Plans are also under way to deliver Youth Villages’ programs and services to the Fayetteville area. Financial support from The Duke Endowment has helped us expand our Multisystemic Therapy program into underserved areas of the state, and funding from The Day Foundation has enabled us to establish the New Day program, which promotes independent living skills for youth aging out of foster care, in three regions of our state. North Carolina continues to be at the forefront of sweeping changes in mental health reform, which presents challenges but also provides a path toward more efficient and effective care delivery. Accountability, cost-effective care and high-quality treatment are priorities in the state’s complex network of care support, and Youth Villages is providing needed care across the state that meets the highest of these standards. We are proud of our efforts so far, but there is still so much work to do. For information on Youth Villages in North Carolina and our services, please contact your local office. Numbers and addresses are provided on this page. Annie Smith State Director annie.smith@youthvillages.org 910-673-8501 2
North Carolina offices Asheville 38 Rosscraggon Road, Suite 38C Asheville, NC 28803 phone: 828-654-7700 fax: 828-654-7701 Charlotte 2815 Coliseum Centre Dr., Suite 230 Charlotte, NC 28217 phone: 704-357-7920 fax: 704-357-7921 Concord 845 Church St. North, Suite 305 Concord, NC 28025 phone: 704-262-1320 fax: 704-262-1322 Raleigh-Durham 100 Capitola Dr., Suite 310 Durham, NC 27713 phone: 919-474-6400 fax: 919-474-6401 Greensboro 7900 Triad Center, Suite 350 Greensboro, NC 27409 phone: 336-931-1800 fax: 336-931-1801 Greenville 2428 Charles Blvd. Greenville, NC 27858 phone: 252-215-5700 fax: 252-215-5701 Hickory 101 Government Avenue SW Hickory, NC 28602 phone: 828-315-7700 fax: 828-315-7701 Pinehurst 5228 North Carolina Highway 211 P.O. Box 1138 West End, NC 27376 phone: 910-673-8520 fax: 910-673-8521 Wilmington 5041 New Centre Drive, Suite 209 Wilmington, NC 28403 phone: 910-392-8990 fax: 910-392-8991
Meet the YV Family
Program Success As a national leader in the field of behavioral health, Youth Villages has measured outcomes of children and families participating in its programs since 1994.
Youth Villages has served 1,608 children in North Carolina as of December 2009. On average, two-thirds stay in the Multisystemic Therapy Program for 90-180 days. Based on 563 completed surveys, 79 percent reported success at a six-month follow-up. Success is defined as living at home or in a home-like environment. At 12 months, 338 families reported an 83 percent success rate.
John Horton Manager, Resource Development John Horton recently joined Youth Villages North Carolina in the development office. He is a graduate of Queens University of Charlotte and previously worked with the philanthropic arm of Carolinas HealthCare System. Why did you decide to work at Youth Villages? — Youth Villages was just a natural fit for me. In my previous job, what I enjoyed most was working with the children and families at the children’s hospital. What is appealing about doing this work in North Carolina? — Because Youth Villages’ services in North Carolina are rapidly growing, there is an opportunity for support throughout the state. People want to support causes that make a difference in their community, and Youth Villages has been doing that for several years.
MST, New Day: Helping ensure bright futures in North Carolina Multisystemic Therapy is an innovative treatment approach that provides help to children and families in their own homes and communities. It is one of only a few treatment approaches that has been proven to be effective with troubled young people in randomized, long-term clinical trials. MST is demonstrated to be successful in helping youth ages 12 to 17 who display serious antisocial behaviors and are at risk of placement out of the home because of their behaviors. Built on the principle and scientific evidence that a seriously troubled child’s
What do you like best about your job? — I like being able to truly make a difference. Youth Villages and those individuals and organizations who choose to support us have one thing in common — we all care about helping children in need. What’s something most people don’t know about you? — In college I had both royal blue and bleached blond hair and even sported a mohawk — all in the name of team unity.
You can help. For information on giving or volunteering opportunities, call John Horton in Charlotte at 704-3577942 or e-mail John.Horton@YouthVillages.org. facebook.com/youthvillages
behavioral problems are multidimensional, MST addresses
continued on page 7
twitter.com/youthvillages 3
In North Carolina, Texas, Washington, D.C., and Dothan, Ala., Youth Villages provides Multisystemic Therapy, which has been demonstrated to be successful in helping youth ages 12 to 17 who display serious antisocial behaviors and are at risk of placement out of the home due to their behaviors.
Family all aboard with Katie Katie’s a much nicer person to be around now. She’s on track to finish high school and realize her goal of service by enlisting in the Navy. The path to achieve her dreams wasn’t always so clear. This Greensboro-area 16-year-old had outbursts of anger toward her family. Her personal life suffered. She began abusing drugs and alcohol. Katie’s mother had been involved in several abusive relationships, and Katie was also physically abused. She began regularly using substances and harming herself to
Kehoe, Youth Villages family coun-
and the effects it had. Through
cope with her feelings of anger and
selor. “We set limits and devel-
structured communication exer-
depression.
oped a behavior contract, utilizing
cises, we were able to change that
rewards and consequences.”
dynamic in the home.”
