Aaron speaks confidently, with a sense of humor that belies the hardships that have marked most of his 22 years. In fact, whenever this self-possessed young man tells his life story – as he recently did at a gathering of Youth Villages Georgia supporters and volunteers – it is the listeners who struggle to maintain their composure. Although Aaron’s demeanor is optimistic, his past reveals a deeply troubling reality faced by abused and neglected children, many of whom spend most of their youth as Aaron did, bouncing among foster homes.

“I came up with something I call ‘The Scavenger Method,’” Aaron says when describing the two-year period from age 18-20 when he was homeless. “I didn’t just scavenge for food but also to learn the things I needed to know. If I overheard a father giving advice to his son on the bus, I’d listen and pretend he was talking to me.”

Born to a mother who spent much of her own childhood in the state welfare system, Aaron is the middle of five children. The Southwest Atlanta neighborhood where his family lived is marked by high crime and deep poverty; the children who grow up there are harshly buffeted by these prevailing forces. Aaron’s mother worked as an exotic dancer and developed a drug addiction. At the age of 9, his oldest brother was left to care for his siblings, with intermittent supervision from his grandmother. Aaron received severe beatings and abuse from both his mother and his brother.

When Aaron and his brothers broke into a seemingly abandoned house on their street, the police and the Department of Family and Child Services intervened, taking the children to a group foster home. Although he was only 6, Aaron remembers that day in detail.

“When the cops arrived, it was horrific. We were very small at the time, between the ages of 3 and 9. My brother told us to play hide and seek,” Aaron recounts. “My baby sisters hid in a tiny space behind the couch, and my other brother and I hid in a very small cabinet and put some videotapes in front of us. The police didn’t find us for hours.”

After a night in an emergency shelter, Aaron and his siblings landed in a supportive group home, where they lived for three years, often seeing their mother for visits. But just as that environment stabilized, it became evident that one of his younger sisters was being abused by a staff member. The siblings were then split up, with his oldest brother being sent to a state-run mental health institution due to aggressive behavior – something Aaron believes was brought on by the medication he was forced to take while in the group home. His brother would spend the next seven years there until Aaron was able to convince staff he needed individual help.

Aaron spent the years in a second group home that was much harsher than his first. By the time he was 18, he saw little reason for hope and signed himself out of the state care system. “No one else would accept me,” he says and he struck out on his own. A student at Georgia Perimeter College at the time, he became depressed and suicidal. He couldn’t figure out how to find a home, work and maintain his studies, so he dropped out, becoming homeless.

About two years later, a state social worker referred Aaron to Youth Villages’ transitional living program. He was assigned to Transitional Living Specialist Jewell Gooding at Youth Villages Georgia. Together, they worked on securing housing, getting back in school and finding a stable job.

“In the past I thought that I had to do everything myself,” Aaron says. “But then I realized that God placed people in my life to help me. Ms. Jewell was one of those people. I was surprised that she didn’t walk away and never gave up on me. She and Youth Villages gave me the necessary tools to be a functioning adult. With her help, I started to learn to let go of the past and what had hurt me. I knew I had to survive to be an example.

“I think what helped me most was that Ms. Jewell and Youth Villages were something constant that I could depend on. She kept me moving forward and motivated me. For Ms. Jewell, it wasn’t just a job. She wasn’t there for the check—it was a 24-hour thing. Today, I am a full-time student and have a job as a manager at a smoothie shop. Other employees look up to me, and the business depends on me. I don’t think about what was unfair in my life now. What I have learned is that we are all here to be of service to others. I survived and now I want to inspire others.”

The Girls Center for Intensive Residential Treatment in Memphis is just one Youth Villages location benefiting from the $7.4 million grant from Microsoft.

Microsoft has awarded a grant of more than $7.4 million in software and technology to Youth Villages, one of the nation’s largest providers of help to children with emotional and behavioral problems and their families.

The grant is part of Microsoft’s YouthSpark initiative, which is designed to create opportunities for 300 million youth around the world. It will provide software and support on Youth Villages’ residential campuses, supply technology for young adults being helped through its transitional living program and improve the organization’s internal and external communications systems.

