on Boys & Girls AidSummer 2013focus

REMEMBER FOR A MOMENT WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE 18.Now, remember the things you did not know, the mistakes yet to be made and the distances still to be covered until you really understood what it meant to be an adult. More importantly, remember the people who helped you navigate this exciting and uncertain time.

The homeless youth in Washington County struggle to be healthy adults and do not have adult role models to guide them through this transition. Their knowledge of the world and where they fit in is limited because of past abuse or neglect. For a myriad of reasons, it was a better choice to be homeless than to be at home.

Once 18, all of these youth are socially, financially and legally considered adults. Without healthy adult connections, they are not ready to become adults. It is proven that these youth, without intervention, have a higher chance of incarceration, unplanned pregnancies, substance abuse and chronic homelessness.

Far too often we encounter youth like Natalie. Growing up with ten siblings, Natalie had been neglected. Her father died when she was young and her mother couldn’t support the family. She lived out of a car and on the streets unable to receive any formal education. At 20, she read at a 6th grade level. She did not know how to get a job or save money. Without an education, things felt desperate for her. Then she found Boys & Girl Aid’s Transitional Living Program.

The Transitional Living Program (TLP) is an opportunity to help youth in Natalie’s situation.

We understand these teens and young adults have a lot to learn. We see they need a permanent connection with a stable adult. But we know they have the ability to be amazing individuals if given the right resources.

As a whole, the youth we serve are between 16 and 23-years-old. They have histories of substance abuse, have faced poverty or neglect at home or have failed at school. Many were never taught how to cook a meal, interview for a job or do their own laundry, much less support themselves financially.

This is why TLP doesn’t just provide food and shelter. The program empowers success and self-reliance. Youth receive education and guidance on everything from managing their money and savings, to dressing for a job interview. We want them to leave the program employable, with an education and the financial and social knowledge to make it on their own.

It’s not an easy path and it takes time. There are hurdles, side steps and push backs, but the hardest tasks and goals to overcome are the ones that will make the biggest difference when they are on their own. We want them to look back one day and appreciate how far they came and how much they learned as they worked towards understanding what it really means to be an adult.

A Place for Change

WHAT’S INSIDE...

2 A Message from the President & CEO Promise of Permanency

3 Beaverton Partnership Coming Together for Youth

4 Finding Independence Stories of TLP Youth

5 Investing in Permanency Make an Impact

6 With Special Thanks Recognizing Collaboration

2012-2013

Board of Directors

President

Kris Gorriaran

Executive Committee B. Gabe Nachand

Jim Harbolt Dawn McMaster Tom Szambelan Gaylyn Sher-Jan Libby Hartung

Michael H. Balter

Board Members Ronald Farnsworth

Deana Freres Jennifer Kinkade Donald Klotter

Orlando Medina Mike Nyland

Dear Friends,

As you will notice, the word transition appears many times in this newsletter. For Boys & Girls Aid, the word is tied closely to a much bigger theme ingrained in the way we serve children in need. That theme is Permanency and it is our goal to have every child, teen and young adult we serve transition to a permanent and lifelong connection.

Since 1885, Boys & Girls Aid has worked with families and children in transition. We provide transition for the birth mother through an adoption plan. We provide stable transitions for the young person in foster care seeking adoption. And we provide a safe and stable environment as children transition from their home into foster care. Each of these transitions moves children into a safe place with support and guidance that ultimately leads to a more successful life.

When I look at the youth in our Transitional Living Program, I see a group of young people that will benefit from this lifelong connection. As they have been on their own for an extended period of time, they have a lot to gain from the supports we provide.

Like all of the work we do, we aren’t able to serve these young people alone. Outlined in this newsletter, you’ll see how much we have been able to accomplish through the help of community partners and donors. From the City of Beaverton to the Home Builders Foundation, our most recent undertaking in the Transitional Living Program was made possible through wonderful contributions, support and commitment from the community. Each donation, whether it was time, money or a kitchen item, made it easier for us to offer youth an opportunity to experience a valuable transition.

