MARCH 14th – 20th IS NATIONAL SAFE PLACE WEEK
Louisville, KY and Brevard County, FL, March 14, 2010– National Safe Place announces March 14th – 20th, 2010 as National Safe Place Week. This commemorative week highlights the innovative Safe Place program, which brings businesses and volunteers together to provide help and safety to children and teens facing abuse, neglect or serious family problems.
Safe Place is a nationally acclaimed outreach program that makes help readily available to young people in crisis. A network of more than 17,000 partnering businesses and community buildings that appeal to youth – such as fast food restaurants, convenience stores, fire stations, public buses and libraries – are trained to connect youth who might be abused, neglected, thrown away or in immediate danger to their local youth shelter.
Safe Place programs serve nearly 1,500 communities across the country and are managed by 140 youth-serving agencies in 39 states and the District of Columbia. More than 250,000 youth nationally have been counseled by phone or received help through a business or community location displaying the Safe Place sign since the program’s inception in 1983.
This week is designated to recognize the participating businesses, community organizations, youth service agencies and volunteers that are part of the National Safe Place program and work for the safety and well being of at-risk youth. They are commended for their hard work and dedication to support the nation’s youth.
In Brevard County, Crosswinds Youth Services, Inc. coordinates a network of over 100 Safe Place sites, including The Robert E. Lehton Children’s Shelter, Wendy’s, Space Coast Area Transit offices, Ron Jon’s Surf Shop and most local Police and Fire Departments. When a child or youth goes to a Safe Place site seeking help, they are immediately put in touch with Crosswinds staff, who can provide them with needed help through Crosswinds programs or referrals to other sources.
Outstanding Staff Honored by Crosswinds Youth Services
At its annual Staff Awards Luncheon, Crosswinds recognized staff members for their outstanding achievements throughout 2009.
Pierre Bandoo, Shelter Manager, received the Tortoise Award honoring him for his dedication, loyalty, perseverance and commitment to quality. Ken Bishop received the Employee of the Year Award in recognition of his excellent work as a Youth Care Worker. Kristina Talbot, Counselor, received Crosswinds’ Dale Carnegie Award, given to an employee who exemplifies the Dale Carnegie approach to professionalism and positive thinking. The Robert E. Lehton Children’s Shelter was recognized as Crosswinds’ Program of the Year.
Recognized for their years of service to Crosswinds were Pierre Bandoo, Shelter Manager, and Emily Stokes, Administrative Assistant, five (5) years; and John Weimann, Counselor, and Patty Dunbar, Case Manager, fifteen (15) years.
Ilene Giangreco, Administrative Assistant, received special recognition upon her retirement from Crosswinds after eight and a half years of loyal and committed service.
Jennifer Moore, Director of Grants and Research, was honored with the President’s Award for her exceptional talent and commitment to excellence. The Manager of the Year Award was presented to Stephen “Kris” Denny, Program Director, in recognition of his leadership and commitment to excellence. Cocoa High School student Saadia Bendagha received the Volunteer of the Year Award for her dedicated assistance with the Great Brevard Duck Race and other Crosswinds projects. Also recognized with a Special Achievement Award for Excellence were Dave and Holly Fournier.
November Is National Runaway Prevention Month
Cocoa, Florida, November 12, 2009 – November is National Runaway Prevention Month. Each year an estimated 2 million youth run away. Most young people do not run away to gain more freedom but rather are running away from serious problems that they cannot solve, according to the Department of Justice. A 2002 Department of Justice study indicated that 21% of runaway youth had been either physically or sexually abused in their homes within the year prior to their leaving.
Crosswinds Youth Services and National Safe Place are supporting the efforts of the National Runaway Switchboard and the National Network for Youth in the fifth annual national public education campaign to raise awareness of youth runaway issues, and to educate Americans about solutions that help prevent youth from running away.
Crosswinds coordinates 100 Safe Place sites throughout Brevard county. Youth can enter any one of these participating businesses or community centers to get immediate help from Crosswinds, including safe shelter if needed.
Now Crosswinds joins a national initiative to provide youth with another way to access help. Crosswinds is part of the National Safe Place “Txt 4 Help” program, a 24-hour text-for-support service for youth in crisis. Youth can text the word SAFE and their current location to the number 69866, and they will receive an address for the closest Safe Place site and a contact number for the local youth shelter.
Crosswinds Youth Services, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in Cocoa, Florida,supports youth and families through the Robert E. Lehton Children’s Shelter, counseling services, delinquency prevention and intervention services, assessment and referral to other services as needed.
For more information about Crosswinds and the Safe Place program, please call 321-452-0800.
Eckerd Family Foundation Awards Grant
to Begin Civil Citation Program in BrevardCounty
~ Supports New Alternative to Arrest Program for Youth ~
The Eckerd Family Foundation has announced a grant to begin a new program that will provide an alternative to arrest for Brevard County youth with non-serious offenses. The $174,946 grant provides first-year support for Civil Citation of Brevard County. Civil Citation is an alternative to arrest for children and youth under 18 who commit certain misdemeanor offenses. The program offers law enforcement the option of issuing the youth a civil citation in lieu of arrest. Civil Citation holds all youth accountable for their actions, and, when needed, directs them and their families to immediate services to keep them on track. Civil Citation is an initiative of the Brevard County Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC), located in Cocoa.
Civil Citation of Brevard County was developed by the JAC Advisory Board, which includes all Brevard County police chiefs and representatives from the Office of the State Attorney, Public Defender’s Office, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, School District Public Safety Office, Brevard County, and Crosswinds Youth Services, and with the agreement of the Chief Judge of Circuit 18.
