Fail forward. Start with your why. Discover your strengths – and learn how to turn them into something sustainable and profitable. These were just a few of the powerful messages shared during Youth Villages Georgia’s DayOne College and Entrepreneur event for local LifeSet participants

On Aug. 21, nearly 40 LifeSet participants gathered for a special experience hosted by Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary in Lincoln, Massachusetts.

Discover how one couple’s journey with Youth Villages turned empathy into meaningful impact for young people aging out of foster care.

When Isaac was just 11 years old, he found himself navigating adult responsibilities most kids wouldn’t dream of. Living in a shelter with his mother, Isaac took it upon himself to complete their SNAP enrollment paperwork while his mom searched for work.

October is ADHD Awareness Month, a time to highlight the realities, challenges and unique strengths of living with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Sister Barbara Spencer, one of the founding staff members at Youth Villages, has died at age of 90 at the home of her order, the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in Kentucky.

It’s 7:45 a.m. in Portland, Oregon, and Noah Gerber is already on the move. As an Independent Living Program specialist with Youth Villages, his office is wherever the young people he works with are.

A young person’s success often depends on the support they receive from those around them. Without a healthy support system, navigating life’s challenges can become overwhelming, especially for children who have experienced trauma.

PORTLAND, Ore. (Sept. 26, 2025) – Youth Villages, a nonprofit leader in children’s mental and behavioral health, hosted its annual Fall Celebration at Castaway Portland Thursday night.

Youth Villages expert warns that while AI chatbots can offer support, their growing influence on youth mental health raises concerns about misinformation, emotional dependency, and the need for stronger safeguards.

Discover why some kids find transitions especially tough and learn therapist-backed tips to help them navigate change with confidence and calm.

Mental health is often seen as a personal struggle, —but what if healing could happen in living rooms, libraries and community spaces, not just clinics?

No child dreams of being in foster care. A loving, stable family is the standard we all hope for. But not every child is born into ideal circumstances.

September is Suicide Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness about this epidemic affecting our communities. According to a 2023 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, suicide became the second-leading cause of death in the United States for teens and young adults ages 10-34

For many families served by Youth Villages, the back-to-school season brings more worry than joy: Do I pay rent or buy school supplies? Fill the gas tank or purchase a new backpack? For caregivers already stretched thin, the growing list of school supplies can feel overwhelming.

In an era where technology is at our fingertips 24/7, it’s no surprise that many people are turning to artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT for advice and emotional support.

National nonprofit Youth Villages, a leader in children’s mental and behavioral health, has been awarded a $112,500 multi-year grant from the KPMG U.S. Foundation.

Over the past two years, Youth Villages supported eight nonprofit organizations led by individuals with lived experience in child welfare systems who are improving outcomes for transition-age young people through programming, advocacy and systems reform.

Despite some advances in support, young people who leave foster care at 18 continue to face critical challenges, including barriers to stable housing, access to basic assistance, opportunities for quality jobs and consistent educational support.

Youth courts in Bolivar, Marion, Harrison, Hancock and Jackson counties in Mississippi will be able to provide a range of innovative supports and evidence-based services to families through funding from New Allies, the consulting and technical assistance initiative of Youth Villages.

Researcher Fred Wulczyn doesn’t have a crystal ball, but he believes a new initiative with Youth Villages may help child welfare leaders see a better future for their systems – and chart a course to get there.

Nonprofits in Texas and Wisconsin are now helping children and families through Youth Villages’ evidence-based Intercept® program model. Texas.

Four Kentucky libraries will offer extra support to families this summer and fall through grants from a collaboration between the Kentucky Department of Community-Based Services (DCBS), libraries across the state and New Allies, which is part of the national nonprofit Youth Villages.

JACKSON, Miss. (Aug. 13, 2025) – Youth courts in Bolivar, Marion, Harrison, Hancock and Jackson Counties will provide a range of innovative and evidence-based services and support to families through funding from New Allies, a part of national nonprofit Youth Villages.

When Amanda landed in the ICU due to complications from alcoholism, her 9-year-old son, Jack, faced the very real possibility of being removed from his home.

(Woburn, MA) Youth Villages is kicking off its yearly Backpack Heroes initiative, aiming to equip children in its care with brand-new backpacks and essential school supplies to help them begin the academic year feeling prepared and empowered.

With back-to-school season right around the corner, Dr. Lindsay Pate is helping families get ready—especially those with young children starting daycare, preschool or Mother’s Day Out programs for the first time.

Youth Villages shared clinical insight with Chalkbeat on how Tennessee’s new school cell phone ban could emotionally affect teens and their families.

Four Kentucky libraries are launching new programs to support families thanks to $200,000 in grants from New Allies, Youth Villages and the Kentucky Department for Community-Based Services (DCBS).

Interview with Youth Villages and Heather Raymond from the Nashua Board of Education. Listen to the podcast episode now.

The Youth Villages Job Prep program equips LifeSet young adults with essential tools for employment and independence. Volunteer job coaches are at the heart of this effort, offering their time, experience and encouragement week after week.

There was a time when Sidney couldn’t imagine what her future would look like. Now, at 19, she’s building one on her own terms, with strength she never knew she had.

Youth involved in the child welfare system disproportionately face mental health challenges compared to those living with their parents. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 80% of youth in foster care experience a mental health challenge.

At 16, Sofia entered foster care as a new mother with nowhere else to go. Her own home hadn’t been a safe or supportive environment, kicking her out when she got pregnant. With no guardian to return to after giving birth, she found herself in foster care, raising a baby in an unfamiliar home.

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WTVF) — Approximately 70 foster youth in Middle Tennessee celebrated educational achievements ranging from high school equivalency to college degrees at a special event in Franklin.

Arizona’s new budget maintains funding for a vital program supporting foster children after they age out of the system.

More than 70 young adults with experience in the foster care system in Middle Tennessee gathered to celebrate graduations ranging from HiSET (high school equivalency) certificates to post-secondary degrees.

Twelve children officially joined their forever families in an adoption event hosted by Governor Bill Lee and First Lady Maria at the Governor’s Mansion this May.

Memphis, Tenn. (June 30, 2025) – Youth Villages today announced the addition of Nicholas “Nic” Vescovo as executive advisor to CEO Patrick Lawler.

Like adults, children naturally worry. Our Director of Specialized Services in New England, Jacque Cutillo, Ph.D., LLP, LPC, LMHC, spoke to Parade.com about what elementary-age kids worry about the most.

When their daughter, Jordan, began her career at Youth Villages, Kathy and Chuck Candler saw firsthand the impact of our work and the care we show our team.

Unlike their peers, many young people who have foster care often lack basic financial literacy skills. While some of these skills are taught in school or other programs, many former foster youth missed out on learning skills such as budgeting, opening bank accounts or filing taxes.

On May 1, the Youth Villages community gathered in Boston for Red Kite Nite, the annual gala supporting the LifeSet program. Thanks to the generosity of supporters, this year’s event raised more than $850,000, helping bring LifeSet to every young adult who needs it.

Aidan is a student at North Carolina State University with a clear vision for his future. He’s balancing school, work and preparing for life after graduation. On the surface, it’s a typical college experience. But Aidan’s path to this point has been anything but typical.

