Youth Services

2014

ANNUAL REPORT

Dear Friends, Youth Services provides transformative programs in prevention, intervention and development for young people, their parents, and families in Windham County. For 42 years our services have filled an important niche in the local social services community, developing innovative programs such as the Ready to Achieve Mentoring Program (RAMP), transitional shelter housing for youth, and case management for children who have been victims of sexual abuse by their caregivers. Youth Services’ prevention programs are designed to keep youth from being victimized or abused, keep them out of the justice system, and prevent risky and unhealthy behaviors such as truancy and substance abuse. Our prevention strategies include mentoring, educational programs, counseling and support groups. Our intervention programs provide a critical safety net for emergencies, sadly so necessary in the work we do. Services include a 24-hour hotline for runaway and homeless youth, transitional living shelter housing, therapeutic case management, restorative justice services, and youth and family clinical services. Our development programs connect youth and families to services, teach life skills, provide parenting education and support, and prepare these young adults to successfully enter the workforce and achieve self-sufficiency. We are eternally grateful to our staff, volunteers and donors who make these services available everyday to residents of Windham County, Vermont. Through this network of support we are able to help those we serve find physical and emotional safety, achieve stability, and create permanent and healthy connections within their community. Thank you for joining with us to transform the lives of youth and families in Windham County. Sincerely,

Tom Nunziata, Board President

Julie Davenson, Executive Director

Donors We wish to acknowledge the strong, ongoing support of the following Annual Appeal donors. They contributed to Youth Services between July 1, 2013, and June 30, 2014. Those with an asterisk next to their name also contributed to a special appeal to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Windham County, a program of Youth Services. President’s Circle $5,000 and above Anonymous (2) Marcia & Philip Steckler Benefactors $2,000–$4,999 Marilyn & Larry Cassidy Kathy Cooke* Judy & Carl Ferenbach Race for a Reason (UWWC)* Sara Coffey & Dave Snyder Sustainers $1000–$1,999 Catie & Bruce Berg Ursula Nadolny & Timm Harris Kathy & Glenn Herrin Gail & Tom Nunziata Walter Phelps* Elizabeth & Mark Richards* Patrons $500–$999 Thad Betts Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Frances Bonacci Marilyn Buhlmann Susan & Willly Buhlmann Chroma Employee-Owners Jesse Corum IV Betty Cunningham* Barbara Gentry Phyllis Graham Kathleen Graves & Donald Freeman Huntly & Rick Hashagen, Jr. Hubbard Breeders Rotary Club/Brattleboro (noon) Diane & Bari Shamas Robin Stern & Potter Stewart Jr.* Vermont Mutual Insurance Group Winifred Vogt Janet Wallstein & Jane Dewey Elsa & Barry Waxman* Julie Peterson & Jack Wesley Ann & Bob Works Associates $350–$499 Suzanne & Geordie Heller Mary Heller & Christopher Osgood Teresa & William Heller

Joy Wah, Inc.* Karen & Michael Smith Kathy & Bill Baldasaro Joan Cersosimo* Marjorie & Stan Holt I & B Neuman Foundation Evie Lovett & Jeff Shumlin* Carl Lynde Rotary Club Of Bellows Falls* Contributors $100–$349 Abbiati Monuments/ Keene Monuments Karen & John Abel* Bette & Bruce Abrams Pat & Mike Adrian Jane Ross-Allen & David Allen American Legion Post #5* Carol & Robert Backus Debbie & Dennis Baker Diane Bassett & Tim Ryan Connie Baxter & Greg Moschetti* Bellows Falls Emblem Club #153* Craig Bengston Thad Bennett & George Connell Crager Boardman, Jr. Francesca Bougault* Gail Bourque* Diane & Ken Bower Brattleboro Family Health Center* Lori & John Brunelle Jonathan Bump Gincy & Sam Bunker Barbara & Mike Burrell Alan Carter Elizabeth Catlin & Jared Flynn Dominic Cersosimo John Chard* Barbara & Stan Charkey Connecticut Valley Oral Surgery Associates, P.C. Deborah & Joe Cook Cathy Coonan & Rick Manson Joanne & David Corey Chuck Cummings David Manning Judith & John Davidson