“Microsoft is one of our most important partners,” said Patrick Lawler, Youth Villages CEO. “Since 1997, their generosity has allowed us to provide the best computer technology to our kids. This grant means Microsoft’s total support of Youth Villages’ children comes to nearly $13 million, which has helped our youth learn computer skills and allowed us to support our staff with modern clinical records and office technology.”

Microsoft YouthSpark is a global initiative committed to create opportunities for 300 million youth in more than 100 countries over the next three years.

This companywide initiative includes company programs that empower youth to imagine and realize their full potential by connecting them with greater opportunities for education, employment and entrepreneurship.

The grant allows children receiving help at schools on Youth Villages’ residential campuses to use the latest Microsoft software and curriculum to improve their computer literacy and learn the fundamentals of word processing, spreadsheets, the Internet and presentations. Youth Villages’ residential campuses are located in Memphis and Linden, Tenn., Atlanta, Boston and Portland, Ore.

Young adults in the Youth Villages transitional living program in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Massachusetts, Mississippi and North Carolina use computers powered by Microsoft to study for their GED certificates, apply for colleges, prepare resumes and search for and apply for their first jobs.

“Microsoft’s continued support allows us to do our best work for children and families,” said Anne Coggin, director of education at Youth Villages. “For our kids, the computer lab is a wonder, offering diverse learning opportunities and a ticket to becoming technologically literate, something that will be crucial for their success as adults.”

The grant also provides the technology to enhance internal and external communications systems for more than 2,700 Youth Villages staff members who perform critical functions each day, such as accessing medical records, documenting treatment plans and reporting to parents and referral partners. Youth Villages’ counselors, teachers and staff will help more than 20,000 children and families this year from 67 offices throughout the country.

“Through YouthSpark, we’ve made a commitment to provide opportunities for youth to succeed in today’s competitive marketplace,” said Marietta Davis, general manager of Microsoft’s Greater Southeast District. “The Youth Villages grant will give at-risk youth the technology and training critical to success in the technology economy. I’ve been so impressed with the organization that I joined its national board of directors last year.”

“The Spark” is a new television program hosted by Jeremy Park that focuses on positive things happening in Memphis.

Holiday Heroes depends on the contributions of individuals and foundations like BJ’s to help fill the wish lists of hundreds of Massachusetts children receiving help through Youth Villages for emotional and behavioral issues, and help meet the basic needs of their families during the holiday season. The grant to Youth Villages was announced this week as one of a group of grants by BJ’s Charitable Foundation totaling $351,500 made to 56 Massachusetts nonprofits that focus on hunger prevention, education, self sufficiency, and healthcare.

“The goal of BJ’s Charitable Foundation is to create a positive, long-lasting impact on the communities in which BJ’s serves” said Jessica Newman, executive director of BJ’s Charitable Foundation. “Giving back is in the DNA of BJ’s Wholesale Club, and the donations from the BJ’s Charitable Foundation will impact tens of thousands of individuals and families, resulting in a better community for us all.”

BJ’s Charitable Foundation was established with the mission to enrich every community BJ’s Wholesale Clubs serve. The foundation supports nonprofit organizations that primarily benefit the underprivileged in the area of basic needs (hunger prevention, self-sufficiency, education and health). For more information about BJ’s Charitable Foundation, please visit www.bjs.com/charity.

Youth Villages Massachusetts produces lasting results for hundreds of emotionally and behaviorally troubled children and their families as well as former foster youth each year through its Evidentiary Family Restoration™ approach, involving intensive work with the child and family, as well as a focus on measuring outcomes, keeping children in the community whenever safely possible and providing accountability to families and funders. EFR consistently produces success rates twice that of traditional services at one-third the cost of traditional care.

In Massachusetts, Youth Villages has offices in Woburn, Worcester, Plymouth, Lawrence and West Springfield, along with a residential campus for girls in Arlington.

Named one of the Top 50 Nonprofits to Work For by Nonprofit Times and Best Companies Group in 2010 and 2011, Youth Villages has been recognized by Harvard Business School and U.S. News & World Report, and was identified by The White House as one of the nation’s most promising results-oriented nonprofit organizations. For more information about Youth Villages, visit www.youthvillages.org.

Learn more about the success of the TL program across multiple states and communities in the recently published Transitional Living 10-year Report.

Budget cuts and increased competition for funds have made it challenging to annually serve 36 youth across the Greensboro area. Fortunately, Youth Villages’ positive and lasting results earned the attention and subsequent generosity of several North Carolina foundations.