A Tennessee bill with bipartisan support could give more young adults who have aged out of the foster care system the safety net they need, longer. The bill, which comes from Gov. Bill Lee’s administration, would increase the qualifying age to receive benefits under the Extension of Foster Care program from 18 to 21 years old, to 18 to 23 years old.

Knoxville couple is being recognized for the way they’ve stepped up, just months after entering the world of foster care.

Alina Brooks is one of nearly 60 foster children who’ve lived with the Flowers family in East Knoxville.

Across Tennessee, families are stepping up to provide safe, loving homes for children in need.In East Knoxville, Benjamin and Shamiyah Flowers have turned fostering into a way of life.

In a recent OPB feature, Nicky Young, Independent Living Program participant, shared her journey of launching a sewing business, Your Grandma Nicky.

Aaraya is a proud social worker and graduate of Western Carolina University. However, as a youth who experienced foster care, Aaraya’s journey was anything but easy. She endured hardships and struggles faced by many young people navigating the child welfare system.

Speaking to a group of young adults in Youth Villages Georgia’s LifeSet program, Atlanta-area Realtor Meka Wilson tossed out little bags of M&Ms to each youth that participated in the discussion.

Your brain is amazing. It controls everything you think, feel and do. It tells you when you are hungry, tired, frustrated, sad or happy. It helps you do math.

Child neglect — a series of events where the caregiver does not meet a child’s basic needs — is a pervasive issue that affects millions of children across various demographics and communities.

Extreme weather events like tornadoes, hurricanes or wildfires can often leave people with feelings of uncertainty and fear. Children can be deeply affected by these experiences.

Shavonda’s daughter, Amiyah, had been in and out of residential facilities since she was 13 years old. Amiyah faced serious challenges like running away and getting into unsafe situations that eventually led to involvement with the juvenile justice system

For many families, balancing excessive stress and maintaining a stable home environment for children may require extra support. Intercept, a program of Youth Villages.

May is National Foster Care Awareness Month—a time to recognize the resilience of children and youth in the foster care system and the individuals who support them. At Youth Villages, we understand the unique challenges these young people face.

At 18 years old, Jaylen has already faced a steep climb in life compared to her peers. Without support, many young people find the path to adulthood incredibly difficult. But rather than letting obstacles overload her, Jaylen is using her experiences to build a better future and inspire others.

Life challenges might cause a bump in the road for most families. But for others, trials can result in major upheavals in their lives. Jeremy and his grandmother, Patricia, faced the latter when they were involved in a life-changing situation — one that led to their living apart from one another.

ATLANTA (April 1, 2025) – Youth Villages, a national nonprofit leader in children’s mental and behavioral health services, today announced a pilot contract with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Development Disabilities to expand its evidenced-based Intercept program to Douglas, Paulding and Rockdale counties, bringing access to in-home prevention care to more Georgia families.

After his mom died when he was 14 years old, Isaiah and his brother entered the care of their grandmother. Sadly, their grandmother died soon after, leading them to be placed in the foster care system.

HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — You’ve probably heard, there’s a continuing problem with finding homes to place teens in the foster care system. Hearing that problem, one woman has taken on the matter in a truly amazing way.

Five young adults who aged out of foster care at 18 years old vulnerably shared their experience transitioning to adulthood after spending most of their childhood in state custody.

Charlotte, NC – (April 1, 2025) – Youth Villages, a nonprofit organization providing services to address children’s mental and behavioral health needs, today announced it was awarded a $1.1 million grant to expand its evidence-based Intercept program in South Carolina.

For Makia, the path from foster care to adulthood was filled with roadblocks. At 12 years old, Makia entered the child welfare system and moved between different foster homes, never quite finding stability and guidance.

Thousands of children experience out-of-home placements in North Carolina, and sometimes, finding a forever home isn’t an option before they age out of the system. Programs like LifeSet help young adults who experience foster care establish independence.

The teen years are filled with growth, change, and emotional ups and downs. One of the most challenging aspects of adolescence is navigating friendships. As a caregiver, you may notice that your teen’s “best friend” suddenly disappears from conversation.

Youth Villages Oregon was featured on KBOO’s Free Culture Radio with host Doug McVay. Andrew Grover and Ethan Bulisco discussed how the LifeSet and Independent Living programs support young people in Oregon as they face the most difficult challenges.

In the United States, 2.5 million children are currently in kinship care, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. This represents 3% of all children. In kinship care, relatives such as grandparents, siblings or extended family, raise children.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — Every year, nearly 20,000 young people age out of the foster care system across the country—more than 800 of them right here in Tennessee. Without a strong support system, many face overwhelming challenges, including homelessness, substance abuse, and incarceration.

As the school year enters its mid-point, many children begin to feel the weight of academic demands, social pressures and extracurricular commitments. Mid-year stress differs from the typical beginning-of-year excitement or end-of-year exhaustion.

The Youth Villages Intercept Program here in Greenville impacts at-risk youth in our community and across the state. The idea of “Intercept” is to reach kids who are at risk of being placed outside of the home, coming home from a foster care placement or mental health hospital and keeping them with their families in a healthy, successful living space.

Youth Villages was featured on KGW’s Hello Rose City show, shedding light on the challenges young people and families face in our programs and the growing need to recruit staff as our services expand in Oregon.

Like many who have experienced the child welfare system, Ethan’s path was filled with uncertainty and obstacles. His journey began in his high school.

Naomi’s story with Youth Villages started with the LifeSet program, but her journey to get there was anything but easy. She entered foster care at 4 years old and was adopted at 9.

When mentoring is mentioned, thoughts quickly go to being a friend or a buddy for a child or youth. Mentoring also conjures up images of playing board games, throwing a football or softball, going out to eat or doing arts and crafts.

Every year in the United States, only half of the number of children who enter the child welfare system are reunified with family. The goal of foster care is for families to be reunited after the necessary steps have been taken to ensure the well-being of the household.

Meet Ruby, a student at a local community college in Wilmington, North Carolina. She recently took a trip to Mexico to spend time with family, and she has plans to complete her bachelor’s degree in architecture at University of North Carolina-Charlotte after graduation.

The Holiday Heroes campaign has helped children and families in West Tennessee for nearly 20 years by connecting corporate and community volunteers to fulfill the holiday wish lists of local youth.

Studies show young people who have a positive adult figure in their life are less likely to drop out of school, have fewer run-ins with law enforcement and build better relationships with their biological family. This remains true for those entering college and young adulthood.

As we reflect on this holiday season, we are overwhelmed with gratitude for the incredible outpouring of support from our community during our Holiday Heroes campaign.

For Timothy Richmond, the best thing about being a Youth Villages mentor is learning something new from each young person he takes under his wing.

As many of us think through New Year’s resolutions, we’re seeking habits that bring value to our lives and make us the best, most healthy versions of ourselves. This year, instead of focusing on cutting back or giving things up, why not create resolutions that add joy, connection and adventure to your family’s life?

Youth Villages wrapped up their annual Holiday Heroes campaign. In 2024 they set a new record, making sure nearly 3,000 foster kids had gifts to open on Christmas morning.

Youth Villages, a nonprofit organization, helps children and young adults as they age out of foster care. Through the Holiday Heroes Campaign, the organization fulfills holiday wish lists for families who may not be able to afford gifts.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Youth Villages encourages families to consider becoming a foster home for children during holiday seasons.

PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – Youth Villages Oregon worked to wrap 800+ gifts through their Holiday Heroes Campaign, Wednesday night.

In desperation last spring, Robin Barquest called the school asking if there was anything that might help her daughter. There was, she was told – a program called Intercept.

Minnesota native Noah Gerber is changing the narrative for foster youth in the Portland Metro area. He was raised in St. Paul and pursued a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology

Natalie, a LifeSet Scholar, wears many hats: a first-generation college student, academic advisor, a mentor for other foster youth, and most importantly, a role model and advocate for her 14-year-old sister.

With a recent federal class action lawsuit settled over the safety of children in Oregon’s foster care system, one of the issues addressed is the quality and number of foster care placements a child experiences.

In 2023, Theresa began seeking support for her 8-year-old granddaughter, Victoria. Her family was under a lot of stress from financial hardship, physical health problems and emotional and behavioral aggression from Victoria. She knew they needed additional support, but wanted to make sure she and her husband remained the primary caregivers for Victoria.

Youth who age out of foster care often face significant challenges when transitioning to adulthood. They can be at risk for homelessness, unemployment, unstable housing, involvement with the criminal justice system, mental health issues and difficulty accessing education or stable employment.

John Parker and Steve Rook with the Parker-Rook Group at Merrill share how their investment makes a difference

Youth Villages kicked off its annual Holiday Heroes campaign this week with the help of the Tennessee Titans. Players, staff and their family members joined the organization to transform an empty office space into a holiday workshop, which will be filled with thousands of donated toys over the next few weeks.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Youth Villages kicked off their annual “Holiday Heroes” campaign on Tuesday morning. Youth Villages is a non-profit that helps foster families.

Youth Villages held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its Inner Harbour campus in Douglasville to commemorate two milestones. The organization celebrated the 15th anniversary of its merger with Inner Harbour

Meet Thomas (he/him/his), a 19-year-old coastal North Carolina native who is now crushing his goals thanks to the LifeSet program.

At the beginning of their journey with Youth Villages, Donna felt she had reached the very end of the road and didn’t know what else to do. “I was on I-85 and thinking to myself, I could end it all right now,” Donna said.

DAYTON, Ohio– Dayton-area children with emotional, mental or behavioral health challenges and their families can now receive intensive in-home help through a new partnership among health care organizations.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A man tells us his story puts him in a unique position to help others in the most formative years of their lives. The number of people he’s helped is nothing short of staggering.

Mari entered the foster care system at just 9 years old when she was removed from her mother’s care. She was put in an emergency foster home before being placed with her father and his girlfriend.

It’s here again, every four years. The news and ads on television. The flyers in the mail. The posts on social media. The conversations at the dinner table. It’s everywhere because… it’s election season.

More relatives of children needing homes have the chance to keep them out of foster care and under their own roofs, thanks to a new state law that removed the income cap to qualify for reimbursement from the state.

Young women who transition out of foster care are more likely to experience pregnancy than their peers. According to the National Foster Youth Institute, seven out of 10 girls who age out of care will become pregnant by their 21st birthday.

The 2024 Youth Villages Backpack Heroes campaign was a tremendous success thanks to the incredible support from our volunteers, donors and corporate partners.

Get to know Middle Tennessee foster parent of the year, Joseph Morton. He is a single father who has been a foster parent with Youth Villages for 10 years.

Youth Villages, a nonprofit child welfare organization, today announced a service expansion in Rhode Island to provide intensive in-home services to youth currently in the care of and youth at risk of being in the care of Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families (RIDCYF).

We have more than 4,500 employees across 27 states providing mental and behavioral health services to children, families and young adults. Whether they’re connecting families to specialized health services

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 06, 2024) — Imagine it is 2034. What will the world look like for transition-age youth leaving foster care or other children’s services? The newly formed National Collaborative for Transition-Age Youth hopes to influence the answer to that question.

When the Department of Children and Families introduced Kallie and her children, 6-year-old Josiah and 1-year-old Jazmine, to the Intercept program.

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among teenagers and young adults in the United States. However, suicide doesn’t end with the tragedy itself.

While some suicide attempts are carefully planned, 48% of adults think about the attempt for 10 minutes or less before acting, and 25% of children act in five minutes or less.

In 2009, a child at the Rose Center for Girls repeatedly refused to return to her “courtyard,” her living space that her bedroom was in. Most of the youth at the residential treatment facility struggled with serious behavioral and mental health issues

Youth Villages Kentucky held a LifeSet Bash for partners and providers to learn more about community-based programs in Kentucky. The LifeSet program is geared toward helping young adults who age out of foster care

Ten years ago, I was sitting in a juvenile detention cell in East Tennessee, alone, wondering if I would get home in time to start high school.

In 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory titled “Social Media and Mental Health,” which outlined the risks of social media use among children and adolescents.

It’s back to school for many children across the country, and most of the time leading up to the return to the classroom will be spent on getting physically prepared.

Youth Villages offices across the nation have been busy collecting school supplies and making the news for our annual Backpack Heroes campaign!

Over 70 young adults with experience in the foster care system in Middle Tennessee gathered to celebrate graduations ranging from HiSET (high school equivalency) to master’s degrees.

Tennessee has been ranked 40th in the nation for access to mental health care, according to Mental Health America. One state-funded program is working to expand access for Tennessee’s youngest patients by meeting them where they are.

Garrett entered his senior year of high school with a primary goal of attending college. However, the prep track and field athlete needed assistance in getting over some hurdles to reach his goal of post-secondary education and an opportunity to run track in college.

Teens living in Youth Villages’ group homes in Nashville attended their annual summer cookout expecting giant waterslides, obstacle courses and hamburgers, but this year, there was a surprise for the teens. Joining in this year’s festivities was Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis.

Back-to-school shopping can put a strain on families financially. Youth Villages is aiming to lighten the financial burden of back-to-school for their foster families.

Every month, Youth Villages Oregon hosts a Peer-to-Peer gathering for participants in LifeSet, an evidence-based program helping youth aging out of foster care learn skills to navigate adulthood, and the Independent Living Program for transition-age youth.

For families on Nantucket, an island in Massachusetts, it can be difficult to access mental health services. Families often have to endure long wait lists and travel off island to get mental health care for their children.

Blake struggled with anger for most of his childhood, and as he got older, he became more physical. He attended weekly therapy, but it didn’t have much of an impact on his ability to cope.

“It’s a life changing experience and it gives you a whole different concept about yourself.” These are the words of Jeremy, a LifeSet participant who felt all odds were against him growing up and into adulthood.

North Carolina held its first-ever Growing Stronger Summit, a two-day event featuring keynote speaker David Ambroz, author and national child welfare and poverty expert.

Sabina, a single mother of two young girls under the age of 4, entered foster care after she and her sister suffered abuse at home from her parents.

Foster parents, Mikey and Travis VanZant of Clarksville, TN were featured on Nashville Channel 4’s Friday night news, which was re-aired several times over the weekend and into today.

Allison Norton, Licensed Program Expert at Youth Villages, spoke with Boston 25 about parental burnout. Allison offers tips for parents on how to manage burnout this summer.

