Johnson City has backpack heroes ... 7

Cody’s success the result of intense work ... 6

SCS collaborates to help teen through trauma ... 3

Family Victories from Youth Villages East Tennessee Fall 2012

BRIGHT FUTUREJob, college and two children — Stephanie makes it work ... 4

A GRAND OPENINGAfter adoption, family still fostering children ... 5

2 New Heights

A message from our director

You believe children can be helped

For every success story we print, there are always more children who need

help. From young children to teens entering adulthood, many go without the

guidance and mentoring they need to become productive. Children are forced

to grow up at a young age, learning how to live in multiple homes, maybe suf-

fering abuse and neglect, coping by using whatever behavior defends them the

best.

They lash out in anger, verbally and physically. Some harm themselves or

disrupt classrooms. In some cases, they act out toward those who care for them

most – leaving loved ones in despair.

Many times, youth leaving foster care face further difficulty. Applications for

jobs, school, insurance and homes are intimidating; they don’t know what to do.

Compound that with the natural insecurity of many at that age, and you find a

person who has to fight twice as hard to achieve simple things their peers and

other adults may take for granted.

You believe, as our staff and partner agencies do, that all children matter and

can be helped. No matter the age, the resiliency and determination of a child

are extraordinary. Given the tools and support, their doubt and anxiety trans-

forms into determination. They have goals. They have plans. Most important,

they want to be somebody.

Your support makes that change happen. You help a young mother go to col-

lege. You help a young boy with a serious history learn to succeed in school and

Boy Scouts. You help create homes for children who need them.

These aren’t just stories in this newsletter – they are real children who now

have a chance for a bright future. They are safe, happy and on a journey where

they get to determine what they want to do and who they want to be.

Your support means we can reach more children and create more futures.

Thank you for making that possible.

YOUTH VILLAGES BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CONTACT US

Mike Bruns, ChairmanBryan Jordan, Vice ChairmanJimmy Lackie, SecretaryPaul Bower, TreasurerJim Barton Jr.Eric BoltonMarietta DavisJudith EdgeNicholas R. EhlenJoanna JacobsonRev. Robert Earl JonesKarole LloydMark MedfordJohnny PittsRay PohlmanRonnie RandallPat RitzMichael RoseMatthew TarkentonScotland ThedeDavid Tyler

Patrick Lawler, CEO

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

Memphis

Jackson

DyersburgParis

ClarksvilleNashville

Cookeville

Columbia

Dickson

Linden

Johnson CityMorristown

Knoxville

Chattanooga

Amanda Tillman

Director of East Tennessee

865-560-2550

amanda.tillman@youthvillages.org

New Heights 3

STATEPROGRAM SUCCESS

The graph above represents the status of East Tennessee youth at one year after discharge through June 2012. Figures include only youth who received at least 60 days of service and reflect a response rate of 53 percent.

OutcomesAt one-year post-discharge

0

20

40

60

80

100

85% 84%92%

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.

Earlier this year, a young girl in East Tennessee found

her father dead from an apparent drug overdose. The

mother’s whereabouts were unknown, and the father’s

family would not provide a place for the teenager to stay.

Youth Villages’ Specialized Crisis Services responder

Cathy Witmer went to see the girl at their county’s justice

center. When Cathy got there, she found the girl had

several medical issues and a pending surgery. Cathy

helped ensure the girl received proper treatment and

care at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, and then

responder Milly Douglas followed up with the child to get

more information. During the course of nearly a week,

the two responders and the crisis department monitored

the girl’s situation and made sure her unique needs were

met.

“That was not our usual type of crisis call,” said Milly, a

former child abuse investigator. “It is a good example of

how we work with partner agencies and work together to

make sure decisions are made in the child’s best inter-

ests.”

Most of the time, crisis calls involve behavior problems

or self-harming.

Throughout Tennessee, the Youth Villages Specialized

Crisis Services staff provides assessment and evaluation

of children and youth up to age 18 who are experiencing

a psychiatric emergency. In February, SCS responded to

more than 1,200 calls.

The responder’s assessment may include interviewing

other children, family, extended family, community mem-

bers, teachers, counselors and first responders – anyone

who can provide salient information regarding the crisis.

They also assess the child’s history and any factors that

may have led to the crisis and how to avoid future issues.

