Dear Friends,

Let’s start with an image of a big, deep hole. Where did it come from and how did our YOOP participant end up in it? Did they dig it and then fall in? Did they stumble in by mistake when looking the other way? Did they get a big push from someone who turned out not to be a friend?

No matter how hard they try they can’t get out on their own. Our Youth Opportunity (YOOP) participants are brave and resilient! They have decided to change the trajectory of their life! YOU help build the ladder rung by rung that lets them climb out!

From Hoodlum to Responsible Adult (Katt’s Story)

I joined YOOP when I was a junior in high school. By that time, I had already attended 4-5 other high schools. I have a learning disability on top of ADHD, so I struggled with school my entire life, plus the moving around put me behind. I am not going to say that I had a horrible childhood because it definitely could have been worse. But I did struggle with a lot. I didn’t like authority figures that thought they could tell me what to do or thought they had any control over me. I was very aggressive and angry, having a lot of behavioral issues that made it difficult for me to make and keep friends. I developed horrible anxiety, borderline personality disorder, depression, and a few other mental illnesses that made schooling and everything else a lot harder. I had gone through a lot of horrible, scary, and traumatic things before I joined YOOP. I had very large walls up and put on a front that I was “scary and intimidating” so that no one would mess with me.

I had a very close friend who joined YOOP. They always talked about how great the program was, and how YOOP really goes out of their way to help you. I was 11 credits behind as a Junior and felt disappointed in myself, and very defeated, so I took the step and talked my mom into me joining YOOP.

The staff at YOOP treated me like family and showed me they really truly cared about me graduating and succeeding in life. I did not make things easy for YOOP, but they never gave up on me, ever. They took me in as a very, VERY damaged, untrusting, angry, and hopeless teenager, and turned me into an adult with an AMAZING work ethic, money management skills, and so much more hope for myself and my future. The staff, and even my peers in YOOP, believed in me and supported me the entire time. They saw something in me that I didn’t! It made me determined to be the best me I can be!

During my time at YOOP, they helped me get my GED, driver’s license, clothing, gas for my car, rent and/or bills money, food handlers card, legal name change, shelter, food, hygiene products, and so much more. They taught me things that public school did not. Financial literacy (an ENTIRE class!!), communication skills, problem-solving skills, resume, job interviews, LOTS of amazing work experience, and SO many more important life skills. They did all of this and also motivated and supported me to get my GED. If you are having any sort of issue and you bring it to YOOP’s attention, I promise you they will go above and beyond to either help you get your needs met or give you every single resource and piece of information you need to do it yourself. YOOP is NOT just for graduating, this program will help prepare you for this world. I can honestly say that I would NOT be where I am right now at 23 years old without YOOP. I’m a supervisor at a job! YOOP was one of my best decisions!

Holiday Blessings to you!  

Charlie Rice

Executive Director

Dear Friends,

You are part of the story of each and every young person and family receiving services at Chehalem Youth and Family Services (CYFS). Here at CYFS we are serving 70 youth per month in our Youth Opportunity Program (YOOP) and 609 hours of safe visitation between children and their noncustodial parents this year. Your year-end support makes happy endings possible for this young person and all the families we serve!

Finding Belonging in a Very Scary World

At age 17 and a high school dropout, Nethan decided that he wanted to change his life. This brought him to the Chehalem Youth and Family Services’ Youth Opportunity Program.

Nethan enrolled in YOOP, he quickly passed two GED tests. His last two tests got derailed when he became homeless to escape the verbal and emotional abuse from his stepdad who was abusing drugs, Nethan, and his mother. After a YOOP staff encountered him sleeping on the front porch of our building, they had a long heart-to-heart conversation, talking about his tough choices and not giving up on his goals. Another YOOP staff kept in touch with him regularly as well, letting him know that we were there cheering for him on each step of his journey. While homeless, he adopted a stray dog, taking care of him even when he had so little himself. Unfortunately, in a low moment, he turned to pills and it was a wake-up call to realize he was a drug addict just like his stepdad! He went back home in the winter only to have things worse than ever with his toxic stepdad. His stepdad was determined to have him leave even to the point of poisoning his dog. Throughout, YOOP was there for him, helping him with essentials like a tent and blankets, laundry, a driver’s license, our job skills training, and an internship and work clothes. Because of this support, he was able to continue to take steps forward toward his future.

One day he received a phone call from his sister inviting him to come to Port Angeles, WA, and celebrate the Fourth of July with family. He enjoyed being around family and they wanted him to move up there. This was the first time he felt wanted by someone other than his mother. He finally had a safe environment and stable living where he didn’t have to look over his shoulder. He stopped using drugs and started to look for employment.

YOOP staff maintained contact with Nethan. He went through several jobs and worked only a few months at each before getting fired. This left Nethan feeling like nothing was going his way. Eventually, during one of the contacts with YOOP staff, he said that he was ready to try to finish his GED and wondered if he could do that in Washington. Charlie worked with him long distance and helped him enroll at Peninsula Community College in Port Angeles in a GED prep class and finish his GED six months after moving to Washington. He also completed two terms of college before going to work for a truss company. This was when he discovered he wanted to work in the construction industry.

Another move took him to Malaga, WA to live with another family member. He moved in, started attending church, found a job in construction, and has worked there for over a year. Nethan is finding solid ground to stand on and step forward into his future!

When asked what he would say if he was to tell someone about YOOP he answered, “YOOP treats you like a person not like a number. They care and won’t give up on you.” A common thread through Nethan’s experience was finding belonging with people (and even a dog) who cared during some of his roughest moments. Nethan wisely said, “No matter what you’re going through you can always change as long as you put in the effort.”

You, our friends and partners, make the difference for these young people’s success through the YOOP program and happy, healthy, and safe parent-child relationships through our Chehalem Parenting Connection program.

With sincere appreciation,

Charlie Rice

Executive Director

Image by denamorado on Freepik