Youth Villages Oregon hosted their first Growing Stronger Breakfast sponsored by longtime partner, The Standard. Board member Charlie Swindell hosted the event at Multnomah Athletic Club with nearly 100 people in attendance.

Stable housing can make – or break – a family. Due to the state of their single mom’s home, 10 children were at risk of being removed and experiencing the trauma that comes with it.

A record-breaking $100,000 was raised at Youth Villages Middle Tennessee’s 13th annual golf tournament, all of which will go to support young people in the region’s LifeSet program.

Family acceptance is vital to the mental health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) youth. Family acceptance is associated with lower rates of depression, anxiety and other mental health issues.

Summertime can often mean more screen time for kids of all ages, especially those with working parents. We’re not suggesting that screen time be cut altogether; we’re not crazy.

Youth Villages staff, Kailif, interviewed and performed on The Sisaundra Show, an Afro TV daytime television entertainment talk show. Kailif talked with host and former NBC The Voice finalist, Sisaundra Lewis, about his experiences in foster care and how working with Youth Villages helps him live in his purpose.

With inflation at an all-time high and the cost of items like food, clothing and housing skyrocketing, many families are struggling to meet their basic needs. Very often, we see families and young adults making difficult decisions, like paying the electric bill instead of buying food for the week.

For a long time, Stacy was worried her 12-year-old son, Jay, would be removed from her home. Despite Jay being very social, active among his peer group and good at engaging with other kids his age, he was often physically aggressive at home, struggled with substance use, general delinquency and was destroying items in his home.

The end of the school year brings a lot of transitions for children and their caregivers. The rigid and predictable routine of school ends, sports and activities end and with that comes different emotions for everyone in the family.

Five young adults who aged out of foster care at 18 recently sat on a panel and shared their experience transitioning to adulthood without a family support system. Instead of the hardship experienced, they each opened the discussion with what they are most proud of, and how their LifeSet specialist’s personalized approach helped them achieve their goals.

Youth Villages Oregon premiered on KGW’s Hello, Rose City! to highlight the community-based programs helping Portland foster youth. LifeSet Scholar, DJ, shared his educational goals he wishes to accomplish and urges the community to invest in others like him.

I’m currently an undergrad student at Tennessee State University studying chemistry. Most of my time goes toward studying to make sure I stay on track to go to medical school and become a gynecologist.

The annual Youth Villages Red Kite Nite gala was held Thursday, May 2 at the Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston, Massachusetts. Nearly 400 guests helped raise a record-breaking $1.2 million.

Youth Villages’ mission is to help children and their families live successfully, and a big part of achieving that goal is keeping the family together. Sometimes, though, families are unable to remain together — either for a while or longer — due to circumstances in the home.

When children enter the foster care system, the priority is to find a path to permanency – whether through adoption or reunification with their biological family. Often, children are placed in foster care for a short time while the best next steps are determined.

Foster Parent Amber McKee and Hayley Mosteller with Youth Villages, discuss the need for more Foster Care in our region.

Building a community support system is something 22-year-old DJ values. As an athlete, DJ knew he always had support through his track and basketball teams.

Youth Villages hosted an open house in Mayfield, Kentucky, for future partners and providers in the Lakes region to learn more about community-based programs.

Thrive in Middle Tennessee was selected by the Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce and InfoWorks for a scholarship-awarding research project with Antioch High School students where they aim to solve a “business problem” for a local organization.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Unfortunately for many children, their abuse goes unnoticed, unseen or hidden from the public eye. Some child abuse is visible, and yet there are those who still do nothing to help.

I was 17 and in foster care when I had my son. I was on track to graduate high school but didn’t think college was an option for a young mom without any family support. Then, I got connected with my LifeSet specialist.

Multiple studies have shown negative outcomes for adults who experienced abuse as a child, such as an increased risk of facing violence, abuse or neglect in the home and/or community as an adult.

Though most people who struggle with their mental health will not go on to carry out an act of violence, caregivers should know the signs their child could be at risk of a psychiatric emergency.

Creativity is important. Simply engaging in creative activities can boost your mental health and a new survey from APA finds about 46% of Americans use creative activities to relieve stress or anxiety, such as playing the piano, crocheting a blanket, dancing with friends or solving crossword puzzles.

Working in just about every area of community-based services and playing many roles in its growth across states has given Lacy Moon the opportunity for professional growth during their five years at Youth Villages.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Since COVID-19 became part of our lives four years ago, most agencies saw a decrease in child abuse reporting due to virtual schools and fewer activities outside of the home.

“I arrived in handcuffs, and I was scared, but the first thing I heard when I arrived [at Inner Harbour] was you don’t have anything to worry about anymore.” These are the words of Joshua, 18, who didn’t quite understand how to deal with his emotions and mental health.

“I’m the first in my family to graduate high school and go to college, which is not something I always thought was possible. Loyal is the best word to describe my LifeSet specialist. It’s incredible how everyone seems to truly want to see us successful in life,” LifeSet participant, Jahlin, shares their story.

Teenagers can create challenging moments for many parents. Those trying moments can be even greater for a single parent who loves and provides for their children but is stretched by work and other demands.

Youth Villages Oregon was featured on Hello Rose City, highlighting the financial literacy program offered for ILP and LifeSet participants.

Recently, five young adults who aged out of foster care at 18 got on a stage at Nissan Stadium to share their experience transitioning to adulthood without a family support system.

Lelani Foster is one of Youth Villages’ most seasoned Job Prep volunteer career coaches. Her journey with us started 14 years ago when she joined the very first Job Prep workshop in Woburn, MA as a volunteer career coach.

Brayden regains his voice, support systems through Independent Living Program. As a 20-year-old, Brayden looks back on the day that transformed his outlook on life.

For youth aging out of foster care without support, the future can be daunting. Some young people experience homelessness, poverty, domestic abuse and involvement with law enforcement.

Youth Villages has announced its Lived Experience Impact Grant recipients for 2024. These grants support organizations led by individuals with lived experience in child welfare systems who are improving outcomes for transition-age young people through programming, advocacy and systems reform.

For many of us, it’s hard to recall the days before the existence of the internet and today, there are multiple generations who will never know a world without constant, immediate and instant updates.

Holiday Heroes is an annual campaign at Youth Villages that provides holiday gifts and winter essentials to young people and families in our care. In 2023, we received 370 wish list requests, 60% more in submissions than in 2022.

January is National Mentoring Month, and research has shown there are many benefits for mentees in a mentoring relationship.

As Youth Villages recognizes National Mentoring Month in January, our staff and valued community members volunteer with children and young adults to provide them with extra support through the mentoring program year-round.

Holiday Heroes is the most magical time of the year at Youth Villages. From the beginning of October through the end of December, we work to ensure every child and young adult in our programs gets to experience joy during the holiday season.

In December, Youth Villages had the opportunity to be a part of a press conference in Biloxi to announce HUD’s funding of 52 housing vouchers for families in South Mississippi. The vouchers will help many families stay together and live successfully.

Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund and Jackson National Life Insurance Company (Jackson®) helped raise $35,000 at Youth Villages’ annual wrapping party called Holiday Cheers, Beers & Volunteers benefiting LifeSet.

Being a Holiday Hero means more than just giving gifts; it is giving the gift of hope to the young people and families we serve every day.