Dan Davis Tiea Zehnbauer & James DeVincentis William Doyle Entergy Phyllis & James Erwin* Rebecca & Todd Fontaine Susan Ford* Patty & Ray Fortier Betsy Gentile & Bill Penniman* Ciri Lynn Gillespie Susan & Art Greenbaum Vicki Gragen Laurie & Michael Granger Stephen Greene Robert Grussing III Carol & Mathew Guild Melissa Gullotti Katherine Hayes & Thomas Franks* Rose & George Haynes Cal & Ken Heile Jessica Heller & Eric Evans Barbara Henderson Barb & Dave Henry Karen & Randy Hesse Nancy & Thomas Heydinger Diane Hill* Hotel Pharmacy Fred Houston Stephanie Howe Florence Howe Charles Hunter Marlboro College Mud Run* J.D. McCliment Kimi Hasegawa & Steve John Suzanne & Jeffrey Jones Emily Mason & Wolf Kahn Liisa Kissell Sarah & Frank Kotkov Anne Brewer & Jim Kowalski Audrey Landau Matt Henry Nanci Leitch & Brian Remer John Leppman Anne & Joe Little Louise Luring Joan & Tom Lyman

Wendy & Art Magnaghi Meg & Ed Maloney Marcia Roberts Marlboro College Kate & Dana McGinn Lucinda McGovern Marilyn McQuaide & Tom Freiberger Lisa Merton & Alan Dater Cynthia & John Meyer Remi Morrissette Orly Munzing & Robert Dunbar Meredith Wade & Casey Murrow Patti & Bob Neubauer Betsy & David Neumeister Karen & James Nickerson Kim Noble* Patricia & Stan Noga* Jody & Paul Normandeau Oak Meadow Inc.* Maria & Seward Ogden Katherine Fuller Cathy Oman & Timothy Segar Mary Hepburn & Ryan Ostebo Jaime & Jim Pearsall Karen Saunders & Robert Peeples* Mary Jane & John Penfield Virginia & David Pennock Faith Pepe* Bradley Poster Anne & Jason Posternak Prime Communications/AT&T* Marsha & Barry Reardon David Reid, Attorney Lois & James Remer Ann Richards Tammy & Edward Richards* Liz & Peter Richards Katie & Peter Robb Marcia & Joseph Rosen Edward Jones Investments: Ana Saavedra Ana Saavedra & Michael Bartlett Violet & Charles Schafer Hilde & George Schneeberger Jeremy Schrauf Rachel Selsky & Matt Steeves Susan & Peter Sherlock Frances & Jeffrey Shippee* Spaulding & Harris Jill Spiro & Stephan Morse Rachel & David Stettler Lee & Byron Stookey Myrtle Stowell Gary Swindler* Debbie & Ben Taggard Harriet & Burton Tepfer

Barbara & Alan Ternes* Joan & Nicholas Thorndike Kathryn Traugott Cindy & David Twombly Ben Underhill Vermont Performance Lab Vermont Woods Studios Allyson Villars & John Nirenberg Ilse Wahle Elizabeth Walker Lynne Weinstein & William Straus Carol & Arthur Westing Roger Wilken Christine & Arnold Wilson Windham Wines* Muriel Winter Wolfe Deborah & Dana Zak Special Gifts In memory of Lt. Col. Victor Agostini Beth Ann Agostini In honor of Bianca Barry Charles Hunter Louise Luring In memory of George Becker Carol & Arthur Westing In memory of Aaron Cassidy Christine & Arnold Wilson In memory of Ann Cummings Chuck Cummings In honor of Julie Davenson Barbara & Alan Ternes In memory of Jason Gentry Mara Williams Oakes In honor of John D. Hashagen Vermont Mutual Insurance Group In memory of Laura Heller Suzanne & Geordie Heller Teresa & William Heller Mary Heller & Christopher Osgood In honor of Stan Holt Rachel & David Stettler In honor of Nanci Leitch’s 10 years of service Brian Remer Dianna Remer Lois & James Remer Marcia Roberts Karen & Michael Smith

In memory of Evrett Masters David Allen & Jane Ross-Allen In memory of Theresa Peeples Karen Saunders & Robert Peeples In honor of Emily Tinkham, Community Connections volunteer Entergy In memory of Paula Richardson Betsy & David Neumeister In memory of Travis Richmond & Drew Jewett Anne Latchis In memory of Paul Reffi Deborah & Bruce Lemnah In memory of John Ridgeway Shirley Ridgway In honor of my Little Sister Berta Martin In memory of Leona Tabell Leona & William Tabell Editor’s Note: Due to space considerations we are unable to include a listing of the Friends $99 and below here, but their contributions are gratefully appreciated. If we have inadvertently left you off the list, please accept our apologies and let us know so we can correct our records.

