Ten years ago, a handful of Youth Villages staff — members of the new Strategic Partnerships department — boarded a flight from Memphis to Seattle to train employees at the Y Social Impact Center to deliver LifeSet, Youth Villages’ evidence-based program model supporting young people transitioning from foster care to adulthood. 

When Lucas was younger, he dreamed of playing in the NFL or NBA. But when he was diagnosed with Becker muscular dystrophy, a rare genetic disorder that causes progressive muscle weakness in the legs, pelvis and heart, those dreams suddenly felt out of reach. As his physical abilities changed, so did his outlook on life. At just 8 years old, Lucas struggled with overwhelming feelings of sadness, isolation and worthlessness.

Erica Robinson, the state director of Youth Villages in Mississippi, spoke with Meredith Biesinger from the Daily Journal about the work Youth Villages is doing in Tupelo and the surrounding areas in Lee County. Erica emphasized how staff...