It was an amazing opportunity to attend the Achieving Success Workshop on Partnering with Transition Age Youth for Strong Mental Health. As a former foster youth…

We are in an era where New Year’s resolutions can sound like an unachievable, pointless exercise. Most resolutions are broken by February 1, so what’s the point?

On the night of Oct. 5, Brandon Washington sat nervously at a supporter’s house and shoveled candy corn into his mouth, watching local election coverage and waiting to see if he would win a seat on the Memphis City Council.

Her 13-year-old daughter was already involved in the juvenile court system, was skipping school and the single-mother from Peabody feared her daughter could end up in prison. But she didn’t know where to turn.

During the holiday season, families and friends gather for events and occasions. However, this can cause added stress to some young adults, especially when faced with large social settings.

The holiday season is a joyful time of the year, full of hope and wonder. However, it can also come with many stressors: travel, holiday rituals, events, family get-togethers, financial strain, pressure to make the season special, entertaining others and the absence of loved ones.

Youth Villages has offered services in Massachusetts since 2007 and in 2010, expanded into New Hampshire. I’ve worked for Youth Villages for six years and, in that time, I’ve held multiple roles. I started as a family intervention specialist and transitioned to a regional supervisor.

Beyond the good food, for many of us the Thanksgiving celebration is also about family. One Murfreesboro couple deeply understands that children need a feeling of belonging at all times.

As Thanksgiving nears, a Nashville couple is giving thanks that their family looks different than they ever expected.

It’s National Adoption Month, and Youth Villages has more than 100 children that need a forever home in Tennessee. There is a need for more families to open their hearts and homes to adopting children so they can receive care and support.

Childhood, and raising children, are the same as they always were but by today’s standards are almost completely different. The last few years have been incredibly anxiety provoking for anyone

We are deeply saddened by the loss of a child following a medical emergency that occurred at one of our campuses two weeks ago. We care about every young person that we help. We are heartbroken by this event, and our thoughts are with the child’s family in this difficult time.

After a century of services in Lake Oswego, Youth Villages Oregon closes its chapter at the history-rich Christie School and begins a new one at the newly renovated Water Tower office complex located at 5331 S. Macadam Ave in Portland.

November is National Adoption Awareness Month. More than 8,000 children in the state of Tennessee need safe and loving temporary or permanent homes. Foster families have the opportunity to provide this and create a lasting impact on young people. When navigating their journey, foster parents provide guidance and support for youth to safely travel their path.

Is your child being bullied? A staggering number of children are being bullied on a daily basis in person and through technology. According to federal statistics, approximately 20% of students aged 12-18 experience bullying nationwide.

Jimena and her three siblings grew up with their mother before being separated from her. Their family dynamic changed drastically after Jimena learned about some safety risks in the home.

In 1975, Dogwood Village was built with the help of the Memphis Ecumenical Children’s Association and the support of Judge Kenneth A. Turner.

Last month, the CDC released a startling report that in 2022, deaths by suicides were at an all-time high, with nearly 50,000 Americans taking their own lives. This number marks a three percent increase from the previous year.

Having children is a life-changing experience, and most parents will admit you’re never ready until you become one. There is certainly not a universal manual on how to parent, and at the end of the day, most parents want to raise their children the best way they know how.

In the summer of 2002, Youth Villages launched an innovative approach in crisis intervention care for youth. Managing Director for Program Operations Support Caroline Hannah was tapped by Chief Executive Office Patrick Lawler to lead the effort.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month and the one-year mark of the 9-8-8 hotline number. The Crisis Lifeline has been in existence for decades.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. According to the CDC, deaths by suicide are at an all-time high with nearly 50,000 Americans taking their own lives.

At Youth Villages, we believe children are raised best at home. However, some families need extra support to unload those extra stressors off their shoulders and learn tools to ease some of that weight.

In May, the U.S. Surgeon General released a report calling loneliness a public health crisis. The findings revealed that poor or insufficient connection could lead to physical health issues such as increased risks of heart disease, stroke and developing dementia for older adults.

If you have a loved one who is school-age, back-to-school safety is probably what keeps you up at night. As a mental health provider, clinicians at Youth Villages have had these tough conversations for decades, and they never get any easier. Talking to your children about how to feel safe is so important.

Back-to-school time can bring feelings of anxiety, excitement, or both for everyone in your household. Changes in routine and the unknown are disruptive. The Child Mind Institute offers several tips for parents and students this time of year.

Children in foster care often face intense challenges at a young age, and by the time they reach adulthood, accomplishing goals can seem intangible. That’s why programs like LifeSet are important to the success of young adults who are aging out of foster care.

Back-to-school time is around the corner in many areas across the nation. It’s an exciting time, full of hope and anticipation. What’s my new school like? Who’s my teacher? Are all my friends returning this year?

A diverse group of young adults with lived experience in child welfare systems came together to share their experiences and push for the services and support that all transition-age foster youth need in Washington, D.C., recently.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, and raised in Wilmington, North Carolina, 21-year-old Charlie has experienced a multitude of traumatic incidents as he tried to navigate his own experiences.

Youth Villages Oregon partnered with news station KATU to host a one-day fundraising campaign featuring powerful stories of youth aging out of foster care.

A recent National Alliance on Mental Health study stated that nearly 20% of high school students reported serious thoughts of suicide, and 9% tried to take their lives.

Youth Villages started summer off HOT! On June 13, the Youth Villages Leadership Council held a Summer Kick Off Event to benefit our Backpack Heroes campaign.

The Force was strong at the Youth Villages Spring Celebration Gala on May 4 where the organization raised $1.1 million to support the LifeSet program.

When working with children experiencing behavioral and mental health challenges, a little creativity goes a long way. And for Intercept specialist Noah Galiffi-Caster, making a connection with the young people he works with is often a key to success.

It is important for teens to create and advocate for their own boundaries. By defining key personal preferences on communication and space

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without the LifeSet program.” When the Covid pandemic disrupted our lives in early 2020, students bore the brunt of many challenges.

The COVID-19 pandemic upended life for everyone — locked down, isolated, alone. The youth in the U.S. were especially affected with a major interruption in education. Coming out of the pandemic, results are showing a big impact on academic success.

Families who foster come in many shapes and sizes and enter foster care for different reasons. For George and Tracy Young, what began as a general interest in foster care turned into a way to become involved in their community.

May has long been recognized as Foster Care Awareness Month. Nationwide, more than 390,000 kids need a foster family and in Tennessee, more than 8,000 kids need foster homes with approximately 4,000 homes available.

With the support of the U.S. Army, Youth Villages and his family, Anthony says he learned how to take control of his life by not living in fear and by setting goals for himself.

Julie Hays, grant committee member of the Marlene and Spencer Hays Foundation, has a passion for helping children experiencing foster care because of her personal fostering story. The Foundation is a supporter of Youth Villages and specifically LifeSet, for its critical services to children exiting the foster care system and transitioning into adulthood.

Every day at Youth Villages, we are charged with helping children who have experienced trauma and toxic stress. They may have been victims of abuse, neglect or have experienced significant and chronic community violence.

Primed and prepped, the West Tennessee Youth Villages group homes step into the prom season with style. The Sneaker Ball gave youth the opportunity to show up in their best ‘kicks’ and glamorous outfits.