Jesse Corum IV Fund (Endowment Gifts) Board member emeritus Jesse Corum was honored in 2014 on the occasion of his early retirement (due to health issues) from his long and productive legal career as the senior partner of Corum, Mabie, Cook, Prodan, Angell & Secrest, PLC. The legal community, friends and family made contributions to the Jesse Corum IV Fund in the Youth Services Endowment totaling over $4000 this year alone as an investment in the future of both the organization and local youth and families. Sadly, after a valiant battle with pancreatic cancer, Jesse Corum IV passed away this June. Noted when the fund was first established, Jesse had gone through thick and thin with Youth Services, and had really put his heart and soul into making the organization what it is today. Memorial gifts to the Jesse Corum IV Fund and a bequest from his estate will ensure that support of Windham County area youth will be one of his lasting legacies to this community. Contributors Pat Beu Steve J. Bonnette, PC Buehler & Annis, PC Jonathan Bump Ed Burke Susan Cay Corum, Mabie, Cook, Prodan, Angell & Secrest Tom Costello Crispe & Crispe Chuck Cummings Judith & John Davidson Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC Joy & Dart Everett

Peggy & Ken Farabaugh Fisher & Fisher Fitts, Olson & Giddings French & French, PLLC Judy & Richard Gale Elizabeth Dunn & David Gartenstein Susan & Art Greenbaum Leslie Hanafin, PLC Elizabeth & Ian Harrison Katherine Hayes & Thomas Franks Michael Hertz Fred Houston Jean A. Kiewel Jane C. Krochmalny, PLLC Thea Lloyd & Jurg Jenzer

Massucco & Velto, PC Gay & James Maxwell Nicole & J.G. Murtha Martha & Timothy O’Connor Sen & Bob Pu David Reid, Attorney James Rodgers Steven & Janet Rowell Robin Stern & Potter Stewart Jr. David Suntag Julie Peterson & Jack Wesley Cheryl Wilfong & Bill McKim

Larry Cassidy Fund (Endowment Gifts) Dave Arakelian David N. Dunn Rose & George Haynes

Julie Lineberger & Joseph Cincotta Robert H. Lyons Gail & Tom Nunziata

Ana Saavedra & Michael Bartlett Ben Underhill

In Celebration of Youth Services’ 40th Anniversary (Endowment Gifts) Karen & John Abel Diane & Ken Bower Betty Cunningham Muriel Winter Wolfe

Foundations

Event Sponsors

Fanny Holt Ames & Edna Louise Holt Fund March of Dimes Mobius, Inc. New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Permanent Fund for the Well Being of Vermont Children Vermont Children’s Trust Foundation Vermont Community Foundation Vermont Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health Youth Service America

Program Pacesetters

Editor’s Note: If we have inadvertently left you off the list, please accept our apologies and let us know so we can correct our records.

29th Annual Golf Tournament

16th Annual Gala & Silent Auction 33nd Annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake Catamount Half Marathon & 5K

Windham Southwest Teachers Association

Corporate Sponsors Youth Services appreciates the steadfast financial support of the organizations and businesses that follow (donations of $350 and more): Corporate Sustainers Brattleboro Savings & Loan Edward Jones Investments David Manning, Inc. River Valley Credit Union Silver Forest Swiss Precision Turning Twombly Wealth Management Vermont Country Deli Corporate Patrons Ammirato Allstate Agency Barrows & Fisher Oil Co. Brattleboro Retreat CD Bradley Laboratories Chroma Technology C & S Wholesale Grocers Crispe & Crispe Law Offices Durand Toyota Ford Friends of the Sun Hotel Pharmacy Holstein Association Hubbard Breeders Inc. Marlboro College & Graduate Studies Members First Credit Union

MVP Health Care New Chapter Palmiter Realty R.O.V. Technologies Sam’s Outdoor Outfitters Trust Co. of Vermont Vermont Country Store Vermont Vinyl Windham Regional Career Center Wireless Zone/Verizon Corporate Associates A.L. Tyler & Sons BAST Investment Corp. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont Brattleboro Bowl Cota & Cota Oil Golub Foundation of Price Chopper The Outlet Center Putney General Store Parks Place Financial Advisors Wells Fargo Advisors World Learning W.W. Building Supply

Printing & Design C & S Wholesale Grocers Howard Printing, Inc. Lotus Graphics New Ground Creative Media Sponsors Brattleboro Reformer WKVT In-Kind Donors We can’t say thanks enough to the many individuals and businesses that contributed thousands of dollars of goods and services the agency would otherwise have been unable to afford. A number of business have hosted and given presentations to our RAMP program participants. Many others, too many to list, provided items and gift certificates for event prizes and Youth Services’ silent auction. Thank you to all!

