Instead of day dreaming about dances and cheering for the
football team, high school student Michelle struggled to deal
with mental health challenges that were tearing her family apart.
She was unable to effectively communicate with her mother and
Michelle’s dangerous behavior had caused her to be placed in a
residential facility.
Michelle worked with Stanford Youth Solutions to help her control
her negative behavior through individual and family therapy.
“I have a future, thanks to Stanford Youth Solutions,“ says
LaDauwn. LaDauwn is a recent graduate from our wraparound
program. “Growing up in Oak Park, having a mother using drugs, no
contact with my father, my life was not easy. I’ve been abused,
neglected and believed I had no future, and I didn’t care. I’ve
been told I’m nothing and I believed it. I began using drugs,
fighting and ended up bouncing from juvenile hall to group homes
with no real connection to my family, friends, or school.
When Sarah was born, her mother tested positive for narcotics and
as a newborn Sarah was often left alone in an apartment without
heating or food. At one year old, she was placed into foster care
and a year later, she was told she would be adopted by another
family. Sarah became nervous at the thought of moving again and
began exhibiting signs of aggression. She didn’t know how to
express her feelings appropriately so she began acting out
negatively.
It wasn’t until 16 year-old AJ ran away from his Stockton group
home did he find his way back to permanent family. Knowing he had
an adult sister in Sacramento, AJ walked alongside the freeway
alone and in search of a better life.
His troubled past included abondonment from his mother, and the
loss of his father to a terminal coma. There was no one to care
for him.
When Brian came to Stanford Youth Solutions, it was his chance to
get out of long-term, institutional care and re-establish
connections with his loving family. Brian was born with
developmental disabilities, coupled with mental and behavioral
health challenges, which led him to an early introduction to the
child welfare system. Having been removed from his home at a
young age, his parents’ hearts were broken. They simply could not
handle his challenges on their own.
Brieanna never knew she would need something as ordinary as a
kitchen appliance. “I had no idea what I would even need to start
out on my own… like I would never even think of needing a
toaster.”
While living in a group home, Brieanna didn’t spend time
wondering what she might have to have in order to live
independently. She was just trying to struggle through everyday
life. After getting in touch with Stanford Youth Solutions,
Brieanna was able to reconnect with an aunt and uncle who allowed
her to live with them while she gained the skills that eventually
helped her to live on her own.
Ashlee escaped a life of instability, neglect, and abuse. Today,
she exudes confidence and wisdom beyond her 20 years.
At age 16, her mother abandoned her. She did not know her father.
Ashlee had no place to go and no family to care for her.
The rest of Ashlee’s story would not be possible without the
generosity of Stanford Youth Solutions supporters. Through
Stanford Youth Solutions’s Family Finding services, Ashlee
rediscovered her father, who invited her to live with him in
Phoenix, Arizona.
10-year old Robert was already on his sixth foster home when he
came to Stanford Youth Solutions. Following regular threats to
hurt himself, Robert was always moved to a new foster home—but
“Mrs. Robertson” was different.
Though a first-time foster parent, Mrs. Robertson refused to give
up on Robert, even when he ended up in the Minor Emergency
Response Team unit of the Sacramento County Mental Health
Treatment Center for threatening to harm himself.
16-year old Myeisha was referred to Stanford Youth
Solutions from the Minor Emergency Response Team (MERT) unit
of the Sacramento County Mental Health Treatment Center after
being admitted against her will for being out of control and
threatening her mother with a knife.
She lived with her parents and five siblings where there was a
history of trauma and domestic violence in the home, which
Myeisha had witnessed as a young child. She had been sexually
assaulted and suffered from seizures, nightmares, hallucinations
and flashbacks.
Stanford Youth Solutions is a highly professional, disciplined,
and evidence-based organization that achieves a higher success
rate with its clients than other, similar organizations.
We are intensely determined and do whatever it takes to create
success for youth – we never give up.
Stanford Youth Solutions provides private donors, funders, foster
parents, and volunteers the best guarantee that they will see
positive returns on their investment of money and time.
Stanford Home for Children has changed its name to
Stanford Youth Solutions. The new name more
clearly reflects the mission to inspire sustainable change for
young people and their families and empower them to solve serious
challenges together. Watch the Comcast Newsmakers interview with
Stanford Youth Solution’s Associate Executive Director Kären
Woodruff by clicking on the video above.
At only 14 years old, teen mom Makila is working hard to provide
for her 2-month old son. She has shown considerable determination
to reunify with her own mother and achieve her goals of
completing her education. Please consider giving a gift that will
help create stability for her and her baby.
Stanford Youth Solutions
To better reflect our mission and those we serve, Stanford Home for Children is now Stanford Youth Solutions!
Michelle
“Stanford Youth Solutions listens to you when you think no one else will and they are there when you reach out,” says 18 year-old Michelle.