The CDC recently released a disturbing study showing that 3 in 5 teen girls have felt deeply sad or hopeless in 2021, a 60% increase since 2013

At just 20 years old, Katrina had walked a rocky road for most of her life. Due to domestic violence and verbal abuse, she was removed from her biological home.

Catherine Bergrud, a Family Support Partner in Asheville, North Carolina, goes above and beyond to help Jeremy live out his dream and supports them to overcome behavioral challenges. The Joey Logano Foundation continues their support of Youth Villages’ mission by providing kids like Jeremy with experiences of a lifetime.

The state of foster care in Tennessee is in crisis. More children than ever need temporary, safe homes compared to the amount of open foster homes. Nationwide, a child is placed into foster care every two minutes, so the need is great. In Tennessee, more than 8,000 kids are in the foster care system with only around 4,000 certified foster homes available.

The lack of mental health resources has become a crisis across the country, especially in Massachusetts.  On any given day in Massachusetts, there are over 100 children boarding in hospital emergency departments (EDs) because there are no psychiatric beds available.

What do pregnant and parenting transition-age youth need? More services and more understanding of their specific needs and challenges, presenters at the first Achieving Success convening in Las Vegas recently said.

Recently, young people with lived experience in child welfare systems joined 28 child welfare administrators from across the country at the first Achieving Success Convening, “Empowering Transition-Age Young Adults,” held in Las Vegas.

With a passion for virtual and augmented reality, 3-D art and building his own lighting design company for live performances, Kyle Martinez is usually behind the scenes working in the tech space.

The transition from childhood to adulthood can be a lot to handle alone, but it’s very much a reality for people in the foster care system. Around 20,000 age out of the system every year,

Holiday Heroes continues to smash records as the campaign engaged more than 400 community and corporate volunteers to sponsors.

The 2022 Holiday Heroes campaign was a huge success. Youth Villages was able to bring joy and cheer to more than 1,200 West Tennessee children and their families during the Christmas season.

Mentoring provides mentors, mentees a lifetime of memories. Youth Villages’ Chris Crye Mentor Program can match those interested in becoming mentors.

Desiree Allen, founder of ‘She’s a Victor’ nonprofit teamed up with Janie’s House youth to get pampered head to toe during a spa day at Texture Studios.

Tony is working to increase community safety by giving participants support they need to change the trajectory of their lives.

Youth Villages partnered with SBLI for this year’s Holiday Heroes campaign. Check out this incredible group on WCVB 5’s Eye Opener segment.

When a young person ages out of foster care, they’re generally on their own. No surprise, then, that by the age of 25 a staggering 50% face homelessness. That’s where Youth Villages comes in.

The annual Youth Villages Holiday Heroes campaign spread cheer to thousands of families and youth in our programs across the country.

Puffy sleeves, tacky cummerbunds and big hair were on the scene at the Youth Villages Red Kite Nite Retro Prom held Oct. 29. More than 100 attendees came together at the SoWa Power Station in Boston, Massachusetts, to raise funds and awareness for the organization.

University of Memphis Tigers Athletics teamed up with Youth Villages’ Holiday Heroes to host their Tigers student-athletes gift-wrapping party.

In Central Oregon, Youth Villages, a nationwide nonprofit, offers various emotional and behavioral support services to kids and families, and sees the need for its programs on the rise.

Life Coach Florence “Flo” Brooks brings some much-needed light and support to participants in the Memphis Allies SWITCH program in Raleigh/Frayser.

Plans can change in a variety of ways. That was the case for Amy Abbott. Amy was looking for an opportunity to give back to the community, and she found that in fostering.

Several years ago, Mia Flowers felt moved to research fostering kids, but it wasn’t until she was reading the Bible with her husband, Ben, that the idea solidified for them both.

Red Kite Nite, hosted by the Youth Villages of Massachusetts and New Hampshire Leadership Council, was featured in Boston Magazine. The event raised $60,000 to support our LifeSet program.

On a rainy spring day, an Intercept specialist received a voicemail from Jade, a 23-year-old mother whose son, Caiden, was in our Intercept program. “Thank you so much for coming here today and always supporting me through this whole thing.

From the first moment I heard of Youth Villages, I was hooked. Two Youth Villages employees came to my company’s office five years ago for an informal ‘lunch and learn’ about the organization. They took us through the LifeSet program from its start in Massachusetts in 2009 to its current state and their hope for the program’s growth.

The High-Fidelity Wraparound Program is a personalized model of mental and behavioral health care that breaks the traditional mold. It aims to help youth and their families set and achieve goals for their lives

LifeSet participants and staff from New Hampshire recently spoke about the needs of transition-age youth at a meeting of the American Public Human Services Association’s Economic Mobility & Well-Being Conference in Savannah, Georgia.

Andreia had a rough start. Her mother had a substance abuse problem and went to jail, sending Andreia and her older siblings to kinship care. One after another her siblings left home.

Youth Villages, a national nonprofit organization and a leader in the field of children’s mental and behavioral health, has partnered with the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to offer LifeSet, a program that serves as a bridge from foster care to adulthood.

The Youth Villages 5K—known as the YV5K—turns the big 4-0 this October, and there is no slowing down for this annual event. Held in the spring its first 37 years, the City of Memphis’ “longest-running” 5K returns to the fall for a second straight year on Oct. 22

Brett Houle was in the Youth Villages LifeSet program in 2009. Eleven years later, he was reunited with Youth Villages when the moving company he works for, Two Men & a Truck,

When she was only 9 years old, Emely was abused by someone she thought she could trust. She was forced to do and see things no child should have to experience. For eight years, the abuse was constant and ongoing.

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. For more than two years, we’ve seen study after study proving the declining mental health of kids and teens. There has also been an uptick in crisis calls received by Youth Villages across the state of Tennessee.

Meet Keshawna, a bright, intelligent, independent college freshman ready to take on the world. Looking at her, you would think her life was picture perfect, but it wasn’t.

As children head back into the classroom, it’s important that Youth Villages equips the communities we serve with information that can help kids, and their families, have a successful school year. According to the CDC: 1 in 6 children in school have one or more mental impairments.

Moving to a college can be an exciting yet anxious experience for many young people. For those aging out of foster care, applying to and even getting enrolled in a college can be a monumental task. That’s where LifeSet comes in.

In high school, 17-year-old Lexi struggled with disordered eating. Her anorexia led to body-image issues, suicidal ideation and self-harming behaviors. She was in a residential facility to receive treatment for her anorexia

At times, the hurt is too unbearable to return. When ties are cut, it can affect more than immediate family. It can reverberate through the community and sever bonds with friends, acquaintances and extended relatives. For Clarita, the pattern of hurt took a turn for the worse when she was 8 years old.

For many college students, the campus becomes like home. For LifeSet participant Zephaniah, college is literally providing him a home.

A new mental health service is expanding in Eastern North Carolina. The program is part of Youth Villages, a private non-profit group that helps children and families.

James Kirkwood grew up wanting to be a pastor – and a police officer. He did both. Kirkwood served for more than 30 years with the Memphis Police Department, rising to the rank of colonel, leading two of the city’s police precincts.

