Tag Archives: Youth Services

Register today for July 24 Annual Golf Tournament at Brattleboro Country Club!

Youth Services invites area golfers to participate in its annual golf tournament at Brattleboro Country Club on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, presented by GS Precision 802 Credit Union andNorthStar. This is the 39th year that Youth Services has organized this tournament to support the safety net for youth and offer restorative justice solutions in our community, making it the longest-running charity tournament in the area. Youth Services’ Pacesetter Sponsors, who underwrite all events in 2024, are Brattleboro Subaru, Headwater Precision and The Richards Group.

Registration opens at 11 a.m. and there will be free gourmet bag lunches. The shotgun start for the Scrambles format tournament will take place at noon.  Following the tournament there will be the Helicopter Golf Ball Drop and the banquet on site at the Country Club’s Italian Restaurant Bella Notte, with indoor and outdoor seating. “Dinner only” can be reserved for $35 for community members who are not playing in the tournament and spectators for the Helicopter Drop around 5 pm are always welcome.

The tournament’s Hole-In-One Contest prizes this year will be sponsored by Brattleboro Subaru including one of their late model vehicles. Prizes will also be awarded for low gross and low net game scores, as well as for the Longest Drive and Closest to the Pin and Closest to the Line for both men and women.  Mulligans also will be on sale, and the traditional putting contest will take place during the tournament. A raffle of themed gift baskets and a silent auction will take place during the banquet.

Youth Services Corporate Sponsors include Pacesetters The Richards Group; Brattleboro Subaru; Headwater Precision LLC. Presenters for the Golf Tournament are 802 Credit Union, NorthStar and G.S. Precision. Other Presenters in 2024 are Chroma Technology and Guilford Sound for BRATTROCK. Sustainers are: Berkley & Veller Greenwood Country Realtors; Brattleboro Savings & Loan; Law Office of Crispe & Crispe; Chadwick & Spensley Law Offices; Edward Jones Investment; Holiday Inn Express; Silver Forest of Vermont, Inc; Swiss Precision Turning; Vermont Country Deli and VSECU. Patron Sponsors are: Beadniks; Cersosimo Lumber; Market 32/Golub Foundation; RetroMusic; and Trust Co. of Vermont.  Associate Sponsors are: Cota & Cota, Inc; and WW Building Supply.

All proceeds from the tournament, which annually nets close to $20,000, will help support Youth Services’ programs.  Now celebrating its 52nd year helping local families thrive, Youth Services promotes the healthy development of nearly 1,500 local youth and family members each year, in addition to restorative justice programs serving both youth and adults offenders.

The all-inclusive registration fee for the tournament is $160 per individual or $640 per foursome. The fee covers greens fees and cart, a bag lunch and banquet. Registration encouraged on-line at www.youthservicesinc.org/golf. Tournament participants must provide their handicap or average game score. register for the tournament, call Youth Services at (802) 257-0361 x147 or visit www.youthservicesinc.org/golf  

802 Credit Union Vice President Ethan Grimes Joins Youth Services Board

Ethan Grimes, the Vice President of mortgage lending at 802 Credit Union, recently joined 12 other community members in serving on Youth Services’ board of directors. With twenty programs ranging from court diversion, to trauma-informed after-school groups, counseling, mediation and case management to name but a few, Youth Services has built community throughout Windham County for over 50 years.

Ethan Grimes

Since 2009, Grimes has worked in mortgages at River Valley Credit Union, now 802 Credit Union. Starting as a mortgage processor, he eventually became a mortgage originator and finally Vice President of the credit union’s mortgage department in 2016.

Grimes has deep roots in Windham County, having grown up and attended public school in Newfane, VT and graduating fourth in his class from Leland & Gray Union High School in Townshend.  Grimes attended Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL, where he majored in Economics, with a minor in both Business Administration and Communications. He came home each summer to work with his father Marty Grimes with Southern Vermont Telephone and recalls even doing some wiring on occasion at Youth Services during those visits. After graduation, Grimes moved to Orlando, FL where he obtained his mortgage broker license and worked as a mortgage broker there for four years during which time he married his college sweetheart.

The West River Valley resident looks forward to helping Youth Services prepare for new challenges ahead, strengthen its operations and serve on its annual golf tournament committee, among others. This summer, 802 Credit Union will be a Presenting Sponsor of the tourney. “I’m really excited to contribute to the Youth Services board and I’ve always taken the opportunity to give back when I can,” Grimes explained.