Also, the responders coordinate with other agencies and

facilities to help ensure the child is placed in an appro-

priate environment, whether that is treatment at home,

group therapy or counseling, or hospitalization.

The program employs more than 80 staff who work

from 13 Youth Villages offices and satellite locations

across the state to provide faster response times.

Milly Douglas, Youth Villages Specialized Crisis Services responder, worked with partner agencies and the SCS department to help ensure a child’s needs were met following a family tragedy.

COLLABORATION, COMMUNICATION HELP TEEN THROUGH DIFFICULT TIME

4 New Heights

Stephanie’s not a normal 18-year-

old.

She has a home, a job, two small

children and takes business classes

at a local college. She juggles all of it

with minimal support.

“I had to grow up early,” she said.

“Because of my responsibilities, I can’t

do the things most 18-year-olds do,

and I don’t want to.”

Stephanie was placed with her chil-

dren in foster care following the death

of her grandfather. She didn’t have a

good experience in foster care, and

after turning 18, was recommended

for Youth Villages’ transitional living

program.

Because her children were in state

custody with her, she needed to

provide a permanency plan and go

through a 90-day home trial.

“I was extra motivated to do it on my

own,” Stephanie said. “I was ready to

get out of the foster home and find my

own home.”

Stephanie found an apartment and

learned quite a bit while in the TL pro-

gram. She found a job after submitting

more than 50 applications, got a driv-

er’s license and vehicle, and learned

about money and time management.

Youth Villages, through a grant from

The Day Foundation, began a transi-

tional living program in 1999, to help

children like Stephanie get a good

start on adulthood in the crucial years

between ages 17 and 22.

Transitional living counselors help

young people learn to deal with the

minor and major problems that come

with adulthood.

“She worked very hard

to find the first job,” said

Paige Keisler, Youth Vil-

lages TL clinical super-

visor. “Because of the

economy, it was very

tough to find the first job,

but she didn’t give up.”

Stephanie regained full custody of

her children, and during the hearing,

she the judge praised her.

“The judge said Stephanie’s ability

to maintain housing, complete her

GED and maintain transportation at

her age should be an example to par-

ents in their 30s and 40s,” Paige said.

“He told her and the court that her

success would be the standard others

would be judged by that day.”

Stephanie recently retuned from

Florida, where she participated in

child development training for her job

at a day care facility. She’d like her

own home and plans to continue her

college education. She’s determined,

but patient – she has a lot to do now

but when she discusses her future, she

gets more excited.

“I’ve always done things on my own –

it’s what I’m used to. I’ve got a routine

now where everything sort of falls into

place,” she said. “I’m content now to

see where things take me, but I want a

home. I want to have my own business.

It will happen.”

A BRIGHT FUTURE OF HER OWNYour support has allowed the most statistically

vulnerable youth in the nation today make

a positive start on adulthood. Since 1999, more

than 4,700 teens earned jobs, found homes and

provided for their families thanks to your help.

The Youth Villages transitional living program pro-vides young adults leaving state

custody the intensive support and guidance they need to make a suc-cessful transition to adulthood. The program helps young people learn to deal with the minor and major problems that come with adult-

hood. They help participants find housing and health services, learn how to access transportation and

meet their basic needs. Specialists teach life skills like time manage-ment, budgeting, menu planning

and grocery shopping.

Through assistance from the Youth Villages transitional living program, Stephanie has found a job and a good home for her two daughters. She has plans for a future.

New Heights 5

Bobby’s day usually begins

around six in the morning,

preparing meals and get-

ting the children and her

husband, Johnny, ready for

their day. To say her home

is a whirlwind of activity for

most of the day is an under-

statement.

For Bobby and Johnny, it’s

a mission of sorts. They both

had children from previous

marriages, but their union

was more than a simple

marriage. It was the grand

opening of their home.

“It wasn’t like ‘those are

your kids and these are

mine,’” Johnny said. “It’s all

of us together. We’re all in it

together.”

During the past four

years, they’ve opened their

home to more than 10 foster

children, recently adopting

three – Chase, 15; Jada, 8;

and Joseph, 3. Both coming

from abusive and neglect-

ful childhoods, Bobby and

Johnny decided their home

was going to be a haven, a

safe place for children who

needed attention, care and

love.

