New Heights Oregon - Winter 2013

Family Victories from Youth Villages Oregon

2 Winter 2014 New Heights Oregon

A message from our director

We are very excited to share good news — the results are in

and we are changing lives for children and families through-

out Oregon!

To be honest, when we began our work to transform the

trajectory of the lives of children and families throughout

Oregon in 2011, we had no idea how hard this work would be.

Yet now that we are seeing the results, we know it was worth

the effort in every way.

And our work has just begun — not only are we serving

twice as many families at a lower-per-family cost with improved outcomes, but we

also have expanded to serve all youth, whether their paths have taken them to

the child welfare, mental health or juvenile justice systems of care. For us, it is and

always has been about the special challenges any child faces in finding permanency

and life success, and addressing those challenges with whatever it takes.

As I look at our evolution over the past decade, it is amazing to realize the prog-

ress that has been made. Due to our unique focus and 20 years of experience mea-

suring outcomes and performance, we know our services make the critical differ-

ence. We follow up with all our youth at six, 12 and 24 months post discharge and our

success level is more than 80%. Of course, this is a great organizational benchmark,

but what does it mean to Oregonians?

It means hope and promise. It means that in a state where 1 in every 2 children is

born on Medicaid, there are solutions to ensure that education, family and treat-

ment goals are attained. It means that in a state where there are twice as many

youth in foster care as in other states our size, we have proven tools to make rapid

reductions in the number of youth without permanent families. It means tight public

resources can be deployed for services that are proven effective. And most impor-

tantly, it means Oregon kids can reach their full potential instead of running the

gauntlet of services and interventions.

I have a New Year’s resolution and I need your help to achieve it: please join me

in seeing transformation. Come see our upgraded facilities — the Clark Youth and

Family Services Center, our Clackamas River Campus or one of our classrooms. Or

join us for a ridealong to see Intercept intensive in-home services in action. I guar-

antee you will be transformed by the experience and inspired by the results. I look

forward to your call.

Read on — I know you will enjoy this issue of our newsletter. And thank you for

your past, present and future support. We have only just begun and are propelled by

the success of thousands of youth and families throughout Oregon.

Beth Berselli

Bethany Bounds

Scott Bruun

Nick Ehlen*

Alistair Firmin

Fred Granum

Joanne Horstkotte

Jodie Hueske

Steve Hull

Carole Kinnune

Krina Lee

Charles McGee

Megan Murphy

Kevin O’Boyle

H. Patterson “Pat” Ritz*

Sharr Stark

Scotland Thede*

Claudia Valderrama

Dale Walker

* also members of Youth

Villages’ national

board of directors

Lynne Saxton

Executive Director of Oregon

503-675-2207

[email protected]

Winter 2014 New Heights Oregon 3

The graph above represents the status of Oregon youth at six months after discharge through Dec. 2012. Figures include only youth receiving Intercept in-home services, a new and expanding program in the Oregon area, for at least 60 days of service and reflect a response rate of 65 percent. All youth are followed for two years after discharge.

StatusAt one-year follow-upAt one year follow up

0

20

40

60

80

100

72%

84%88%

At home w

ith family

No involvem

entw

ith the law

88%

In school or graduated

*82.7% of youth were in state custody at admission to the program.

Program Success

Adam Becenti, an enrolled mem-

ber of the Navajo Nation, has been

named tribal liaison/cultural coor-

dinator for the Cedar Bough Native

American program at Youth Villages

Oregon.

The program offers culturally

responsive residential treatment for

Native American youth and other

young people who can benefit

from a strong cultural and spiri-

tual program.

In his position, Becenti helps

Native American youth connect

or reconnect to their cultural

and spiritual heritage in the

program. He also works with

the program’s Native American

Advisory Council led by Dr. John

Spence.

From the clan of Red Running

Into the Water, Becenti grew

up on the border of the Navajo

Tribal Nation in Gallup, N.M.

“Growing up, my grandfather taught me traditional Na-

vajo culture and practice, giving me a strong foundation,”

Becenti said. “I’m proud to be helping Native children

and youth in this program and will be meeting with tribal

leaders throughout Oregon and the Pacific Northwest to

learn more about their needs and expectations for our

services.”

Becenti has bachelor’s degrees in psychology and eth-

nic studies from the University of Colorado and a mas-

ter’s degree in public policy with an emphasis on educa-

tion policy from the University of Michigan.

He worked to recruit and retain Native American

students for the University of Colorado and has diverse

experience in Native American programs including Col-

lege Horizons, United National Indian Tribal Youth and

the Patty Iron Cloud National Native American Youth

Initiative.