Thanks to the following foundations for their generous support of the Transitional Living program in the Greensboro area:

• Bank of America Charitable Foundation
• The Cemala Foundation
• Richard W. Jennings Foundation
• Nancye F. Markle Charitable Trust
• Sisters of Mercy of North Carolina
• Hillsdale Fund

Their combined support has allowed Youth Villages to continue serving Greensboro youth as they make a successful transition from foster care to adulthood.

Because of the generosity of supporters, Youth Villages fulfilled the holiday wishes of more than 440 youth in need from 236 families participating in our New England programs (which includes 78 adolescent girls living at the Youth Villages – Germaine Lawrence Campus – our newest program).

View a photo gallery featuring event photos, the words of volunteers and thank-you notes from the children.

Several specialists who work with youth and their families in their homes shared some heartwarming stories about how the gifts from Holiday Heroes made a difference this holiday season.

I work with a 19-year-old young lady who is entering her second semester in college while working part-time. One of the gifts this young lady received through the Holiday Heroes initiative was a winter jacket. When she pulled the winter jacket out of the bag, the look of excitement on her face was overwhelming. She was so excited to have a nice, warm jacket and loved the fact it had the fur on the hood! She said that she would never be cold again walking to school or work and was grateful that someone had thought of her during the holiday season. She even texted me the next day, and, once again, expressed her gratitude for the coat. She said she was walking to work and that the coat was awesome and keeping her nice and warm. She thanked me again for bringing her the coat and asked if I could thank whomever got it for her. I spoke with her this morning and again, she brought up the coat and was so thankful she had it because it was so cold out.

- Katie Ross, Transitional Living Specialist

Personally, I was in awe of the generosity of our Holiday Heroes. Every family I work with received gifts! As I helped one mother sort through the gifts for her four children, she informed me that the gifts the children received from Holiday Heroes were going to be ‘their best and favorite gifts.’ The thoughtfulness of individuals who sponsored children was amazing to me and I could tell that those gifts had been handpicked for each child based on their interests. I truly felt like I received a gift myself seeing the excitement and relief in the eyes of some of the parents I work with when I got to give them the gifts donated by our generous Holiday Heroes!

- Laura Nason, Intercept Specialist

I just wanted to thank everyone for all of their hard work and generosity this holiday season. I personally think this is the best initiative Youth Villages does. I felt so lucky to be able to ‘play Santa’ for the day and deliver all of the gifts to my families! More than one of the mothers I work with cried when she saw the bags of overflowing gifts for her kids. It’s so special that their children get to experience the Christmas they deserve and the parents are overjoyed to be able to provide that for them, thanks to our Holiday Heroes.

- Alexandria Culkeen, Intercept Specialist

Happy Holidays from Youth Villages! Thank you for supporting our work as The Force for Families.

While former foster children nationally are more likely to experience homelessness, unemployment and incarceration, a report released today shows that young people in some states are achieving higher rates of success through a program that may save taxpayers more than $130 million in long-term costs.

The report gives 10 years of data on the Youth Villages transitional living program, which has helped more than 5,000 former foster children in Alabama, Georgia, Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Carolina and Tennessee since 2000. The program is most often funded through public/private partnerships between Youth Villages’ donors and state child welfare agencies. In Tennessee, the program is also part of a randomized rigorous evaluation that may bolster today’s report and lead to evidence-based solutions for helping former foster children across the country.

The report details the outcomes of more than 5,000 young people who have participated in the program since 2000. Findings include:

• 84 percent of the young people who completed the program are successfully living independently or with family two years later.
• 77 percent report no involvement with the law two years later.
• 83 percent are in school, have graduated or are employed two years after completing the Youth Villages program.

“The TL program is a result of innovative financial partnerships,” said Patrick W. Lawler, Youth Villages’ chief executive officer. Since 1999, Youth Villages has invested $22.4 million in the program, including $6.5 million from its own employees giving through payroll deductions. In his lifetime, Memphis philanthropist Clarence Day contributed $7.5 million to help former foster children find success as adults. After his death, The Day Foundation gave a $42 million challenge grant to continue the program and support Youth Villages’ overall growth plans. The state of Tennessee has contributed $9 million toward the program over the past three years, and private donations are matched by the state in Massachusetts.