“I’ve always wanted to

protect abused children,”

Bobby said. “I wanted to

help children who’ve been

mistreated.”

Chase was removed from

his home because of abuse

and neglect. He was also

physically and verbally

aggressive. His first foster

placement didn’t work well,

but Bobby and Johnny were

patient and Chase slowly

transformed. He’s part of

the family, and helps care

for his younger sister and

brother.

Joseph was born to a

drug-addicted mother. He

cried and wailed incessantly

while his body weaned

itself from the narcotics. He

had to be soothed and held

constantly. His sleep was

erratic. Bobby and Johnny

never wavered.

“We just held him and

loved him,” Johnny said.

“There wasn’t anything else

we could do.”

There are no signs of

those troubles now, as

Joseph and his freshly cut

Mohawk hairdo speed from

room to room and down the

hallway with his sister. He

laughs and plays just like

any other 3-year-old boy.

Bobby runs children to

doctor’s appointments and

other things. In addition

to the adopted children,

they’re still foster parents

to three other children. She

calls them all by pet names

and maintains an unending

supply of affection and ener-

gy. To nearly everyone who

goes in and out their front

door, they’re called Mamaw

and Papaw. But there are

still standards.

“Oh yes, we’ve got rules,”

Bobby said. “We expect good

grades in school, manners,

and being respectful of

adults and other children.

They all have chores to do to

help around the house. We

expect them to mind.”

The children’s bedtime is

usually around 8 in the eve-

ning. Bobby and Johnny end

the evening cleaning and

straightening up the circus

of the previous 14 hours.

Most days, Bobby’s evening

continues through to the

wee hours of the next day.

“Having foster children is

like this: It’s a lot of news,

and it can be bad one day,

good the next day and

then great another day,”

she said. “It’s a lot of work

and you have to be flexible.

But we love all of them. It’s

difficult sometimes when

they leave – you want them

to go home to their fami-

lies, but you get attached

and you’re sad to see them

leave.”

And then the next morn-

ing begins the daily routine.

Bobby and Johnny said

they’d take in more chil-

dren if they could.

The children are safe.

They’re loved. Most impor-

tant, they’re happy.

THE JOYFUL LABORS OF A VERY HAPPY HOME

Foster parents Bobby, right, and Johhny, left, with Jada, Chase and Joseph

Foster parents make a home

where children feel safe

6 New Heights

Miss Beulah and his family interven-

tion specialist, Mindy Fuller, report

that Cody has come a long way.

Cody was able to attend his first

Boy Scout camp recently and looks

forward to attending middle school, a

long way from myriad residential cen-

ters, including Youth Villages’ Center

for Intensive Residential Treatment

and the Bartlett Campus.

“Cody’s a lot different now,” Mindy

said. “He’s able to help out at home

and is doing well in school.”

Cody, 12, has lived with his great-

grandmother, Miss Beulah, since he

was 5. She now has custody of Cody,

who exhibited behavior issues from

an early age. In addition to being

physically and verbally aggressive,

Cody coped with a difficult childhood

through self-harming behavior, theft,

substance abuse, school problems and

other legal issues. He’d lash out when

he didn’t get his way, whether at home

or at school.

For years, Cody has

been in and out of resi-

dential facilities, but they

were ineffective in chang-

ing his behavior. Youth

Villages seemed to work.

“Since Cody’s residential treatment,

we were able to take what he learned

from there and implement it in the

home,” Mindy said.

And Cody responded positively.

“He gets along with his younger

brother much better now,” Miss Beu-

lah said. “Youth Villages seemed to

work best for him. They did more to

help him than any other place.”

After Cody discharged from Youth

Villages’ Bartlett Campus, he par-

ticipated in Youth Villages’ Intercept

intensive in-home program. Youth

Villages’ goal is to return children

to a less restrictive environment

to continue their progress through

intensive in-home services, with their

family when possible, or therapeutic

foster care when it is not. Intercept

provides treatment to troubled chil-

dren and families in their own homes

at times convenient for the families.

All treatment is family-centered and

includes strength-based interven-

tions. Our comprehensive treatment

approach includes family therapy,

mental health treatment for caregiv-

ers, parenting skills education, edu-

cational interventions, development

of positive peer groups, and extensive

help for families and children in ac-

cessing community resources and

long-term, ongoing support.