 “Ethan will obviously be a tremendous asset for our agency,” stated Youth Services board president, Ana Saavedra.  “With deep community roots, financial skills and experience volunteering on fundraising events such as Bowl for Kid’s Sake, Relay for Life, March of Dimes and the Boys & Girls Club, Ethan is a highly motivated and organized professional with so many strategic skills we need on the board,” she stated.

 To learn how you can get involved with Youth Services or to refer a person for services, visit wwwyouthservicesinc.org or call 802-257-0361 x120.

Youth Services Hires Sullivan as Balanced & Restorative Justice Coordinator

Jacqueline (Jackie) Sullivan joined Youth Services as its Balanced and Restorative Justice (BARJ) Coordinator this past spring. The BARJ program is a supportive case management and restorative justice program for youth on probation, youth at a higher risk of involvement with the juvenile justice system, and youth ages 10 and up with low school attendance—at risk for truancy.

Jackie Sullivan

According to Youth Services’ Youth Programs Director, Megan Grove, the agency’s BARJ program recognizes that many young people entering the criminal justice system have underlying factors that lead to the criminal misconduct. Before the end of the school year, Sullivan was able to support youth in completing their court-ordered probation conditions and restorative panel contracts, build resources and resiliency, and decrease their likelihood of further court involvement. 

“Early intervention is key to addressing the reasons that kids aren’t showing up for school or have gotten into mischief after school.  With early intervention we can reduce the likelihood of future involvement in the justice system.  Sometimes by offering individual or group coaching in conflict resolution, anger management, and other skills we can help the young person and their parents turn around the situation,” Grove explained.

Sullivan is an integral part of Supporting School Success, a collaboration between Youth Services and Windham County School districts which focuses on truancy intervention for students age 10 and older. The program works directly with students, families and other involved community agencies and serves as a bridge between them.

“Jackie works from a different stance than the traditional “Truant Officer”, Grove stressed, “acting instead as a supportive helper with a positive, proactive and less punitive approach that builds the necessary skills and understanding needed for students and families to make a long-term commitment to education. She looks at all areas of a student and family’s life that contribute to or can help solve the problem.”

 Sullivan’s supportive case management focuses on reducing stresses at home that might be related to money or work problems, housing issues, health needs, transportation and developing the skills and interests of the young person, she explained. “We link families with other people and places in the community to meet needs and support strengths. We help with parenting support, education and referrals to other parenting programs such as family therapy or parenting classes,” Sullivan said.

 According to Megan Grove, the outcomes of the collaboration are increased school attendance, improved relationships in family and school, improved life satisfaction and self-esteem, increased parent involvement and parenting skills, improved access and use of resources. The position requires collaboration and regular communication with a diverse number of stakeholders including court personnel, the State’s Attorney and Public Defender’s offices, law enforcement, Department of Children and Families, local schools and a number of community organizations.

Before joining Youth Services, Sullivan had been employed for a year as a Youth Development Specialist at Family Service League in Huntington Station, NY after being a Mentoring Coordinator for two years at Huntington Youth Bureau. Sullivan has a BS degree in Criminal Justice from The City University of New York in Manhattan.

 To find out more about Youth Services youth programs, call Youth Services at (802) 257-0361 or visit www.youthservicesinc.org 

Youth Services 38th Annual Golf Tourney brings sunny skies and $20,000 to support the agency

An enthusiastic turn out by local golfers —103 in all — and strong corporate support, made Youth Services’ 38th Annual Golf Tournament a rousing success, generating over $20,000 to help underwrite the agency’s programs.

The charity tournament at the Brattleboro Country Club, was presented by G.S. Precision and NorthStar on July 26, on an 85-degree warm and humid day, one of the fortunate few this summer so far without rain showers.

The Prentiss Smith team of Bob Cullinane, Jerry Carbone, Prentiss Smith, and Tom Bedell won First Gross, with the 802 Credit Union team of Ethan Grimes, Amanda Rosenbeck, Sean Gammon and Steve Adamswinning First Net.

The Dimension-Cold River Bridge JV team of Joel Petrie, Chad Contaldi, Jim Hollar and Tom Lentocha took Second Gross with team of  Susan Buhlmann, Joel Robinson, Paul Soccoccio and Loren Forrister taking Second Net.