Instead of day dreaming about dances and cheering for the football team, high school student Michelle struggled to deal with mental health challenges that were tearing her family apart. She was unable to effectively communicate with her mother and Michelle’s dangerous behavior had caused her to be placed in a residential facility.
Michelle worked with Stanford Youth Solutions to help her control her negative behavior through individual and family therapy.
LaDauwn’s Story
“I have a future, thanks to Stanford Youth Solutions"
“I have a future, thanks to Stanford Youth Solutions,“ says LaDauwn. LaDauwn is a recent graduate from our wraparound program. “Growing up in Oak Park, having a mother using drugs, no contact with my father, my life was not easy. I’ve been abused, neglected and believed I had no future, and I didn’t care. I’ve been told I’m nothing and I believed it. I began using drugs, fighting and ended up bouncing from juvenile hall to group homes with no real connection to my family, friends, or school.
Sarah
“I didn’t know how to say what I felt,” 8 year-old Sarah says. “I was alone, but now I have my family.”
When Sarah was born, her mother tested positive for narcotics and as a newborn Sarah was often left alone in an apartment without heating or food. At one year old, she was placed into foster care and a year later, she was told she would be adopted by another family. Sarah became nervous at the thought of moving again and began exhibiting signs of aggression. She didn’t know how to express her feelings appropriately so she began acting out negatively.
Stanford Youth Solutions
To better reflect our mission and those we serve, Stanford Home for Children is now Stanford Youth Solutions!
AJ
"Stanford Youth Solutions helped me find just what I was looking for – family."
It wasn’t until 16 year-old AJ ran away from his Stockton group home did he find his way back to permanent family. Knowing he had an adult sister in Sacramento, AJ walked alongside the freeway alone and in search of a better life.
His troubled past included abondonment from his mother, and the loss of his father to a terminal coma. There was no one to care for him.
Brian
"We are so grateful we had someone in our corner. We never lacked for support with Stanford Youth Solutions, ever,“ Brian’s mother, Cathy, said.
When Brian came to Stanford Youth Solutions, it was his chance to get out of long-term, institutional care and re-establish connections with his loving family. Brian was born with developmental disabilities, coupled with mental and behavioral health challenges, which led him to an early introduction to the child welfare system. Having been removed from his home at a young age, his parents’ hearts were broken. They simply could not handle his challenges on their own.
Brieanna
“Stanford Youth Solutions really helps. They anticipate things you don’t even know you need!”
Brieanna never knew she would need something as ordinary as a kitchen appliance. “I had no idea what I would even need to start out on my own… like I would never even think of needing a toaster.”
While living in a group home, Brieanna didn’t spend time wondering what she might have to have in order to live independently. She was just trying to struggle through everyday life. After getting in touch with Stanford Youth Solutions, Brieanna was able to reconnect with an aunt and uncle who allowed her to live with them while she gained the skills that eventually helped her to live on her own.
Stanford Youth Solutions
To better reflect our mission and those we serve, Stanford Home for Children is now Stanford Youth Solutions!
Ashlee
“Without Stanford Youth Solutions, I’d probably be in jail right now, or worse. But they stepped in and helped me change everything."
Ashlee escaped a life of instability, neglect, and abuse. Today, she exudes confidence and wisdom beyond her 20 years.
At age 16, her mother abandoned her. She did not know her father. Ashlee had no place to go and no family to care for her.
The rest of Ashlee’s story would not be possible without the generosity of Stanford Youth Solutions supporters. Through Stanford Youth Solutions’s Family Finding services, Ashlee rediscovered her father, who invited her to live with him in Phoenix, Arizona.
Robert
Following regular threats to hurt himself, Robert was always moved to a new foster home — but “Mrs. Robertson” was different.
10-year old Robert was already on his sixth foster home when he came to Stanford Youth Solutions. Following regular threats to hurt himself, Robert was always moved to a new foster home—but “Mrs. Robertson” was different.
Though a first-time foster parent, Mrs. Robertson refused to give up on Robert, even when he ended up in the Minor Emergency Response Team unit of the Sacramento County Mental Health Treatment Center for threatening to harm himself.
Mrs.
Myeisha
"Our family saw immediate benefits from working together and became aware of how we all played an important role in Myeisha's success", says Sonya, Myeisha's mom.
16-year old Myeisha was referred to Stanford Youth Solutions from the Minor Emergency Response Team (MERT) unit of the Sacramento County Mental Health Treatment Center after being admitted against her will for being out of control and threatening her mother with a knife.
She lived with her parents and five siblings where there was a history of trauma and domestic violence in the home, which Myeisha had witnessed as a young child. She had been sexually assaulted and suffered from seizures, nightmares, hallucinations and flashbacks.