While we have successfully completed another project to impact the well-being of children in need, we know our goals are far from finished. We will continue to work hard for the rest of this year, and the many more to come, to transition more youth in unsafe situations into connections with stable adults. To do that, we still need the valued support we have received in the past. It is because of you that we are able to do our important work.

Thank you for your continued investment and involvement in Boys & Girls Aid.

Warmest Regards, Michael H. Balter President & CEO

To impact the well-being of children in need.

CRITICAL THINKERS We regularly analyze ideas and data, both new and old, to improve our outcomes.

CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO AND CHANGE To be the best in the field, we challenge the status quo for the best possible solutions.

AUTHENTICALLY VALUE OTHERS We interact with people in a manner that authentically demonstrates the high value we place on others.

DO WHAT IT TAKES We do what it takes to serve our children and families, and to support each other.

DESIRE TO EXCEL We do the best possible job with passion and attention to detail.

Core Purpose

Core Values

A Message from the President & CEO

Many spend nights on the streets, “couch surfing” with friends, camping or living in cars. Most did not choose to be in this situation, but without a home, their futures are bleak. They are incarcerated more, have more unplanned pregnancies and are more likely to be chronically homeless as adults. They are less likely to find employment or earn a high school diploma or GED.

Finding a place to grow At Boys & Girls Aid, we are addressing the needs of this group through our Safe Place for Youth Shelter in Washington County. Here, we provide resources and opportunities that empower the homeless and runaway youth population to have success in both employment and education.

Breaking the cycle through partnership The City of Beaverton recognized our efforts. They too are aware of homeless and runaway youth in the city. The Beaverton School District has the highest population of homeless students in the state. This population has been growing steadily since 2009. The city offered to partner with our Transitional Living Program (TLP).

Through a Community Development Block Grant and a Housing and Urban Development Grant, the city purchased a four-unit apartment building in 2012. The building is located in the heart of Beaverton where many homeless and runaway youth reside. The building was purchased for $315,000 with an additional $178,000 that would be used for renovations.

The city provided Boys & Girls Aid with a place where we could use all of our resources on homeless and runaway youth. The site is a more central and permanent location compared to a duplex we used in Hillsboro where we paid monthly rent.

The 4-Plex has a public library, job training and education programs, and bus and light rail lines within walking distance.

Each unit has a living room, kitchen, bathroom and two bedrooms. There is an additional community room at the 4-Plex for group activities, family meetings and skills training.

TLP pushes for change in Beaverton The site opened in late February after six months of intensive work to remodel the interior, exterior and landscaping outside. A ribbon cutting was held at the 4-Plex where the mayor of Beaverton, the Beaverton Police Department and other community members were on hand to celebrate its opening.

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ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT, THERE ARE AN ESTIMATED 150 TO 170 HOMELESS OR RUNAWAY YOUTH IN WASHINGTON COUNTY.

Beaverton Mayor Denny Doyle (left) and Boys & Girls Aid President & CEO Michael H. Balter stand in the kitchen of a 4-Plex unit being remodeled in late 2012.

Mayor Denny Doyle told “The Portland Tribune” in an article

following the opening about how proud he was of the 4-Plex.

“This is really neat stuff to see the community coming

together,” he said.

Coming Together for Youth

Moving forward We project that the 4-Plex will help up to 15 youth each year. All of the work and collaboration invested in this project will mean over 5,000 nights each year will be spent in this safe, stable environment by homeless and runaway youth instead of on the streets, in cars or on a stranger’s floor.

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Stories from TLP Youth

From homeless teen to customer service manager Jessica left home right after her 18th birthday. There had been too many arguments with her parents that came to disastrous, unbearable conclusions. She left home without any knowledge to live on her own.

Prior to her departure, she did not know what it meant to be a homeless youth. She imagined it being kids sleeping under bridges and begging for spare change on the corners of downtown Portland.