She didn’t react well when she heard a Youth Villages counselor
Katie’s mom increased her communication with Katie’s teachers
ing Katie out of class to discuss
at school and was able to address
her behavior and what prompted
at my mom because she didn’t
Katie’s poor school performance
it instead of dismissing her with
tell me the counselor was coming
and defiance toward teachers.
in-school suspension. She learned
ahead of time. I went to my room
More importantly, Kehoe ad-
that her choices have conse-
and refused to talk to her.”
dressed the family’s interactions
quences and, by examining them,
with one another.
was able to improve her decision-
was coming to visit. “I was mad,” Katie said. “I yelled
But things got better. “Early on, we established safety
“We identified how they were
making skills.
plans and ways to create more
pushing each other’s buttons,”
And Katie began to change.
structure in the home,” said Sierra
Kehoe said. “We examined their
“It worked for us,” Katie said.
communication with one another 4
At school, teachers began tak-
continued on next page
Youth Villages’ western region offices recently held their annual rally at Lake Norman State Park, where staff celebrated openings of the Asheville and Charlotte offices.
Youth Villages North Carolina staff highlights In Wilmington, Youth Villages counselors found out a young pregnant girl’s family had no means to purchase maternity clothes. The family and Heart Foxworth from the Youth Villages Wilmington office contacted the Salvation Army and other community resources.
tire,” Foxworth said. “It was a great example of how many people in the community are more than willing to meet the needs of our families. All we have to do is ask.” Matt Stockstill, transitional living specialist, partnered with the Body of Christ Church in Raleigh to collect suitcases for youth being served in the North Carolina New Day program. Tara Ward, New Day clinical supervisor in Greensboro, received a donation of six highchairs for the New Day program. The highchairs will help youth who have children or
Foxworth placed an Internet ad asking for help, explaining her role as a family therapist and giving some general details about the girl’s needs without identifying her. Thanks to a generous community, the young girl was able to get several large bags of clothes.
who are pregnant. Many of the youth in the New Day program who have children cannot afford supplies needed to care for their babies. With these highchairs, families will be able to have meals
“I could see the relief her parents and she felt knowing
with their children sitting at the table.
she would be able to attend school with appropriate at-
Katie from page 4
“I could tell a difference after a few months. Now I know to stop and think before I react when someone makes me angry. I walk away instead of getting in trouble.” Her grades have improved. Katie’s helping out around the house. She’s better equipped to productively cope with events that previously triggered angry outbursts.
Multisystemic Therapy is the treatment approach Youth Villages North
to say and try it. It will work.’” Mom also has more tools. “We are
Carolina provides to help children
getting closer to being what a family
and families in their own homes and
should be,” she said. “Katie hasn’t
communities. MST counselors provide
lost her attitude and confidence, but
intensive help for families, meeting
she is able to apply it in a constructive
in the home at least three times each
way.”
week and providing 24-hour, on-call support. “It surprised me how committed my counselor and family were to the
Katie’s getting back on track to achieve her goals, and she has the support of her family to help her get there.
program,” Katie said. “To someone
“I see her finishing school, going
else beginning the program, I would
into the Navy and making something
say, ‘Listen to what the counselor has
of herself,” mom said. 5
New Charlotte office opening offers practice in persistence When Youth Villages opens a new office, it involves learning new
Courtney’s
government policies, procedures
daily efforts set
and processes. In addition, local and
the stage to save
state government offices also learn
one child and get
how Youth Villages works. Shortly
her the help she
after a new Youth Villages office
needed.
opened in Charlotte, N.C., key play-
“Tomesia had
ers in youth services for the Mecklen-
to be persistent;
burg County area got to see how far
she had to con-
Youth Villages goes to help children.
stantly check up
In many ways, this Multisystemic
on things,” Sarah
Pictured from the Youth Villages Charlotte office, left to right, are Amrah Regazzi, clinical supervisor; Bethany Gremel, regional manager; and Lauren Walter, clinical supervisor.
Therapy referral was just like many
O’Reilly, Youth
new key players who had not gen-
others.
Villages place-
erally worked with Youth Villages
ment specialist,
before.
Charlotte Family Counselor Tomesia Courtney saw this child as a per-
said. “In addition
fect match for MST, but there were
to her regular
out to officials in an effort to push
problems.
work, this other
through this girl’s application,”
case needed con-
O’Reilly said. “I think we sent the
The young girl and her family didn’t have active Medicaid – but that was just the beginning. Courtney scheduled an assessment
stant attention.”
