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, 2023, presented by GS Precision 802 Credit Union and NorthStar. 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 2023, 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 $150 per individual or $600 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  

Youth Services’ Summer Camps Listing 2024 Available for Viewing/Download

Youth Services has once again created a downloadable spreadsheet of all camps in Windham County as a service to area families.

“Our Summer Camp Listing gives parents and grandparents a listing of all the options in one convenient location,” notes Russell Bradbury-Carlin, Youth Services’ Executive Director. “We’ve been doing this for years as a service to local families.”

Dates, age range, cost and scholarship availability are listed as well as contact information.  Organization who provided information for this listing include Beaver Brook Children’s School, Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center; Brattleboro Music School; Brattleboro Recreation & Parks Dept.; The Collaborative; Kroka Expeditions; Giant Journey Farm; In-Sight Photography Project; Meeting Waters YMCA; Miss Martha’s Creative ELP; New England Youth Theatre; New England Center for Circus Arts; The Putney School; River Gallery School of Art; Road’s End Farm Theatre Adventure; VT Fish & Wildlife Department; Vermont Wilderness School and more!

Youth Services’ Summer Resource Calendar is available now on-line. The directory is sponsored by Youth Services Pacesetters: The Richards Group, Brattleboro Subaru, and Headwater Precision. For more information, call Youth Services at (802) 257-0361 or visit youthservicesinc.org/publications, where you can access or download the listing.

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.

New Program at Youth Services Offers Community Conflict Support for All Ages

Have a conflict with a neighbor? Looking for restorative practices training for your group or business? Youth Services is pleased to announce a new restorative practices program, Circle Up, to provide community conflict support through circle facilitation and training in restorative practices, starting in September.

In 2021, the Brattleboro Community Justice Center merged with Youth Services’ Restorative Justice programs. “Over the years we frequently received requests for these kinds of services, but haven’t had enough staff to respond to most of them,” explained Mel Motel, formerly the  Brattleboro Community Justice Center Executive Director and now co-director of Youth Services’ Restorative Justice programs.

“We’re excited to finally be able to offer this new program, with a seasoned staff member taking on the role, at a time when community members are still navigating the stresses and tensions heightened by the pandemic with fewer resources,” Motel explained.

Rachael Trill

Rachael Trill is moving into the role of Circle Up Program Coordinator, having spent the last several years as Youth Services’ Pretrial Services and Tamarack Coordinator in which she assisted justice-system involved adults to address underlying mental health and/or substance use concerns related to their charge. 

According to Trill, circles are an established, restorative practice where parties experiencing conflict are invited to come together with the help of a trained facilitator to listen to all affected parties, share about their own experience and collaborate on steps that can be taken to repair and prevent harm.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to launch this very valuable service in Windham County,” said Trill. “I see a lot of conflict, but insufficient support to help people work together towards a resolution. This can lead people to feeling stuck, or even worse off than when a problem started,” she stated.

“Learning and practicing restorative approaches to conflict can even help people solve conflicts on their own, whether it’s having a productive conversation with a neighbor you’re having trouble with, improving a difficult relationship with a coworker, or helping your kids work out conflicts at home,” explained Trill.

According to Trill, the new conflict facilitation services she will deliver will offer an opportunity for people in conflict to talk together with the assistance of an impartial third party with the goal of crafting an agreement that will help solve their conflict.

Youth Services will be offering group training in restorative practices and related topics for agencies and groups seeking to expand conflict resolution approaches throughout their business or agency. Monthly community trainings, open to any community member, will be offered at no cost from September through December of 2023. Introduction to Skillful Communication and Restorative Practices 101 are some of the trainings slated for the fall, dates to be determined.

If you have an individual or group conflict you would like help addressing in a restorative manner or wish to have your group trained, please contact Rachael Trill at rachael.trill@youthservicesinc.org or call (802) 416-1374.

NonProfit Executive Bethaney LaClair Joins Youth Services Board

Bethaney LaClair, a non-profit executive and strategist, recently joined 11 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.

Bethaney LaClair joins board

Since 2022, LaClair has served as Executive Director at the Southern Vermont Deerfield Valley Chamber of Commerce, increasing tourism and economic development in 10 Southern Vermont towns through marketing and community partnerships. The previous six years, LaClair worked as a consultant, where she helped a variety of nonprofits thrive including a 5-month stint as the Interim Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Brattleboro. There she made recommendations to improve overall operations and programming during a critical leadership transition.

Prior to setting out on her own consulting business, LaClair was employed by World Learning for 13 years, splitting her time between its Brattleboro and Washington, DC operations. In her last two years, she was Vice President for Internal Affairs, focusing on internal operations (IT, HR, Finance) and external engagement within the New England region. Additionally, LaClair was the main liaison with World Learning’s Board of Directors and developed donor solicitation strategies for major gift prospects. Earlier she had titles of Chief of Staff and Corporate Secretary and she managed the president’s office staff and schedule as well as developing strategies to improve organization culture.

The Guilford resident looks forward to helping Youth Services prepare for new challenges ahead as she helps with its strategic planning and fundraising and strengthening its operations. “I’m really excited to contribute to the Youth Services board and give back to the community where my family and I have made our home,” LaClair explained.

 “Bethaney will obviously be a tremendous asset for our agency,” stated Youth Services board president, Ana Saavedra.  “She 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.

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.

New Director of Youth Programs Hired at Youth Services

Megan Grove is the new Director of Youth Programs at Youth Services which has offices in Brattleboro and Bellows Falls, Vermont. This position provides department oversight regarding an array of programs that relate to supporting youth and young adults in Windham County beyond Youth Services’ clinical and restorative justice offerings.

Megan Grove

Grove supervises staff responsible for services related to therapeutic case management; youth experiencing homelessness, couch surfing, in shelter housing, or transitional living; and youth transitioning from foster care. In addition, Grove’s team implements life skills and health education and a youth-led business.

Grove will also maintain ongoing communications with community partners and collaborative partnerships with local schools, Department of Children & Families, and other community entities to accomplish the goals of Youth Services programs.

According to Grove, “Working with Youth Services will allow me to integrate my passion for and commitment to social justice and trauma-informed support in ways that positively impact my community. I look forward to using my skills at crisis management, problem solving, and mediating conflict,” Grove stated. “I expect that working with Youth Services will bring me closer to living out my core values,” she explained.

According to Youth Services’ Executive Director, Russell Bradbury-Carlin, Grove is an experienced program manager and conflict transformation practitioner with strong communication and leadership skills. “We are looking forward to Megan helping us continue to adapt and grow to the ever-changing needs of the community,” stated Bradbury-Carlin.

For the past two and a half years Grove managed an Office on Violence Against Women Campus Grant at Keene State College, coordinating program teams, facilitating in-person and virtual workshops and managing grant progress for its federal funder. Previously she was employed by Marlboro College as Coordinator for Campus Prevention, Intervention & Advocacy.

Grove has a Master’s degree in Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation from SIT Graduate Institute. She has served as a Reparative Justice Panel volunteer and as Board Chair and Vice Chair of the Brattleboro Community Justice Center and played a supportive role in the merger which took place between the justice center and Youth Services two years ago.

Grove and her partner Chris have lived in the Brattleboro, VT area since 2015.

For more information about Youth Services, a nonprofit agency celebrating its 50th Anniversary of building community in Windham County, visit www.youthservicesinc.org on-line or email info@youthservicesinc.org.