Nineteen-year-old Trinity has learned many life skills through the Youth Villages LifeSet program, which serves as a bridge from foster care to successful adulthood and helps young adults build the skills they need to live independently and successfully.

How do you kick off the official start of summer? For the Youth Villages Leadership Council, the answer was a sailboat cruise around Boston Harbor with 75 of their friends.

Leaders from all 20 implementing LifeSet partner agencies attended a convening in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to learn more about effectively implementing the program model and to share insights from implementations in their states and jurisdictions.

At 6 years old, Brett entered foster care. He spent 11 years in and out of group homes and different foster placements. Finding a permanent home felt like it was never going to happen for him.

LifeSet helps young people identify and achieve their goals, but it also does more. For Tresja, it was the intangible benefits the program provided that meant so much to her.

LifeSet is moving east in the Evergreen State. In mid-June, Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington was announced as the new partner to provide LifeSet in the area. The organization will serve youth in Yakima, Benton and Franklin counties with LifeSet under contract with the Washington Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF).

Helen Baker is the LifeSet program director at the Y Social Impact Center, a part of the YMCA of Greater Seattle that serves King and Pierce Counties in Washington. Baker, who started as a LifeSet specialist, has been with the YMCA’s program since it began in 2016. In this Q&A, she offers insight into the successes and challenges that LifeSet has experienced in Washington.

With the recent inflation and rise in costs of everyday items, families are experiencing financial strain/stress in recent months. That financial stress/strain has created a “domino effect” that reaches into the area of mental health for families and youth.

Ares Epps is a LifeSet participant, LifeSet Scholar and a North Carolina State University student athlete, who has accomplished many of his goals through track and field, and with the support of Youth Villages. The LifeSet program offers youth who are aging out of foster care tools to ease the transition from childhood to adulthood.

The man was shot and killed in front of his 2-year-old daughter. It was another senseless homicide in Memphis; another child traumatized by gun violence. To Brandon and Bryan Mathis and the Memphis Allies team, this man, this incident was more than just a statistic.

Backpack Heroes is an annual Youth Villages fundraiser focused on equipping children and young adults in each of the organization’s service regions with school supplies needed for the upcoming year. East Tennessee is one of those areas, and Youth Villages is grateful for the financial support Backpack Heroes receives from the Knoxville Area Association of Realtors (KAAR) and its Birdies for Backpacks golf tournament.

Middle Tennessee native and donor, Meghan Markie, originally from Columbia, Tennessee, has been supporting Youth Villages after her father introduced her to the organization, where he volunteered as a Dell employee before his passing. Since getting involved, Meghan joined the Middle Tennessee Advisory Board, and for the last two years, she served as Board Chair.

A PBS NewsHour team followed staff in our Intercept and Specialized Crisis Services programs in East Tennessee for this powerful report on the children’s mental health crisis.

Dr. Jacque Cutillo is celebrating her 15th anniversary as an employee of Youth Villages. She joined the Youth Villages Massachusetts office in 2007 as the location’s second employee and has helped shape the landscape of mental health services for youth and families ever since.

On a given day in Massachusetts, more than 100 children and teenagers are brought to hospital emergency rooms because they’re facing a mental-health crisis and sometimes have to stay there for days or weeks.

The Youth Villages Massachusetts and New Hampshire Spring Celebration gala raised $830,000 to help young people live successfully. The annual event celebrated the organization’s milestone of 15 years of serving children, youth and families in New England.

When many teenagers enter their junior year of high school, their life pathways are somewhat charted. For some, the path leads to college. For others, a trade or technical school. For still others, finding employment. But often that path is set up starting with the freshman year.

Check out scenes from the Youth Villages Spring Celebration event at the Fairmont Copley Plaza.

LifeSet, a Youth Villages program for young adults who experienced foster care, meets young people where they are in life. Some need major support to help achieve goals as they enter adulthood. Others, though, already have the drive, but a little assistance is needed along the way.

Youth Villages Massachusetts and New Hampshire help their Spring Celebration gala in-person for the first time in three years and raised $830,000 for young people in our programs.

Balancing life’s many demands can be stressful for anyone, including children. Unexpected transitions at home like a parent losing a job, grieving a loved one or dealing with health issues…

This week, Royal Chatman will be in juvenile court supporting a young man who’s facing an aggravated assault charge. The court will be determining whether the young man will be transferred to adult court – or be assigned to the Memphis Allies SWITCH program.

June has long been recognized as LGBTQ+ Pride Month, observing the need for equality and inclusion across all sexual identity communities. The topic of sexual orientation and identification can be a tough one for adults to approach, so imagine being a teenager needing to have these conversations with your family and your community.

A Mt. Juliet family adopted their teenage son after several years of fostering children. Haynes and his wife Lacie explained their first foster children came through their doors in 2016 right as they were starting their own family.

Two years ago, Reagan told her story of going into foster care with WBIR-TV in Knoxville. To highlight National Foster Care Awareness Month…

Officials announced Tennessee was in need of thousands of foster homes as the number of foster children has grown. There was about 9,000 children in the system and about 4,000 foster homes as of Monday, according to Youth Villages.

Sometimes, it takes knowing others are proud of what you’ve accomplished. Every day, Youth Villages teaches young adults how to be resilient, face challenges head on and take strides to accomplish goals through its LifeSet program.

Thursday, May 19 is Mental Health Action Day. It’s a day to take action on one’s own mental health, as well as support those in the community.

According to Youth Villages, a non-profit for children and families in Tennessee, there are almost 8,000 children in foster care in the state and the number continues to rise.

Youth Villages celebrates an adoption story on National Foster Care Day. Even the best laid plans don’t go as planned, and that also goes for foster care and adoption. However, for Chinishe Ray, her plans to adopt have gone as expected not only once but twice.

May is Foster Care Awareness month and Youth Villages uses this month to not only bring awareness to the kids in need but recognize the work done by foster parents, including a single dad from Cleveland winning foster care parent of the year.

Foster parenting sounds intimidating but with support, can be incredibly rewarding. Linzie Mullins, a Youth Villages foster-to-adopt parent in Memphis, was once in your shoes.

May is celebrated as National Foster Care Awareness Month to bring awareness to the need for more foster care families. In Tennessee, approximately 8,000 children are in foster care at any given time.

The first week of May is Child Mental Health Awareness Week and Youth Villages is sharing advice for parents and signs to look out for that could save lives.

Governor Bill Lee made a statement saying Tennessee’s adoption and foster care system is strong in regard to how Tennessee will support families if Roe v. Wade is overturned.

For Spring Hill residents Carly and Chrissy Shogren, Mother’s Day is something they never expected to be able to celebrate for themselves. Fortunately, their willingness to be flexible and open led to becoming mothers becoming a reality.

In the spring sunshine of a recent Saturday, Sharika Carpenter remembered her darkest day – the day her 17-year-old son, Braylon Murray, was robbed, shot and killed at a Memphis carwash.

Dear Youth Villages, My name is Amber, and I am 23 years old. I lost my dad at a very young age and grew up with a mother who battled addiction and untreated trauma that led to many mental health problems leaving her incapable of caring for herself or for me.

Troy Dotson’s face tells part of his story… there’s a six-point star with a ‘G’ for Gangster Disciples on his cheek. Two other tattoos there signify the “work” he put in for the gang and his high rank in the organization.