Volunteers Youth Services pays tribute to the volunteers who assist us with our programs. Several hundred, too many to list, served as volunteer mentors with Big Brothers Big Sisters and the RAMP programs, making a tremendous difference one-on-one in the lives of area youth. The following individuals on committees also played an invaluable role in supporting the agency’s delivery of services during the past fiscal year. Big Brothers Big Sisters/BFKS Advisory Committee Vickie Case Janice Berube Jill Fortier Betsy Gentile Barbara Gentry Amy Green Timm Harris Rachel Henry Tom Nunziata Burl & Audrey Penton Susan Riedo Vicky Senni Billie Slade Megan Stafford Susan Stember-Buhlmann Debbie Taggard Dave Twombly Non-Board Members Who Serve on Other Committees Craig Bengston (Golf Tournament) Heide Bredfeldt (Public Relations) Pat Mangan Restorative Panel Committee Members Tamara Baldauf Anna Bowler Mel Martin David Parker

Juvenile & Adult Court Diversion Committee Members Brattleboro, Meets on 2nd Monday Bev Behrmann Barbara Charkey Tim Cowles Cal Heile Evie Lovett Regina Pattison Ray Stevens Muriel Wolf Brattleboro, Meets on 3rd Thursday David Brown Marion Dowling Lucie Fortier Phil Hamm Felicity Ratte Ann Richards Brattleboro, Meets on 3rd Wednesday Dianne Clouet Kim Costello David Cyr Christina Mansfield Robbie Paley Kathy Urffer

Brattleboro, Meets on 2nd Wednesday Marilyn Buhlmann Michele Carr Madeline Fan Glenn Herrin Honey Loring Bob Peeples Brattleboro, Meets on Last Wednesday Gincy Bunker Rhonda Calhoun Joshua Cunningham Lois Forester Eileen Glover Ray Stevens Elsa Waxman Bellows Falls, Meets on 2nd Tuesday Eric Anderson John Bailey Mary Jo Danseray Kate Guerrina Courtney McAuliffe Angela Rounds Editor’s Note: If your name has been inadvertently misspelled or omitted from these lists, please accept our apologies and let us know so we can correct our records.

We want to thank our board and staff for all of their help this year. To see who's who, there's a list of everyone on our website, youthservicesinc.org

Financials

Total Income $1,789,874 Other Local Contracts VCRHYP

Program Fees Foundations

Federal Grants

3%

Investments

3% 2%

5%

6%

4% 3%

39% Fundraising

State Grants

16% 19%

Prevention Coalitions

Total Expenses $1,649,045 Administration

Fundraising Special Events

Prevention Coalition

Ready to Achieve Mentoring Program Restorative Justice Intensive Based Family Services Big Brothers Big Sisters of Windham County

4%

5%

14%

10%

19%

26% 3%

4%

7%

8%

Windham County Court Diversion

Youth Development Support from individual donors and local businesses becomes increasingly important for longterm financial stability. With your continued support, Youth Services will be well positioned to grow its services to youth and families in Windham County in the next several years. 

Youth Services PROGRAMS Parenting Programs Parenting is one of the hardest jobs we encounter. People from all walks of life need support on this journey and Youth Services is here to help them. Services offered include parenting support groups, family mediation, youth and family counseling, and parenting education/coaching.

Intensive Family-Based Services (IFBS) This family-focused, community-based crisis intervention program is designed to improve family functioning, prevent abuse of children and out-of-home placement and reunify children and their families. While the specific intensity and duration of service delivery is determined based on an assessment, the program is intended to provide short-term intensive services primarily in the family’s home or in another environment familiar to the family. The focus is to address immediate problems rather than provide long-term support. Families are assigned a counselor who provides parenting education, service coordination and life skills training. Over 27 families in crisis were served by the program in 2014.