Youth Villages Oregon celebrated the second anniversary of the merger between Youth Villages and ChristieCare with a special luncheon outside Christie School. In the above photo, Christie School chefs Karen LaVallee, left, and Paula Wilde, pose for a photo.

Becenti

“Growing up, my

grandfather taught me traditional

Navajo culture and

practice, giving me a strong

foundation.”


Youth Villages Oregon staff got together and posed before participat-ing in the Portland Bridge Pedal bike ride to benefit children’s health care in the Portland area.

A Microsoft grant of more

than $7.4 million in software

and technology to Youth

Villages is powering a new

electronic medical records

system for staff who provide

intensive in-home, residen-

tial and transitional services

in Oregon.

The grant, a part of Micro-

soft’s YouthSpark initiative,

also will enhance Youth Vil-

lages Oregon’s internal and

external communications

systems.

“We’re pleased to have

Microsoft as one of our most

important partners,” said

Lynne Saxton, executive

director of Youth Villages

Oregon. “This grant allows

us to support our staff with

modern clinical records and

office technology, enabling

them to do their best work

for children with emotional

and behavioral problems

and their families.”

Counselors and staff who

work in Youth Villages Ore-

gon’s Intercept intensive in-

home services program and

on the Christie and Clacka-

mas campuses completed

training and recently began

using Netsmart’s Evolv-CS

web-based electronic health

record software system.

The grant from Microsoft

has allowed infrastructure,

server and workstation en-

hancements, bringing more

access and efficiency to the

new system.

Youth Villages Oregon

staff members use the

health record system to

perform critical functions

each day, such as accessing

medical records, document-

ing treatment plans and

reporting to parents and

referral partners.

The grant will also allow

an upgrade of Youth Vil-

lages Oregon’s Microsoft

Sharepoint internal com-

munications intranet.

Across Youth Villages, the

grant will be used to up-

grade technology services

provided to children and

youth being helped on resi-

dential campuses. Young

adults in the Youth Villages

transitional living program

use computers powered

by Microsoft to study for

their GED, apply for col-

leges, prepare resumes and

search and apply for their

first jobs.

Microsoft YouthSpark is a

global initiative committed

to creating opportunities for

300 million youth in more

than 100 countries over the

next three years. This com-

panywide initiative includes

company programs that

empower youth to imagine

and realize their full poten-

tial by connecting them with

greater opportunities for

education, employment and

entrepreneurship.

“Through YouthSpark,

we’ve made a commitment

to provide opportunities for

youth to succeed in today’s

competitive marketplace,”

said Marietta Davis, gen-

eral manager of Microsoft’s

Greater Southeast District.

“The Youth Villages grant

will give at-risk youth the

technology and training

critical to success in the

technology economy. I’ve

been so impressed with the

organization that I joined its

national board of directors.”

The Microsoft grant allows Youth Villages to upgrade its technology ser-vices to children and youth being helped on residential campuses.

YV colleagues participate in Bridge Pedal event


From time to time, people come

along who defy convention.

Chad is one of those.

Physically imposing at more than

6 feet 5 inches, he’s more aptly de-

scribed with such words as gentle,

soft-spoken and thoughtful.

But growing up, his size and his

history followed him from state place-

ment to state placement. Many times,

he was handled more roughly or

severely because of his size.

Chad was very young when he suf-

fered a family tragedy and was taken

from his home. He then went through

myriad foster homes and state facili-

ties before landing in a good foster

home in the Portland area. He spent

a year there and at 17, he left foster

care to participate in Youth Villages

Oregon’s Mosaic program.

Now 23, Chad will soon move to a

new town to reunite with his older

brother and be close to another adult

who supports him.

“The Mosaic program was very im-

portant for me,” Chad said. “It helped

me learn and grow.”

And that’s not all. Chad had basic in-

securities and behavior issues because

of his traumatic past. On top of that, he

was obstinate, and didn’t like being told

what to do. When he entered Mosaic,

he learned basic life skills, how to be

more self-sufficient and how to make

good choices on his own. Program

Manager Rachel Johnson supported

Chad during his five years in the pro-

gram.

“Trust was the big issue during his

first year,” Rachel said. “He had some

rough moments, but he saw we were

a support for him and not there to

dictate what he did.”

And that’s the big difference be-

tween state services for children and

adults, Rachel said. As a child, your

path is highly monitored and account-

ed for.

“In the adult system, if you don’t

want to engage in treatment, you don’t

have to,” Rachel said. “As an adult, you

have to make the appointments and

then get to the appointments. If you’ve

never done that before, it can be a

struggle the first few times.”

“I went from having no control over

what I did to being given the reins to

my everyday life,” Chad said. “At first

it kind of threw me for a loop.”