Imagine this scenario: You’re a dormitory resident assistant (RA) on a college campus. A winter storm comes through, dumping several inches of snow and lowering temperatures below freezing. Then, the dorm’s pipes burst. Suddenly, your residents have no water—to drink, shower or even flush toilets. They all are looking to you for help and guidance.

Julie Lester, chief program officer for the Missouri Alliance for Children and Families (MACF), says the “Show-Me” State not only needed LifeSet but craved something like it. Initial implementation proceeded despite the pandemic, and now MACF is expanding LifeSet to a second location.

Nineteen-year-old Dallas, a young man in southwest Missouri, sees his LifeSet specialist as more than just a health professional working to help him. She’s more like a friend walking with him every step—something he hasn’t always had.

Darin Hudson is a Licensed Program Expert with Turning Points, a LifeSet implementing provider based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Darin joined Turning Points in 2014 and has grown his career with LifeSet. In this Q&A, Darin explores his journey from specialist to Licensed Program Expert with the hope of inspiring others to take the opportunity to grow with LifeSet.

Daily Memphian reporter Don Wade goes on a “ride-along” with the Youth Villages Intercept program, which recently received a “well-supported” rating from the Title IV-E Clearinghouse.

Dominique and Kevin Gill continue to change the lives of children in foster care—children like Andrew who was adopted by the Gills in 2020.

Lisa Small and Kim Lapidus served the Nashville chapter of the National Council for Jewish Women (NCJW) for several years. Their dedicated involvement with NCJW later brought them to Youth Villages…

A program in Louisiana helps young adults who’ve aged out of the foster care system.

A crisis in mental health care has created a new program aimed at reducing the number of kids stuck in emergency rooms…

The non profit Youth Villages has announced the launch of a $60 million dollar program aimed at bringing targeted services to crime-ridden areas in the city, Memphis Allies.

Amid the gun violence epidemic in Memphis, Youth Villages stated it is starting an initiative called Memphis Allies which will work to curb gun violence.

For more than a year, we’ve been working with community leaders and national experts to build Memphis Allies to address one of our community’s greatest challenges: deadly gun violence.

The Youth Villages Intercept program model recently achieved an important milestone earning the “well-supported” rating from the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse.

Mia must have thought the world was crumbling around her. “It was hard, stressful,” said Mia, who was 16 years old at the time. “I was the oldest (child), so I had to keep pushing for everyone. I kept praying.”

Sometimes, the closest people to us—family and friends—don’t understand. They may think they know the situation better than anyone, even the person who is suffering. Instead of helping that person, it may lead to further issues.

When Cohen was born in an East Tennessee hospital in 2019, he didn’t get to go home with his mom and dad. Substance use had already broken his family, and the baby joined his five brothers and sisters in foster care.

Youth Villages CEO Pat Lawler was one of five named as CEO of the Year by Inside Memphis Business. The article notes some of the most significant accomplishments and highlights in the past year.

LifeSet interview with Linda Dixon, Ph.D., Administrator Transitional Supports and Success of the Connecticut Department of Children and Families

The Youth Villages Intercept program model has been rated as well-supported by the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse.

Young people who experience foster care are resilient and capable. Still, they need support as they move toward adulthood.

January is National Mentor Appreciation Month, and we are immensely grateful for all our Georgia mentors! Mentoring is a calling to be of service to a young person during a pivotal time in their development. Our mentors commit to spending time with mentees for four to six hours a month…

Youth Villages is excited to welcome Amanda Matthews as the new supervisor for LifeSet in Oregon. We are so grateful to have Amanda lead LifeSet as we begin 2022, a year with ambitious growth goals for the program.

Kiara is a busy young lady. A single mother, Kiara takes care of her 8-year-old daughter, Kyra. She also attends college full time, taking prerequisites to pursue a nursing degree. Additionally, she works full time in an overnight job with Memphis-based FedEx.

When twins Jordan and Devan Brown were in the LifeSet program, Youth Villages paired them with mentors. Instead of just sending someone their way, the twins were allowed to list some qualities they wanted in their mentors.

In 2019, 16-year-old Cassidy was in an in-patient mental health center. She struggled for years with depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation. In just one year, Cassidy was hospitalized for her mental health nine times…

Just in time for Christmas, 40 Memphis children who share a bed, sleep on a couch or on the floor will soon have new beds to call their own, thanks to…

Youth Villages received an early gift that will be used to forward many presents to others this holiday season. The East Tennessee Foundation…

It was early December and final exams week was on the horizon for the University of Memphis student-athletes. However, they took time out…

The pandemic has made life much more difficult for young adults aging out of foster care and they need help. Matt Stone, executive director in Massachusetts…

Remember, Jonathan and Jaywanna Neal adopting Christopher in 2019, well the family celebrated another adoption this past year adopting Maliki in May of 2021, in the middle of the pandemic. The family wasted no time adopting Maliki as soon as he became available for adoption.

In September, 175 walkers virtually traveled across America to raise awareness and funds to support the Youth Villages LifeSet program in the Walk for Independence.

Long waits for emergency psychiatric care at hospitals have become the norm in Massachusetts.

Becoming a foster parent is a special opportunity to make a difference in the life of a child, both as a short-term commitment to their health, safety and well-being, but also with a lifelong impact

Richard and Alvin Lewis had been married for five years before Richard began looking into fostering and adopting.

The Mullins family was drawn to the idea of fostering and adopting in late 2019 after being married for 10 years.

Everyone looks for a second chance. Maybe even a third or fourth.

After years of praying and contemplating how to have children, Kellie and Jared Anderson decided in early 2020 to consider foster care and adoption.

Kids are suffering more than ever and there are not enough resources…

The Youth Villages Inner Harbour campus encountered a pirate “invasion” in early August. But it was a friendly one…

Every child needs a permanent, nurturing family to give them the opportunity and support…

As emergency department boarding and the youth mental health crisis continue to rise…

High school is difficult for any teenager, but for a teen facing issues at home…

Teamwork is at its best when all are in together to achieve a common goal…

As Mikki approached their 18th birthday, they were about to age out of foster care…

Jaq-cari is 12 years old and in the Youth Villages Intercept program…

Youth Villages brings stability to the lives of young adults…

The new school year can already be nerve-wracking for kids…

It’s been a big year for Justin.

A participant in the Pressley Ridge LifeSet program in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Justin was turning 21 this year and needed to finish high school, find a place to live that gave him more independence, and learn life and social skills. He and LifeSet Specialist Ryan King kept a list and began checking things off.

During Parent’s Weekend in her freshman year of college, Hannah attempted suicide…

May is Foster Care Awareness Month, and there’s a growing need for foster parents in Tennessee. According to Tennessee Kids Belong, nearly 8,000 children are in foster care in the state

What if your family gave up their custody rights for you? Or if you entered state custody on your birthday? In Tennessee, approximately 8,000 children are in foster care at any given time.

Youth Villages spent Thursday celebrating foster parents across the U.S. which is part of the agency’s first-ever “Foster Parent of the Year” award ceremony.

Even during this pandemic, the push for foster families continues. “We are still pushing to get as many families as we can to become foster families.

Youth Villages today announced the addition of lifelong Memphian, respected attorney and civic leader Mike Keeney to its national board of directors.