Youth in Transition (YIT)

YIT provides intensive case management to youth ages 14–19 with emotional/behavioral difficulties. Case Managers use the Transitions to Independence Process, an evidenced-based approach for working with youth to engage them in their future planning, provide them with appropriate services and involve them in a process that facilitates their achievement of employment, housing and educational goals in order to move them toward greater self-sufficiency. Change from 0% to 64% of youth able to live independently after

6 months of participation in YIT.

Case Management for Runaway, Homeless and Foster Youth Transitioning Case management services are provided for youth who are runaway, homeless, experiencing significant family conflict, pregnant/ parenting or otherwise in distress to create safety, well-being, permanency and self-sufficiency. Services include shelter, 24/7 emergency crisis response, counseling for youth and/or families and service coordination. Longer-term case management is also available and provides employment and career development, budgeting skills, the exploring and pursuing of educational goals, life skills, housing, substance abuse screening and referrals, building social supports, etc. Of participating youth, 76% report feeling safe; 73% report a sense of well-being; 74% establish permanent connections in the community; 70% achieve self-sufficiency. From youth responses to indicators in the self-reported Resiliency Assessment conducted by Vermont Coalition of Runaway and Homeless Youth.

Ready to Achieve Mentoring Program (RAMP)

RAMP is a high-tech, career-focused mentoring program for high-school-age youth. The RAMP TM  model uses a combination of group, peer, and individualized mentoring to promote the successful transition of all  youth, including those with disabilities, to employment, continued learning opportunities, and independent living. Youth participate in weekly career preparation-focused group meetings, including peer-supported goal setting and exploration of careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Each youth meets regularly one-on-one with a mentor to develop and implement an Individualized Mentoring Plan (IMP).

Served 39 youth in three area high schools during the 2013–2014 school year.

Transitional Living Program and Shelters Homeless, runaway or otherwise distressed youth aged 16 to 22 are eligible for therapeutic case management that includes coordinating healthcare, housing and employment assistance. YS operates two short-term transitional living shelters for youth ages 18 and older for up to 6 months. In addition, host homes shelter can be provided in emergency cases for youth ages 11 through 18 for up to 48 hours. Goals of these programs include increasing safety and well-being, building permanency, and fostering self-sufficiency.

100% of shelter residents to date have moved to secure housing, 88% had a source of income and for every youth housed it saves the VT Emergency Assistance fund $1000 per month.

Court Diversion

Court Diversion programs provide a restorative alternative to the court process for youth and adults offenders. It is designed to work with community members to repair the harm to victims and prevent recidivism of those who have committed the offense. Another service is the Youth Substance Abuse Safety Program and Driver’s License Suspension which holds young people accountable for breaking underage drinking or marijuana laws, educates them about consequences and risks of use, and identifies youth with potential misuse problems so they may receive treatment. Services also include the DLS program which helps people regain their license while they pay off their fines and fees for driving violations.

89.6% of participants do not reoffend after participating in Court Diversion. From study conducted by Vermont Center for Justice Research; April 2014.

Big Brothers Big Sisters BBBS recruits, screens, matches and supports mentoring relationships for youth ages 5 through 18. Research has proven that children who are mentored through BBBS are more confident, avoid drug and alcohol use, do better in school, get along better with family and friends and feel better about themselves. We currently support 125 active matches in Windham County. Mentored youth are 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs; 27% less likely to begin using alcohol; 52% less likely to skip school; 37% less likely to skip a class; 33% less likely to hit someone. From a study in 1995 conducted by Public/Private Ventures, an independent research organization.

Outreach Youth Services uses a variety of outreach strategies to connect disengaged youth to services and networks. These include Peer Outreach Staff, weekly Drop-in Night at the Boys and Girls Club, PREP Curriculum that teaches pregnancy and STD prevention as well as healthy relationships. The problem of youth homelessness is compounded by the fact that there aren’t any good data collection tools to accurately count the number of homeless youth. In many communities, this issue is invisible because youth are couch surfing, living in the woods or living in dangerous conditions. This makes outreach an even more vital strategy to find and help these youth before more expensive services are needed later on in life.

40 youth reached each week through drop-in and peer outreach services. An increasing number of youth struggling with opiate addictions are finding help through these services. Over

A United Way Agency

Change Service Requested

[email protected] | www.youthservicesinc.org

Phone: 802-257-0361 | Fax: 802-257-2171

Brattleboro, VT 05302-6008

32 Walnut Street, P.O. Box 6008

NON–PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID PUTNEY, VT PERMIT NO. 1