Nanette Stevens won the prize for the Women’s Longest Drive. Susan Buhlmann won the prize for Women’s Closest to the Pin while Cathy Coonan took Women’s Closest to the Line.

In the Men’s Division, Griffin Waryas took the prize for Men’s Longest Drive. Rich Cogliano took Men’s Closest to the Line with Amos Ireland winning Men’s Closest to Pin.

Youth Services’ Executive Director Russell Bradbury-Carlin and former board member Timm Harris ran a Putting Contest, won by Melanie Boese, which raised $243 for the agency.

Brothers Ragnar and Tadhg Trill watch the helicopter being loaded for the golf ball drop from a safe distance at the Brattleboro Country Club.

The Helicopter Golf Ball Drop took place for the 11th year, thanks to the Renaud Bros, Inc. helicopter, piloted by Mike Renaud. (Individuals did not need to be part of the tournament to buy golf balls, priced at $100 each, nor be present at the drop to win.) Nearly all 100 balls were sold this year, according to organizers, who credit Karen Bergstrom of Belle Notte, who singlehanded sold the vast majority of the balls to patrons of the Bella Notte bar.

A bucket of golf balls was dropped from 20 feet on the fairway at the Brattleboro Country Club.  The winners of the $3000 cash prize was Tami Purcell of Berkley & Veller Greenwood Country with ball #29, winning for the second year in a row, only 32 inches from the pin. Second closest was ball #75 purchased by Mark Richards which was 43 inches from the pin. In third place was Jim Woodberry’s ball #77 which was 49 inches from the pin.

Youth Services Corporate Sponsors include Pacesetters The Richards Group;Brattleboro Subaru;Headwater Precision LLC. Presenters for the Golf Tournament are NorthStar and G.S. Precision. Other Presenters in 2023 have been Chroma and Guilford Sound for BRATTROCK. Sustainers are:Auto Mall;Berkley & Veller Greenwood Country Realtors;Brattleboro Savings & Loan;C & S Wholesale Grocers;Law Office of Crispe & Crispe; Edward Jones Investment;Holiday Inn Express;New Chapter;802 Credit Union; Silver Forest of Vermont, Inc; Swiss Precision Turning; Vermont Country Deli and VSECU. Patron Sponsors are: BAYADA; Beadniks; Cersosimo Lumber Co.; Chadwick & Spensley PLLC; Market 32/Golub Foundation; RetroMusic; and Trust Co. of Vermont.  Associate Sponsors are: Cota & Cota, Inc; and SV Deerfield Valley Chamber of Commerce.

All proceeds from the tournament, which annually nets close to $20,000, will help support Youth Services’ programs.  Celebrating its 50th year helping local families thrive, Youth Services promotes the healthy development of nearly 1,500 of our neighbors each year.

For more information or to get involved in Youth Services, call (802) 257-0361 or visit www.youthservicesinc.org

Youth Services Concludes 50th Anniversary Year with Endowment Push

Youth Services, a Windham County nonprofit celebrating 50 years building community, is using the occasion to increase its Endowment to $1.5 million through a fundraising campaign, “Invest in the Future”, according to Ana Saavedra, Board President.

“It’s clear from our early success with this campaign how committed the community is to helping Youth Services in its mission, but we still have work to do. We’re asking donors to make a one-time investment to secure the future impact of this critical organization,” explained Saavedra. “As an added incentive, we have acquired matching funds from the Thomas Thompson Fund and from my colleagues at regional Edward Jones Investments offices — to in essence, double each gift,” she said.

Youth Services today provides 20 critical programs in youth development, restorative justice and clinical services and is a crucial safety net for youth at risk of homelessness, substance abuse, truancy, or involvement with the criminal justice system. Since its founding in 1972, approximately 50,000 community members have been supported to develop resilience, find tools to address life’s challenges and discover their own unique path to a better tomorrow.

Youth Services Executive Director, Russell Bradbury-Carlin said, only half-joking, that he can sleep at night, thanks to the organizations’ Endowment Fund, which helps him fill some of the gaps from annual fundraising and state grants.

“We have some of the most devoted and skilled staff around, and as is true with most nonprofits, staffing is our largest expense,” said Bradbury-Carlin who explained that State funding for youth services and restorative justice programs has been stagnant for several decades while costs have only increased. “We struggle to keep up with the ever-rising cost of health insurance, liability insurance and workers compensation, not to mention offer competitive salaries,” he stated. “So, without the cushion of Youth Services’ Endowment, we’d simply have to cancel critical programs in our community or close our doors,” Bradbury-Carlin said.