Yet for the eight months after she said goodbye to her childhood home, there had not been a single location she had stayed. Jessica had been sleeping on couches and floors at friends’ homes. Every day she woke up not knowing where she would stay next.

This level of instability only worsened her anxiety and depression she had suffered from as a teenager. Her problems and a focus on where she would be staying next made it difficult to get a job. Her lack of employment made it impossible to have her own place, let alone any stability.

Jessica broke her cycle of homelessness and despair when she heard about Boys & Girls Aid. A public counselor referred her to us where she enrolled in the Transitional Living Program.

At TLP, Jessica was moved into an apartment where she had her own bed to sleep in every night. She met regularly with a mental health counselor who helped with her anxiety and depression. She received job training and was taught how to manage her finances.

Thanks to the guidance and structure of TLP, Jessica had the stability to look for work. She applied to, and was offered, a fulltime position in customer service. Since starting, she has excelled and was recently promoted to manager.

Jessica doesn’t worry about where she is going to sleep anymore. Instead, she is now thinking about going to college and the bright career that will come after.

Staying on track to graduate Sarah had not spoken to her mother for two years. They had lived in the same house, but had not shared a conversation since she was 14. When she was 16 her mother broke the silence. It was to ask her to move out.

Sarah had been taking care of herself. She got herself to school, cooked meals and washed her clothes. She had still been depending on her mother for shelter. With that support gone, she began to believe that living on the streets was her only option. Sarah knew other homeless teens and did not want that be her life.

As she was preparing for this instability, she heard about Boys & Girls Aid. Sarah was thrilled to know there was an alternative to being homeless.

She first entered our Safe Place Shelter for Youth. After a few months without a permanent option, she was recommended for TLP. Sarah was placed in one of the new units at the 4-Plex.

TLP has given Sarah the stability to work towards earning her high school diploma; something she thought she’d never do. Finding time to do homework, go to class and pass tests would have been close to impossible as a homeless teen. She appreciates knowing she has a bed to sleep in and food to eat. She is on track to graduate in the spring of 2014.

TLP is also keeping Sarah on track to achieve her long term goals. She plans on enlisting in the military after graduating where she will use her service to pay for a business degree. This type of long-term planning wouldn’t have been possible without TLP. With Sarah’s current situation stable, she is working hard to improve her future.

Jessica, 20

Sarah, 16

“I was scared,” she said. “I felt like I had nowhere to turn.”

“I didn’t want to be there,” she said. “I wasn’t ready to live on

the streets.”

Names and pictures in this newsletter have been changed to protect confidentiality.

Young adults without permenant connections are

ACT now to make the IMPACT for children in need...

$125 - Outing for a child in foster care

$78 - Welcome basket

$550 - 24/7 warm shelter for six nights

$315 - Safe night of care

$275 - Photo shoot for adoption recruitment

$1,025 - Prenatal care for birthmothers

Please contact Dr. Suzan L. Huntington, VP of Developmentat 503.542.2304 for more information on charitable giving.

Give Today.

boysandgirlsaid.org/support

[ 50% likelier to experience homelessness ]

[ 30% likelier to be incarcerated ]

[ 71% likelier to have an unwanted pregnancy ]

Oregon ranks 7th nationally in homeless people per capita & spends annually:

$42,000 per homeless

teen

$30,000 per inmate

$110 Million on teen

pregnancy

focus on Boys & Girls Aid Summer 2013 | 5

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TO THE PEOPLE, GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT MADE THE 4-PLEX POSSIBLE BY DONATING AND VOLUNTEERING

Beaverton and the surrounding communities really helped to make the 4-Plex a livable space for young people in need. Whether through donations or volunteering, it took a community to complete this project. We received major donations from 14 community partners who devoted their time and energy. Without their contributions, we would not have a new facility with sparkling floors, shinning countertops, and most importantly, happy TLP residents.

The 4-PlexEach unit has a living room, kitchen, bathroom and two bedrooms. There is also a dishwasher and washer and dryer in each unit.

