By Shayne Dotson Adrian was born in prison and his childhood was a nightmare of abuse. He thought his life would never get better, and the only way to end his suffering was to commit suicide. Finally, he came to Youth Villages for help in one of the...
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Nearly homeless at 18, a young woman finds help from a Youth Villages mentor
After more than 30 foster homes, Terrenika ages out of care with support from her Youth Villages mentor and YVLifeSet. By Shayne Dotson Terrenika Maxwell spent most of her life in and out of foster care homes, then she turned 18 and was nearly homeless. Two months...

Steven Tyler and Janie’s Fund distribute radio PSA to bring help to abused girls
Steven Tyler and Janie’s Fund distribute radio PSA to bring help to abused girls MEMPHIS, Tenn. (April 28, 2017) – Steven Tyler is working with media companies across the United States including iHeartMedia radio stations to help abused girls find effective help...
Time in with Dr. Tim: Prince Harry’s example can help children cope with grief
By Tim Goldsmith, Ph.D Britain’s Prince Harry recently shared a revealing fact about grief. During an interview on a national podcast, the 32-year-old royal admitted that, for more than 20 years, he never spoke about the loss of his mother, Princess Diana. The...
Youth Villages Mississippi honors local foster parents at Gala set for April 25
JACKSON, Mississippi – Youth Villages Mississippi will honor two local foster parents at its annual Tribute to Excellence Spring Gala on April 25 from 6:30 to 9 p.m.at the Country Club of Jackson.Paying tribute to community individuals who have made significant...
Intensive program helps former foster youth become successful adults
By Jane Schneider Tarika is busy pondering her future. At age 21, the tall, soft-spoken young woman lives at her cousin’s house in North Memphis, where she tends her two young children. She’s only recently given birth to her second son and is eager to find a place of...
Teachers use a new kind of ABC’s to help students learn problem-solving skills
Youth Villages and Gestalt Community partner in Collaborative Problem Solving project. It’s a scorching summer day in Memphis, but Dr. Stuart Ablon, director of the Think:Kids program at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, is easily holding the attention of...
Parents learn Plan A, B and C to solve their children’s behavior problems
Youth Villages adopts Collaborative Problem Solving in national partnership with Mass General's Think:Kids His mom thought Neko had been smoking marijuana again. Doing drugs was part of a slew of problems that had gotten him sent to a Tennessee youth detention center,...
Transforming the system: Youth Villages employee receives national activist award
Mary Lee uses her experience, legal degree to focus on helping the 23,000 young people who age out of foster care every year without family support. Mary Lee on the Champions of Change in Foster Care panel at the White House in 2015. By Christina Morgan Mary Lee may...
SPEED Round: North Carolina creates leadership course
Top from left to right: Lisa Vuchak, Brittany Williams, Jennifer Deaton, Tiana Sherrod and Diedre Herring. Bottom left to right: Christen Walker and Kelly FreemanNot pictured: Elizabeth Dory and Emma Summers As an organization that prides itself on professionally...