Although Youth Services is fortunate to have an Endowment, its executive director stressed that the Endowment’s current level at $1.2 million doesn’t provide enough of a cushion to innovate, finance future capital needs and cover emergencies in addition to attracting and retaining their staff. “If we can grow The Endowment to $1.5 million or beyond, the income we could tap would be more substantial, in the $60,000-$100,000 range annually,” Bradbury-Carlin emphasized.

Honorary Co-Chairs of the 50th Anniversary Endowment Campaign, David Brown and Liz Richards have raised leadership gifts and pledges totaling $200,000 in the past 9 months together with committee members Ana Saavedra, Cathy Coonan and one of Youth Services’ founders, Larry Cassidy. In order to be eligible to be matched, donations or pledges of all sizes must be received before June 30.

Youth Services’ Endowment Fund was started in the ‘90s by board members who had the foresight to invest gifts in the stock market so that the donated funds would grow, permitting the agency to tap the income once the fund got big enough, leaving the principal investment untouched to grow.

Since then, bequests and other planned gifts have been slowing augmenting the fund together with donations in memory of long-time board member Jesse Corum IV and Court Diversion volunteer Tim Cowles or in honor of founder Larry Cassidy. In recent years, the Endowment has been a life-saver for Youth Services, allowing $40,000+ a year of discretionary funds to be used to fill budget gaps or the need for an immediate response to a youth crisis in our community.

To contribute to the Endowment on-line, learn more or make a pledge payable over 3 years, visit youthservicesinc.org/endowment; mail a check to Youth Services, 32 Walnut St. Brattleboro, VT 05301; designate Youth Services as a beneficiary in your will or call 802-257-0361 x147.

Peer-Led Circle of Support and Accountability Piloted

It’s noon on Tuesday and Bill is pouring himself coffee.  In a minute he’ll go out to the Youth Services porch to meet with the other formerly incarcerated community members in the organization’s new Peer-Led Circle of Support and Accountability (Peer-Led COSA).  This new project empowers formerly incarcerated community members with restorative practice tools to support each other to thrive and to adhere to the mantra “no more victims.”

This new pilot builds on the Circle of Support and Accountability (COSA) program, successfully operated for 15 years by Brattleboro Community Justice Center staff and volunteers.  The center became a part of Youth Services in July 2021, bringing an array of restorative justice-oriented programming under one roof.

All members of the Peer-Led COSA have already spent a year working weekly with a circle of three to four volunteers in a Circle of Support and Accountability (COSA), who supported their first year of transition into the community and held them accountable to their own vision of success, their conditions of release, and repairing harm where possible.

The approach in both programs consist mostly of circle practice – structured conversation to build relationships and communication skills. Circle members engage in difficult and intimate conversations. The COSA program is credited with significantly reducing recidivism. It is also a deep dive into restorative practice and a source of joy and rich connection for participants.

According to Marie-Pierre Py, COSA Coordinator, the COSA program had some limitations that the peer-led program seeks to address. “COSA support is limited to approximately one year, a short time to overcome the challenges of emerging from incarceration. Also, most volunteers have very different life experiences from many of our core members,” she explained.  “Participants are grateful for the relationships they build with their COSA teams, but many express the desire to also meet with people who understand firsthand the challenges they face—and now that is possible,” Py emphasized.

Py explained how the new Peer-Led COSA program picks up where COSAs leave off. “A group of five recently graduated COSA core members meet with each other weekly for mutual support and to continue learning and practicing restorative communication skills,” she said.  “The peer-led program celebrates and deepens the collective wisdom of participants and their unique capacity to support each other and future generations of Vermonters emerging from incarceration,” Py stated.

 In its first phase currently, the group is facilitated by long-time COSA volunteer Scott Kaltenbaugh, founder of the If Men Project which facilitates discussions on healthy masculinity, compassion, empowerment and accountability. Kaltenbaugh is teaching the Peer-Led COSA facilitation skills so that the group can operate without him in the future and perhaps start other circles.

The Peer-led COSA currently has funding for one year, thanks to a Vermont Community Foundation Spark grant, but staff are optimistic that the group’s success will help secure funding for another year with a new cohort of COSA graduates.