“Tomesia proactively reached
Tomesia Courtney
This attention included weekly contacts with the
message out to the community that Youth Villages does whatever it takes.”
with the family to get a better un-
girl, her family and social services.
derstanding of the family situation in
It involved consistent updating and
Medicaid activated. Because all the
order to determine the most appro-
resubmitting of treatment plans to
paperwork was completed and ready
priate service.
officials and state and county repre-
for review, the girl and her family
sentatives.
were quickly able to begin receiving
When the assessment was complete and Courtney could cite evi-
There never was a guarantee the
More than 12 weeks after it began,
MST with Youth Villages.
dence that this child and family were
girl would be approved for MST, but
“Without everyone on our team
ideal candidates for MST, she also
Courtney kept all the paperwork and
doing their part, this family wouldn’t
arranged a diagnostic assessment for
everyone on the family’s team up-
have received the help they needed,”
the child as her previous assessment
dated so that — if the funding was
O’Reilly said. “We expect this of all
had lapsed.
approved — she would be ready to
our employees when it comes to
submit the girl’s information for MST.
helping kids and their families.”
For the next few months this child wasn’t a client, but she still had an 6
advocate.
This was done in a new office with
Program Success
Harvard study lauds Youth Villages
from page 3
those issues using multiple strategies, including working with the family, peer groups, schools and the community. MST counselors provide intensive help for families, meeting in the home at least three times each week and providing 24-hour, on-call support. The intensive program has great results. In Youth Villages’ MST program in North Carolina, 88 percent of youth are discharged successfully
The Sicoia aged out of foster care and needed continuing support. Because of the New Day program, she is working her way through college. “I like it,” she said. “I know how to live my own life now.”
to their families. Most youth stay in the MST program for three to six months. In North Carolina, the MST program received a generous grant from The Duke Endowment to help expand the program.
‘New Day’ Transitional Living
Harvard Business School recently completed a case study that
out of state custody get a good start
examines Youth Villages’ growth
on adulthood. In North Carolina, the
and impact as a national leader in
transitional living program is called
the field of children’s behavioral
“New Day,” and counselors help
health in the last decade.
young people learn to deal with the
Written by HBS Professor Allen
minor and major problems that come
Grossman, Catherine Ross of the
with adulthood.
HBS Global Research Group and
They help participants find hous-
William Foster, a partner at the
Former foster children are one
ing and health services, learn how
Bridgespan Group, the case study
of our country’s most vulnerable
to access transportation and meet
explores Youth Villages’ innova-
groups. Studies show that without
their basic needs. Counselors teach
tive treatment approach, use of
ongoing support, young people who
such life skills as budgeting, menu
research in program development
have grown up in state custody are
planning and grocery shopping. They
and targeted growth strategies.
more likely to have trouble find-
help young people learn the skills
ing and maintaining employment
needed to find and keep jobs, and
was written for inclusion in a new
and completing even a high school
sometimes help them reunite with
course at HBS called “Leading
education. They are more likely to
their families.
and Governing Highly Effective
have trouble managing mental and
In 2009, The Day Foundation
The case on Youth Villages
Nonprofit Organizations.” “Youth Villages is a highly effec-
physical health issues, and they have
granted $1 million so Youth Villages
a significantly higher chance than the
could begin the transitional living
tive organization with quality lead-
rest of the population of becoming
program in North Carolina.
ership and a proven approach,”
homeless. In 1999, Youth Villages, through
The New Day program has helped more than 100 young people in
a grant from The Day Foundation,
Durham, Guilford and Wake counties
began a transitional living program to
this year.
Grossman says. The complete case study is available at harvardbusiness.org.
help youth ages 17-22 transitioning 7
YOUTH VILLAGES (Address Service Requested)
Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 1324
A private nonprofit organization, Youth Villages serves more than 15,000 children and their families from offices in the following cities: Alabama: Anniston, Birmingham, Dothan, Hunstville, Mobile Arkansas: Jonesboro, Little Rock Florida: Lakeland, Miami, Tampa Georgia: Atlanta, Douglasville Massachusetts: Lawrence, Woburn, Worcester Mississippi: Biloxi, Hattiesburg, Jackson, Tupelo New Hampshire: Manchester North Carolina: Asheville, Charlotte, Concord, Greensboro, Greenville, Hickory, Pinehurst, Raleigh-Durham, Wilmington Tennessee: Chattanooga, Clarksville, Columbia, Cookeville, Dickson, Dyersburg, Jackson, Johnson City, Knoxville, Linden, Memphis, Morristown, Nashville, Paris Texas: Dallas Virginia: Arlington, Roanoke Washington, D.C. Please write to Youth Villages’ Charlotte office if you wish to have your name removed from our mailing list. Attn: Charlotte office mailing 2815 Coliseum Centre Dr., Suite 230 Charlotte, NC 28217
New Heights is published by Youth Villages Managing editor: Annie Smith Associate editor: Chris Pennington
Founded in Memphis, Tenn., in 1986, Youth Villages has built a national reputation for offering the most effective programs and services to help emotionally troubled children and their families. The private nonprofit organization provides a fully intergrated continuum of services, including residential treatment, in-home services, foster care and adoption, mentoring and a transitional living program for young adults aging out of foster care.