“Cody missed his family while he

was in residential care,” Mindy said.

“Sadly, he’s a child who’s been in and

out of state custody so much, he knows

what it takes to be stable in the home.”

Mindy, partnering with Brandi

Jones, Cody’s transitional counselor,

established a more structured envi-

ronment for Cody, including using

behavior charts with rules, rewards

and consequences. His behavior

changed at school, and he learned

coping skills such as deep breathing

to manage those times when his anger

and frustration would formerly get the

best of him.

He’s very energetic and strong-

willed, which can create its own set of

issues, but Cody’s learned to operate

in a structured environment. He has

chores to do at home, and works at

turning his energy toward positive

endeavors.

He recently purchased his own

bicycle, then fixed it up and painted it

himself. He has a long way to go, but

things are in place for Cody to grow

and be successful. He’s even thinking

about his future.

“I’d like to go in the military,” he

said. “That way, I can travel and see

other places.”

“Cody’s been through a great deal

of trauma in his young life, and it will

take some time for him to process and

overcome some of those struggles,”

Mindy said. “But Youth Villages has

stepped up with positive role models,

as well as his scout leaders and his Big

Brother.”

Increasing pressure for fiscal accountability nationwide has driven much of the interest in Youth Villages’ Eviden-tiary Family RestorationTMapproach, because the approach ensures that any public or private resources expended deliver proven social outcomes. Data-driven and outcomes-focused child services are moral obligations not only

to the children served, but also to the public and private dollars of which states, agencies and providers are stewards. For families and funders both, EFR provides a single source of accountability for a family’s success.

CODY OVERCOMES HIS PAST AND LOOKS TOWARD A FUTURE OF PROMISE

New Heights 7

Staff members

of BlueCross

BlueShield of Ten-

nessee gathered

at Youth Villages’

Johnson City office

to fill backpacks

with supplies for

area kids. More

than 15 volunteers

filled backpacks with pencils, pens, glue, erasers, lunch boxes

and more. The company also donated $10,000 at the Johnson City

office.

Along with filling about 60 backpacks, volunteers also placed

handwritten notes to go with the backpacks.

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

There are as many differ-

ent ways to support Youth

Villages as there are needs

for your support. If you

are new to the concept of

planned giving, please click

Donate on www.YouthVil-

lages.org and then go to the

Planned Giving website for

information on wills and

bequests, gifts of appreciated

stock, real estate, charitable remainder trusts,

gifts of retirement assets, life insurance and

charitable lead trusts.

Resources there include definitions, wording

for wills, stories of how instruments are created

and much more.

You may want to visit the planned giving cal-

culator to see what a planned gift would mean

in your unique circumstances. For more infor-

mation, contact Marler Stone at 901-251-4820 or

e-mail marler.stone@youthvillages.org.

Thinking of a planned gift?

Stay in touch online

www.facebook.com/youthvillages

www.twitter.com/youthvillages

youthvillages.wordpress.com

www.youthvillages.org

Marler Stone

JOHNSON CITY FINDS ITS BACKPACK HEROES

Robert went back home

to his foster family for the

summer.

About a year following

the death of Larry Plai-

sance, the family continues

to move forward and help

teenagers. In fact, the fam-

ily welcomed an additional

youth.

Robert did well during his

first year of college. He’s in

the YV Scholars program,

where Youth Villages pays

his tuition and college costs

provided he maintains cer-

tain academic and commu-

nity service standards. He

was also the first-ever freshman editor of his school newspaper.

He even took a few upper-level courses.

The family is known for fostering young people who are tough

to place. In fact, Devan, the family’s biological son, said his mother

and father took the children no one else wanted. After Larry’s

death last year, Devan returned home to help his mother, Nancy.

And the youth in the home took to Devan, who runs a martial arts

school in the area and is a mixed martial arts fighter and teacher.

Devan is also studying to become a firefighter. In addition to

Nancy’s regular job, she’s also taken up making jewelry in her

spare time. There’s quite a bit happening at the home and with

the children. One of the children trains regularly with Devan and

plans to compete soon. Another was recently awarded all-district

honors in wrestling at his school.

ROBERT’S MAKING THE MOST OF COLLEGE

5

LEGACY OF CARING LEFT FOR FAMILY AND FOSTER YOUTH“Whatever happened before, it won’t

happen here.”