Using conservative cost figures for incarceration and probation services, Youth Villages estimates that states save $2.6 million for every 100 young adults who complete its transitional living program successfully. By cutting the national average for incarceration rates of former foster youth in half, savings add up to $130 million for program participants who achieved long-term success.

Angelica, above, is just one successful young adult for whom TL has made a huge difference. You can read her story, along with many other TL stories, on this blog.

Mark Courtney, senior researcher at the Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago, is leading the study of the TL program conducted by MDRC, a national social service research group. The study is measuring the program’s effectiveness as compared to usual services in the community. Courtney is the principal investigator for the Midwest Evaluation of Former Foster Youth, the country’s most significant evaluation of youth who have aged out of foster care.

“The study of the Youth Villages transitional living program is one of the largest experimental evaluations ever conducted in the child welfare services field and the largest by far of a program focused on improving the transition to adulthood for foster youth,” Courtney said. “It will provide invaluable evidence to the field regarding ‘what works’ for foster youth.”

Researchers from MDRC already have begun one-year follow-ups with participants, with first findings due in 2015. The study is funded by the Edna McConnell Clark and Bill and Melinda Gates foundations.

The Youth Villages program provides specialists who help young people secure housing; pursue educational and employment goals; access health and mental health services; learn such independent living skills as budgeting, cooking, cleaning and shopping; and create and maintain healthy relationships with family and others.

Youth Villages continues to work with Tennessee and other states on public/private partnerships to expand and further support the transitional living program, with a goal of helping more young people who need the services.

Click the photo above to view a gallery featuring thank-you notes from some of the children and photos from corporate partners and our Backpack Shindig fundraising event.

Thanks to the generosity of donors, Youth Villages was able to distribute backpacks filled with new school supplies to more than 260 children from 120 of our neediest families across New England. We couldn’t have done this without this tremendous support!

For a first-hand account of the difference this effort made in the lives of one family, please read this account from Michelle Peterson, a Youth Villages transitional living specialist. Also check out the gallery below featuring thank-you notes from some of the children and photos from corporate partners and our Backpack Shindig fundraising event.

I recently dropped off the backpacks for Liana and her 7-month-old daughter, Lianny. Liana had just been through a very rough week. Her apartment was infested with bed bugs, her gas was shut off, her work hours were cut and her school was threatening to not allow her to start her first semester of college courses due to forgetting to waive the insurance during orientation (this was later resolved with her specialist and she will be starting courses in the fall). As if the week wasn’t terrible enough, her mother unexpectedly passed away. When I handed Liana her stuffed backpack, she was so grateful for everything and started rummaging through it immediately. She was thrilled that the donor had paid attention to her love for pinks. She jumped out of her seat to try on the clothes that she was given and they fit perfectly! When she opened Lianny’s backpack to find little fall outfits, Liana’s excitement had the baby squealing in her high chair and reaching for her cute new clothes. Mother and daughter did not stop laughing for at least 15 minutes straight! She couldn’t stop thanking us for helping her out, especially during such a rough time. Because of the tremendous support from the community through this initiative, she shared with me that she finally feels ready for college and is very motivated to begin school on a positive note. Thank you everyone who helped make this possible for this deserving young woman.

We first featured Robert and his family in a September 2011 blog post. Read it here.

About a year following the death of Larry Plaisance, the family continues to move forward and help teenagers. In fact, the family welcomed an additional youth.

Robert did well during his first year of college. He’s in the YV Scholars program, where Youth Villages pays his tuition and college costs provided he maintains certain academic and community service standards. He was also the first-ever freshman editor of his school newspaper. He even took a few upper-level courses.

The family is known for fostering young people who are tough to place. In fact, Devan, the family’s biological son, said his mother and father took the children no one else wanted. After Larry’s death last year, Devan returned home to help his mother, Nancy. And the youth in the home took to Devan, who runs a martial arts school in the area and is a mixed martial arts fighter and teacher.

Devan is also studying to become a firefighter. In addition to Nancy’s regular job, she’s also taken up making jewelry in her spare time. There’s quite a bit happening at the home and with the children. One of the children trains regularly with Devan and plans to compete soon. Another was recently awarded all-district honors in wrestling at his school.