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

amanda.tillman@youthvillages.org

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 steve.benskin@youthvillages.org.

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

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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 amanda.tillman@youthvillages.org 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.