 With eight staff and more than 80 volunteers, the restorative justice team at Youth Services engages with hundreds of individuals each year to build community and repair harm using restorative practices. The merger with Brattleboro Community Justice Center has allowed Youth Services to strengthen existing programs and imagine new possibilities, like the Peer-Led COSA supporting Bill and his cohort of formerly incarcerated community members.

BRATTROCK Festival 2022 v 2.0 a Rousing Success

The youth rock festival, BRATTROCK, was back Friday, November 18 for the second time this year at Stone Church with a dynamic line-up of five youth bands, on the heels of a well-attended BRATTROCK last June. The 30 minute in-person performances, presented by sponsor Guilford Sound, showcased bands Big Destiny, Color Killer, Ezra Holloway, Granite Danes, and Under the Overpass from 7 to 10:30 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. All ages were welcome and cost was $10-$20 on a sliding scale.

The Western MA-based band Big Destiny calls itself “a collective comprised of like-minded teenagers who tend towards eclecticism, drawing from an array of influences from funk, modern dance, pop, punk, and much more.” Band members are Iggy Passigila (band leader and saxophone) Nina Forman (lead vocals), Arlo Kline (drums) Winter Williams (keyboards), Julian Lindop (guitar) Maya Williams-Russell (bass), and Nick Daniele (bass).

Color Killer is a pop punk band that was formed in 2017 in Marlborough, MA and quickly gained popularity when a practice video of their song, Down With Winter received over one million views on Facebook in less than two weeks. The band consists of Lincoln Zinzola (lead guitar/vocals, Nate Dalbec (bass/vocals), Matt Hiltz (drums) and Dylan Huther (rhythm/guitar). In 2018, Color Killer became the youngest band ever to perform on the Vans Warped Tour (Lincoln was just 8 years old). They have traveled to CA to headline a festival at the legendary Gilman Street, opening for the Mighty Mighty Bosststones, The Queers, Big D and the Kids Table and many other bands.

Ezra Holloway

A local band, Ezra Holloway from Saxtons River, VT has been performing live since 2016. Holloway formed The Man-Made Tragedies in 2018 for which he was the lead singer, bass player, rhythm guitarist and principal songwriter. Described as a magnetic, energetic and “an over the top” front man, Holloway always keeps the crowds jumping. Supporting Holloway is Donny Sweeney (bass) from Hancock, NH and Lucas Majer (drums) of Brattleboro, VT.

Then an aspiring bass player and singer with self-described “delusions of grandeur” Reece Leddy (guitar/lead vocals) claims he started Granite Danes in the Portsmouth, NH Musical and Arts Center parking lot. The Portsmouth-based band consist of Declan Nuchow-Hartzell (drums), a Brooklyn transplant, Ian Hawkins (guitar/vocals), “a band kid that can’t go 10 minutes without making a joke” and Rocky Capone (guitar).

Granite Danes

A 4-member post punk band promoted as “born and raised in a basement,” is Under the Overpass. With influences from So Cal Punk and Hardcore they melded their tastes into unique music. Mano Moore (guitar) and Lucas Majer (drums) quickly found Sock Plumb (bass) and Sophie Clough (vocals) to form a band. They said the band lives by the motto, “Anything can be a song lyric if you’re funky enough!”

BRATTROCK raises funds for Youth Services with a mission of providing places for youth to gather and a venue for musically-minded youth from Vermont and the surrounding region to connect, learn, perform, inspire, and be inspired. Stone Church is at 210 Main St. in Brattleboro, VT.

Youth Services Corporate Sponsors for 2022 include Pacesetters Brattleboro Subaru, The Richards Group and Headwater Precision, Presenters: Guilford Sound, Chroma, NorthStar, GS Precision. Sustainers: Berkley & Veller Greenwood Country Realtors; Brattleboro Savings & Loan; DMI Paving; Law Office of Crispe & Crispe; Edward Jones Investment; Holiday Inn Express; H & R Block/Targett Ledgers Inc.; New Chapter; 802 Credit Union; Silver Forest of Vermont, Inc; Swiss Precision Turning; Vermont Country Deli and VSECU. Patron Sponsors are RetroMusic; Beadniks; Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC; Market 32 Golub Foundation; Stevens & Associates; and Trust Co. of Vermont.  Associate Sponsors are: Cota & Cota, Inc; Phillips, Shriver, Dunn & Carroll; Shoe Tree and WW Building Supply.