Larry was a salesman for more

than two decades when he was

diagnosed with cancer. He wasn’t able

to keep his job through the treat-

ments. Unable to work, he confessed

to his wife, Nancy, that he would go stir

crazy if he didn’t find something to do.

Nancy, a medical coder, heard a spot

about Youth Villages and the need

for foster parents on a local Christian

radio station.

“I told him about it and he called,”

she said. “I guess the rest is history.”

There are three boys in Nancy’s

home, ages 16, 17 and 18. They all have

difficult pasts. They’re just three of the

more than 30 teenage boys Nancy and

Larry have fostered over the years. Lar-

ry, the oldest of eight children, wanted

to help the toughest ones. Larry and

Nancy’s biological children didn’t mind.

“The teenage boys, that’s who Larry

wanted to help,” Nancy said. “They

seemed to be the best fit for us. We

fostered juvenile justice children for

a very long time. Some of them were

very difficult.”

Devan, their youngest biological son,

was more succinct.

“We got the kids nobody else want-

ed,” he said. “Dad was strict, but he

was fair and honest.”

Larry told the youth when they first

came to the house that everyone was

treated the same. The first priority

was safety and security.

“I’d show them their room and

sometimes they’d come right back

out, sometimes they’d stay in there

for a while,” Nancy said. “Then we’d

tell them, ‘You’re safe here. Whatever

happened to you is in the past, and it

won’t happen here.”

“When you’re family, you pull

together.”

Larry passed away last summer. His

last years were spent helping foster

teenage youth and assisting his young-

est son, Devan, with a mixed martial

arts training center. The foster chil-

dren also helped with the business,

some even participating in the classes.

Devan runs the center, trains and

fights professionally.

Just a few short months after Larry’s

death, his imprint is left on the youth

he helped and the children he raised

with Nancy. Devan returned home to

help.

“I couldn’t ask for better parents,”

Devan said. “Mom and dad were al-

ways taking care of people, and there

was always someone at the house

when I was growing up.”

At the heart of their success were

Larry and Nancy’s complementary

strengths, and love.

“What made us a good team was

that he was very strict, but fair and

consistent with all the children,”

Nancy said. “He wouldn’t lie to them.

Granted, we had older boys, but they

respected him for the way he treated

Robert’s had a big summer.

He attended a leadership forum at Disneyworld, attend-

ed his high school prom, became a Christian and gradu-

ated high school. He’s also narrowed his college choices for

the fall.

Robert has been staying with Nancy and Larry for the

past few months. Their home had a big effect on him.

“Before, I wasn’t really confident,” he said. “But they ac-

cepted me and I felt more at ease. I could be myself.”

Larry recently passed away, and Robert’s more commit-

ted to helping the family stay successful, including helping

ROBERT PREPARES FOR COLLEGE

continued on page 6

continued on page 6Robert with his TL specialist, Cassie

Robert and his foster family were first featured in the fall 2011 New Heights.

YOUTH VILLAGES9111 Cross Park Drive, Suite E475Knoxville, TN 37923(Address Service Requested)

A private nonprofit organization, Youth Villages serves more than20,000 children and their families from offices in the following cities:Alabama: Auburn, Birmingham, Dothan, HuntsvilleArkansas: Jonesboro, Little RockFlorida: Lakeland, Miami, TampaGeorgia: Atlanta, DouglasvilleIndiana: Bloomington, 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-DurhamTennessee: Chattanooga, Clarksville, Columbia, Cookeville, Dickson, Dyersburg, Jackson, Johnson City,Knoxville, Linden, Memphis, Morristown, Nashville, ParisWashington, D.C.

NONPROFIT ORGU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDYOUTH VILLAGES

Founded in 1986, Youth Villages is a private nonprofit organization with a national reputation for offering the most effective programs and services to help emotionally and behaviorally troubled children and their families live success-fully. The organization helps more than 20,000 children and families each year from more than 20 states and Washing-ton, 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 unprec-edented accountability to families and funders. The EFR approach produces lasting success for children, with success rates twice that of traditional services at one-third the cost of traditional care.

Please call 865-560-2550 to have your name removed from our mailing list.

New Heights East Tennessee is published by Youth VillagesManaging Editor: Amanda Tillman Associate Editor: Chris Pennington

BRIGHT FUTURE