November Newsletter 2014

It's late in the day at Head Start, a publically funded preschool, and the last few children have been scooped up by parents rushing to get home after a busy week. For the young woman in charge of pick-ups, it's time to let out a sigh. A year ago, this young woman was unsure what her future held. Coming through Youth Homes' East Bay Shelter, and making the difficult transition to independent living, she feared life would continue to remain a game of chance.

Thanks to the TAY Labor Program and her opportunity with a unique internship, she has been pleasantly surprised. Partnering with Skip Weinstock, this young lady has learned key skills for work including how to work in a team, and how to communicate genuinely and respectfully with her supervisors. During her three months as a Head Start intern, she impressed everyone around her.

Today marks six months since being offered a permanent position and no one could be prouder.

From a foster teen, feeling lost in the system, to a confident young adult, leading the next generation, this young lady has a bright future ahead of her.

To read more moments that change lives, click HERE to download a copy of our NEW Annual Report.

Community Giving

Youth Homes is delighted to share about the recent grant received from the Lafayette Community Foundation. We are honored to be recognized and to partner with residents right in our community. Raising funds to help support ongoing projects at our Lafayette residence, Cherry Lane, the LCF understands that it takes a village to raise a child.

From the on-site organic gardens, to the job coaching from staff, Cherry Lane provides a great foundation for young people preparing to transition out of the foster care system.

Pictured above: Cherry Lane Staff, CEO Stuart McCullough and Dick Holt from Lafayette Community Foundation celebrating the abundant gardens.

Community Giving Cont...

Did you know you can donate your used auto and direct the funds to Youth Homes? That is just what Kim and Hank Stern of Lafayette recently did. While deciding what to do with their used family auto, they realized the 2008 Ford Escape could fetch a significant amount. They could have pocketed the money but, they wanted the proceeds to be used to help foster youth in their community.

They contacted Donate for Charity, and within a week they arranged a free vehicle pickup at their home. Donate for Charity handled all the DMV paperwork and sold the car at auction with the net proceeds awarded to Youth Homes.

If you would like to help foster youth by donating your used vehicle, simply call Donate for Charity toll-free at (866) 392-4483 or donate online by clicking the link provided below. You will receive a receipt entitling you to declare the fair market value of your vehicle as a tax deduction.

Thanks Kim and Hank!

I want to make an auto donation!

Ways To Give

Would you like to give back this holiday season but not sure how? Here are some ideas:

The Youth Homes Auxiliary Thrift Store

Go shopping today, donate your gently used items, or hold a drive to collect items for the YH Auxiliary Thrift Store located at 15-B Vivian Drive in Pleasant Hill. Did you know proceeds raised from the store support Youth Homes? For information on acceptable items, please call (925) 798-5561.

Make a Donation

Give online or send a check payable to: Youth Homes

PO Box 5759

Walnut Creek, CA 94596

Your donation is fully tax deductible and will be acknowledged by letter and in our Annual Report.

Make a Donation of In-Kind Goods

Be someone's hero this holiday season and fullfill one of the many needs listed on our HOLIDAY WISH LIST

Gently used and laundered items are accepted.

Start a Giving Circle in your Community

What is a giving circle? Giving circles are rapidly becoming a popular way for individuals to channel and amplify their philanthropic impulses. Giving circles can be small and informal, something like a neighborly potluck, with a few people pooling their money and resources for a worthwhile charity. Whether informal or highly organized, giving circles allow donors to leverage their assets by pooling their contributions to achieve a greater impact. In the process, donors connect with one another and with their community.

Download Fact Sheet: How to Start a Giving Circle in your Community

In This Issue

Quick Links

NEW Annual Report

Donate Now

Programs & Services

Auxiliary Thrift Shop

Join us on Facebook

I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.

~ Maya Angelou

Pictured below, party

goers at the recent gala celebration on 10/11/14

The Executive Minute

Dear Friends,

2013/2014 was a banner year for Youth Homes. Our programs expanded to include a new contract with Contra Costa County Mental Health Services to provide Transition Age Youth / Full Service Partnership services in Central and East County. Our traditional Aftercare Program is showing very strong outcomes with 62% of the 29 former foster youth in that program currently employed. Of those clients who earned a high school diploma or GED, 19% were enrolled in college or vocational school. That is five times better than the national average.

Our Residential Programs and Foster Family Agency are becoming increasingly well-regarded as we successfully care for children who require extensive levels of support and our TBS Program continues to achieve very high results with a successful outcome rate of 81%. These are results that any mental health program in the county would be proud of.

Our crowning achievement came at the end of the year when the Council on Accreditation approved us to be Nationally Accredited! Read the full executive minute here.

In 2015 Youth Homes will celebrate 50 years of service. All of these many accomplishments could never have been possible without the kindness and generosity from you, our community.

Thank you!
Sincerely,

Stuart McCullough, Chief Executive Officer

stuartm@youthhomes.org