For more information email info@brattrock.com or visit Brattrock.com.

Youth Services Welcomes New Therapist, Lucy Webb

Youth Services is building their capacity to support the community with the addition of clinician Lucy Webb. This hire expands Youth Services’ ability to offer counseling to more youth, adults and families throughout Windham County.

Therapist Lucy Webb

In recent years, the demand for mental health services and substance use treatment has increased nationally and locally. The effects of the pandemic have continued to add additional stressors, according to Youth Services’ Clinical Director, Heather Smith. 

“We are so excited to have Lucy join the agency. Having a skilled clinician join our counseling team will allow us to meet more of the therapeutic needs in the communities we serve. Additionally, Lucy will be a tremendous asset to Youth Services clients and direct service staff,” Smith said. 

In addition to collaborating with internal and external partners, Webb is meeting with individuals and families seeking assessments for short- or long-term substance use or mental health treatment to set goals and work together on achieving them. Webb is available to have in-person or tele-health sessions. She says she is especially excited about joining the organization for the breadth and depth of the work done by Youth Services.

Relationships have been the intervention since Youth Services was founded 50 years ago, according to Smith. The counseling program she directs continues Youth Services’ long-standing commitment to youth, adults and families by offering psychotherapy services, especially during transitional periods that are often marked by challenging milestones. “With Youth Services’ support, they don’t have to move through it alone,” Smith said emphatically.

Webb has a varied background as an educator, camp director, journalist and marketing professional, but she most recently comes to Youth Services from the Center for Human Development, where she was senior clinician at CHD’s outpatient behavioral health clinic in Orange, Massachusetts.

Possessing a Master of Arts degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Antioch University New England, Webb is working towards receiving her license as a marriage and family therapist in Vermont. 

For more information on Youth Services clinical programs or to support these efforts with a donation, visit youthservicesinc.org or call (802) 257-0361. 

Youth Services Expands Access and Innovative Approaches at Summer Camp

Friends for Change, an after-school program in Bellows Falls operated by Youth Services in partnership with Greater Falls Connections, expanded its summer camp piloted last year, engaging on average, 30 youth per week between the end of June and mid-August.

It was seven weeks of play-based, restorative, trauma-informed, no-cost day camp for youth ages 11-20. Using Compass School campus as a base, the thirty young people were able to try new things ranging from kayaking to community reciprocity and restorative practices. According to Friends for Change founder and co-director Hailee Galandak-Cochran, the campers focused on how they could give back to outdoor spaces in the community, such as cleaning up trash at Cold River, where they swam regularly during the hot weather.

Galandak-Cochran explained that all youth were welcome but programming was specifically created with individuals who have experienced trauma associated with poverty, discrimination, experiences with foster care or family instability.

A range of activities were offered including many field trips to lakes, rivers and hiking spots in the region along with team-building games and art.

“Like its after-school counterpart, the summer-time Friends For Change program is designed for and by youth who have stories of resilience,” described Galandak-Cochran. “Friends for Change is about providing the scaffolding and opportunities to build skills to create real systems change,” she said.

Now celebrating its 50th year building community, Youth Services prides itself on supporting innovation and being a catalyst for change, according to its Executive Director, Russell Bradbury-Carlin.

Supportive adults help the youth lead community-building restorative circles, affectionately called “deep circles” (because of the nature of the discussions), a hallmark of the group which was evident in the interactions during camp.

“Healing of trauma occurs through peer support, as youth learn self-compassion, empathy, and the power of their stories,” stated Galandak-Cochran.

As one youth observed, “Friends For Change is about accepting people.  We can show up however we are without being judged.”

At camp, the young people practice conflict-resolution and peer-support skills.  Meghan Licciardi, the other co-director of Friends for Change, described how, as a result of activities like deep circles, the youth became more connected to their peers and positive adults in the community.

Unloading at the swimming hole.

“Participants report an increase in confidence, leadership, a sense of belonging, community involvement, and less substance use,” reflected Licciardi.

A collaboration with Greater Falls Connections, Youth Services’ summer camp received federal funding secured by Senator Bernie Sanders through the Afterschool & Summer Expanding Access Grant program, administered by Vermont AfterSchool, a statewide nonprofit. The Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center and the Vermont Children’s Trust Fund all help make this year’s program possible.

An increased sense of belonging was reported.