Chad looked for a job. He managed

a budget and bought food for himself,

preparing his own meals and washing

his clothes. Chad found work as a prep

cook and also as a peer support opera-

tor. He made mistakes, but Mosaic

staff were there for support.

“It has been rough at times,” Chad

said. “But when challenging situations

arise, I reflect on what I learned at Mo-

saic and it helps.”

For many, the Mosaic program offers

them an opportunity to interact in the

adult world outside of the clinical or

system setting.

“They have to decide what their

goals are,” Rachel said. “Our big focus

is getting to know the youth and build

trust. Once they decide what their

goals are, we offer support to help

them achieve their goals.”

Chad wants to work for himself. He

enjoys fishing, and said he’d like to tie

his own fly-fishing flies. But he saved

his highest praise for the Mosaic pro-

gram and staff.

“If I hadn’t gone there, I would

probably be in some state facility

unaware and unable to take care of

myself,” Chad said. “It’s easy, but you

have to work at it. You have to take

advantage of the program and get the

most out of it.”

Chad overcomes difficult past and plans for future

success

Youth Villages Oregon’s Mosaic group home program in Oregon City helps young adults ages 17-24 who are transitioning from the children’s mental health system and

need ongoing, intensive mental health treatment. The Mosaic staff helps residents build independent living skills and develop educational and employment plans.

Chad outside Christie School


The Lake Oswego chapter of the National Charity League helped Youth Villages Oregon get into the Halloween spirit by decorating the Christie Campus. The National Charity League is a mother-daughter philanthropic organization that seeks to change lives by inspiring and empowering women to succeed as confident, well-round-ed and socially aware contributors in their communities. The Lake Oswego chapter has partnered with Youth Villages Oregon for the past five years, planning activities for the children in Youth Villages’ programs, decorating the campus during holidays, serving at special events and donating hygiene packets and art supplies. Kids and staff also celebrated Halloween with a trick-or-treating party at Youth Villages Oregon’s new Clark Youth and Family Services Center.

More than $68,000 was raised to ben-

efit children in Youth Villages Oregon

programs at the 10th Annual YV Or-

egon Cup Pro Am golf tournament at

Columbia Edgewater Country Club in

Portland.

Eighty golfers from across Oregon

and Washington competed in the YV

Oregon Cup, the only pro am golf tour-

nament sponsored by the Oregon PGA

benefitting a nonprofit organization.

Above, the winning team members pose with Youth Villages Oregon Executive Director Lynne Saxton, including professional golfer Mark Keating of Meriwether National Golf Club in Hillsboro, Mike Graham of Gearhart, Peter Roscoe of Astoria, John Pyle of Portland and Richie Schroder of Portland.

At left, overall professional winner Tim Hval of Portland Golf Club with Saxton.


Stand tall for Amer-

ica’s most vulnerable

children in these fabu-

lous shoes.

The online retailer

Milk & Honey Shoes

has teamed with five

generous celebrities

to offer Youth Villages’

supporters an excit-

ing new way to help

children.

Kristin Chenoweth,

Kimberly Williams-

Paisley, CariDee Eng-

lish, Ashley Williams

and Kayla Farhang

have designed shoes

for Milk & Honey, an

online custom shoe

retailer, to benefit the

children being helped

by Youth Villages.

When you purchase a

pair of these specially

designed shoes, 100

percent of the pro-

ceeds benefit Youth

Villages. Visit www.mil-kandhoneyshoes.com

and choose your shoes

today for an easy and

stylish way to help the

kids who need it most.

The following donors made

gifts of $1,000 or more to Youth

Villages Oregon between

July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2013.

The board of directors and

staff of Youth Villages Oregon

gratefully acknowledge these

thoughtful contributions.

If you made a contribution

during this time and it is not

listed, please call the Youth

Villages Development Depart-

ment, 503-675-2206.

Thank you

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

donations 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 appreci-

ated 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 informa-

tion, please contact Steve Benskin at 901-251-4820 or

e-mail [email protected].

Thinking of a planned gift?

Steve Benskin Betsy Stark Miller

Your

support

can have

a direct

impact on

the future

of the chil-

dren we

help every

day in Oregon.

Please call or e-mail

Youth Villages to find out

how to help.

Betsy Stark [email protected]

503-675-2206

NONPROFIT ORGU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDYOUTH VILLAGES

Please e-mail [email protected] or call 503-675-2206 to have your name removed from our mailing list.

New Heights Oregon is published by Youth VillagesManaging Editor: Betsy Miller

Associate Editor: Chris Pennington

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New Heights Oregon - Winter 2013