City of BeavertonAcquisition of property for $315,000 and renovation of $178,000 were paid for through a Community Development Block Grant and Housing and Urban Development Grant.

With Special Thanks

Camille Taylor-SullivanAs Facilities Manager at Boys & Girls Aid, Camille Taylor-Sullivan orchestrated the move from our duplex in Hillsboro to the 4-Plex in Beaverton. She did all of the interior design and securing of items and worked with contractors and vendors to ensure the product being installed was the right fit. The 4-Plex move was yet another example of how important Camille is to Boys & Girls Aid. For 25 years, Camille has worked hard to make each and every facility feel like home. In the last five years Camille has been integral in the success of a purchase of two homes and one convent, three major moves and two major clean-outs. She understands the client needs through her interactions with them and the staff and seeks opportunity to ensure those needs are met. Thank you, Camille!

In-Kind DonationsBeaverton Police Department

Donated bedbug covers and a security system for each unit.

Home Builder’s Foundation

Provided discounted labor and cash donations throughout the renovation process. President of the Home Builders Foundation, Ken Cowdery, and Builder Captain Roger Neu, worked with Boys & Girls Aid to ensure we had resources on hand to complete the project.

OHANA Foundation

Donated almost all kitchen items in each unit. They also donated their time to help with unpacking and organizing all of the items.

Unlimited Choices

Donated almost all bathroom items including shower curtains and trash bins. They also contributed toasters and glasses.

Catalyst Partnership

Donated and constructed the wooden fence that encompasses the 4-Plex. Each unit has its own entry gate.

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Recognizing Collaboration

Roger NeuRoger served as Builder Captain where he acted in the role of general contractor for the project. From the initial remodel to the finishing touches, Roger spent hundreds of volunteer hours helping redesign the layout, locating and coordinating the work of subcontractors and ultimately assuring that all work was completed according to building codes in top working order.

Roger brought a level of experience few could offer. His commitment and enthusiasm can be found throughout each unit. He made the project fun and showed us a thing or two about how to properly renovate a home.

Thank you, Roger!

Andrea NelsonAndrea helped coordinate the City of Beaverton’s participation in the project. Though she did many different things and wore many different hats, she primarily oversaw grant administration, partner coordination and communications.

She was one of the few people that worked on the project from the very start to the very finish. She worked with Boys and Girls Aid staff from site acquisition to helping make beds before the new TLP clients moved into their apartments in February. Since the city pledged federal funds to the project, Andrea helped ensure everything went smoothly.

Thank you, Andrea!

Community Action Weatherization

Kindly weatherized each unit to prevent weather damage from the wind and rain of the Northwest. This allows Boys & Girls Aid to keep future maintenance costs under control.

Scott and Valerie Mercer

Were enthusiastic about the 4-Plex from the start. They generously donated their time and personal resources to make sure the 4-Plex had new energy efficient windows that would last as long as TLP occupied the 4-Plex.

General Tree Service

Donated a landscaping site plan for the 4-Plex.

System Pavers

Constructed the patio and walkways around the 4-Plex.

Cash DonationsCity of Beaverton Employees Wal-Mart Foundation Beaverton Service Employees International Union Home Builder’s Foundation Garlic Jim’s

Boys & Girls Aid018 SW Boundary CourtPortland, OR 97239

NONPROFIT ORG.US POSTAGE

PAIDPORTLAND, ORPERMIT NO. 623

The Donaldson Corner Boys & Girls Aidboysandgirlsaid.org

Thank you Kristine Koehler! Kristine became a foster parent when she realized she was not done raising children. In her six years of service at Boys & Girls Aid, she has been an unflappable person always willing to open up her home to a young person, regardless of their background or current situation. She cares for girls between 16 and 18 years old. Kristine enjoys the opportunity to develop relationships with each girl so it’s no surprise that she succeeds at building connections that last longer than the time she’s with the teens she cares for. In six years, Kristine has cared for nearly 50 youth, making an impact on the well-being of each child.

Thank you Kristine Koehler!