In addition to covering activities, travel costs and entrance fees, Friends For Change was able to have four full-time adult staff and a part-time youth camp chef to help run Youth Services’ program.

As the grant stated, the goal of the funding is to reduce gaps in Vermont’s current summer and afterschool system by addressing affordability, availability, promoting sustainability and piloting innovative approaches.

While summer camp has now come to an end, the youth and the adult staff are already looking forward to trying new innovations at their after-school Friends for Change which will restart in early September in the Greater Bellows Falls area.

For more information, email info@youthservicesinc.org or call Friends for Change at (802) 689-9663.

Ana Saavedra Elected President of Youth Services Board During 50th Anniversary

Ana Saavedra, financial advisor at Edward Jones Investments, recently assumed the role of President of the Youth Services Board of Directors, taking the reins from Cathy Coonan whose two-year term ended in July.  Saavedra has been on the agency’s Board of Directors for the past 15 years in a number of leadership positions.

During her tenure on the Youth Services board, Saavedra has held the position of Vice President and has served on the Executive and Gala committees. She has chaired the Development, Endowment and Planned Giving committees for a decade or more. 

Ana Saavedra

Since last spring, Saavedra has been an integral part of the Youth Services 50th Anniversary Endowment Campaign with a goal of raising $250,000 for the Endowment from area donors in 2022.  Thanks to her example, all area Edward Jones financial advisors have personally donated money to create a $13,000 fund to match Youth Services’ Endowment donations from area business owners, members of civic organizations and individuals.

Rick Holloway of Saxtons River, VT, the Facilities Manager at Chroma Technology in Bellows Falls, assumed the role of Vice-President of Youth Services’ Board.

A financial advisor for Edward Jones for 18 years, Saavedra came to Brattleboro in 2004 to open its second office in town. All told, there are now 5 Edward Jones offices throughout the region, according to Saavedra, each appealing to a different constituency. In 2019 and 2020, Saavedra was honored as being of the top 10% of women financial advisors in the firm nationwide. Since coming to town, Saavedra is also an active member of the Brattleboro Rotary Club.

Russell Bradbury-Carlin, Youth Services’ executive director reported that Saavedra has been an outstanding board member and will make an equally wonderful board president. He described Saavedra as very articulate and knowledgeable about the many ways charitable donations can achieve tax and estate benefits while assisting nonprofits like Youth Services.

“Ana’s enthusiasm for our mission and her fearlessness and frankness talking about money —something few of us are so comfortable with — have made her a formidable asset to our fundraising efforts all these years,” he said. “Ana has a knack for distilling the essence of our agency to the public — and is articulate about why donating to Youth Services is an excellent investment!” he stressed.

 “I’m looking forward to continuing the legacy of strong leadership at Youth Services, helping other board members become more comfortable with fundraising and supporting the critical work that the agency does for the young people, adults and families in our community,” Saavedra said.

Youth Services was founded fifty years ago to help young people and families in Windham County thrive. Since then Youth Services have helped countless numbers of young people discover their own path to adulthood and provided support for families while they developed the tools they need to address loss, trauma, substance abuse and economic hardships.

According to Executive Director, Bradbury-Carlin, Youth Services programs are always evolving with the changing needs of the community. “Our staff take pride in experimenting with new approaches and our local fundraising and corporate sponsorship program allow us to respond quicker to the changing landscape than if we were a state human services agency “We fill the holes in the safety net in our county, rather than duplicate services,” he explained.

Over the 50 years Youth Services has built community, its programs have targeted runaway and homeless youth; youth transitioning out of foster care; mentors through Big Brothers Big Sisters; substance abuse prevention counselors embedded in all Windham County high schools; individual and family counseling; young mom’s support groups; intensive family-based services for those in danger of losing their children to state custody; clinical services; and restorative justice programs such as court diversion, as well as efforts to improve school attendance and reduce youth involvement in the justice system.

Some of the innovations of the last five years include Demo Graphix, a youth-led screen-printing business; Friends For Change, a summer camp and after-school program in Bellows Falls; Work Today, an on-demand employment service for people living in difficult circumstances, and a merger with the Brattleboro Community Justice Center, expanded the range of programs offered and clients served. Despite the wide variety of programming, building relationships are at the core of everything Youth Services does.

To learn how you can get involved, contact info@youthservicesinc.org or call (802) 257-0361.