The program will begin as a pilot in the city of Titusville in early October and then be expanded countywide in early 2010.
“We are pleased to support the leadership in BrevardCounty who have chosen to address these very important issues. The Civil Citation option will achieve better outcomes for youth and their families, contribute to overall public safety and do so in a cost-effective and measurable way,” said Joe Clark, President of the Eckerd Family Foundation.
For more information on Civil Citation of Brevard County, contact Jan Lokay at Crosswinds Youth Services, (321) 452-0800, ext. 208.
Pictured in photo below are, center: Chief Judge Preston Silvernail of the 18th Judicial Circuit at the signing of the Resolution authorizing a Civil Citation program in Brevard County; right: Juvenile Court Judge Morgan Laur Reinman; left: Cathy Lake, Chief Probation Officer for the Department of Juvenile Justice in the 18th Judicial Circuit.
Crosswinds Recognizes Staff Members
At its September staff meeting, Crosswinds Youth Services gave special recognition to several staff members.
Thais Kleinhans received the Outstanding Employee Award for her excellent work as a counselor for the Juvenile Assessment Center.
Rita Dickerson, Case Manager with the Transitional Living Program, was presented with the Tortoise Award for her perseverance and high quality work.
Mustapha Husain, Youth Care Worker in the Robert E. Lehton Children’s Shelter, received the Dale Carnegie Award for his professionalism and positive attitude.
Also recognized with Certificates of Appreciation were James Helmick, for his outstanding and dedicated work in telling the Crosswinds story for the 2009 United Way Campaign video; and Brandon Stevens, AmeriCorps Volunteer, for his volunteer time, commitment and tremendous talent in producing a video for Crosswinds.
Crosswinds Youth Services, Inc. is a non-profit organization with its campus in Cocoa. It provides a variety of services for youth and families in crisis throughout Brevard County. For more information about Crosswinds and its programs call 321-452-0800 or visit the website at www.crosswindsyouthservices.org.
Pictured in photo above, left to right: James Helmick, Rita Dickerson, Mustapha Husain, Thais Kleinhans, Brandon Stevens.
The Butterfly House Built by The Home Depot
Cocoa, FL – Youth, staff and visitors to Crosswinds Youth Services will soon be enjoying the sight of lovely flowers and butterflies in the Butterfly House built by Home Depot. Materials for the project were provided by a $500 grant from The Home Depot Foundation. Team Depot volunteers from The Home Depot store on Merritt Island designed the structure to fit the purpose and location, then spent a hot summer day constructing it next to the Robert E. Lehton Children’s Shelter on the campus of Crosswinds Youth Services in Cocoa.
The Butterfly House is a cedar frame covered by screening to keep the butterflies in and the other critters out. Crosswinds youth also participated in the building project. Next they will be planting a garden inside the structure which will include plants to appeal to specific kinds of butterflies. Once it is stocked with butterflies the youth will continue to care for the butterfly garden, use it for educational projects, and enjoy its beauty and tranquility. “Our staff is excited about the many fun learning activities that our children and youth can do with this unique gift created by the combined generosity of The Home Depot Foundation and the local Team Depot volunteers,” said Jan Lokay, President and CEO.
Crosswinds Youth Services, Inc., is a non-profit organization providing a variety of services for youth and families in crisis throughout Brevard County. For more information about Crosswinds and its programs call 321-452-0800 or visit the website at www.crosswindsyouthservices.org.
About The Home Depot Foundation
The Home Depot Foundation was created in 2002 to further the community building goals of The Home Depot. The Home Depot Foundation is dedicated to building affordable homes for working families that are healthy to live in and affordable to own. To make homes healthy and affordable, the Foundation encourages developers to incorporate responsible design and use durable and quality materials to ensure that homes are more energy and water efficient, have good indoor air quality, and provide a safe and healthy space to live. Since its formation, The Home Depot
Foundation has granted $120 million to nonprofit organizations and supported the
development of more than 65,000 affordable, healthy homes. For more information, visit
www.homedepotfoundation.org.
Crosswinds Receives Grant to Reduce Human Trafficking
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the award of over $2 million in grants to state and local organizations to identify and help victims of human trafficking. “Crosswinds Youth Services is proud to have been chosen as one of these organizations,” states Jan Lokay, President/CEO.
The funds are part of the Rescue & Restore Victims of Human Trafficking Regional Program, whose purpose is to enhance anti-trafficking efforts in the U.S. by building regional capacity for the identification and service of victims. The grantees are responsible for maintaining an anti-human trafficking coalition in their region, conducting public awareness activities and providing training and technical assistance on human trafficking issues to local organizations.
“Human trafficking is an outrage that society cannot tolerate,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families, Curtis L. Coy. “The funds we award today will boost our ongoing efforts to find these often-hidden victims and get them the services they need to rebuild their lives.”
The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 designated HHS as the agency responsible for helping victims of human trafficking become eligible for federally funded benefits and services. As part of this effort, HHS initiated the Rescue & Restor Victims of Human Trafficking campaign, a multi-faceted effort to address this issue. Form more information about the federal program please visit the U.S. Department of Health & Human services website at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking/index.html
Through a sub-grant from the Southeastern Network of Youth and Family Services, Crosswinds will assist in the Rescue and Restore program locally by reaching out to identify and work with victims and potential victims of human trafficking. Crosswinds Youth Services, Inc. is a non-profit organization with its campus in Cocoa. It provides a variety of services for youth and families in crisis throughout Brevard County. For more information about Crosswinds and its programs call 321-452-0800.
Crosswinds Youth OrisiRisi Spectacular
Saturday, May 30th, 2009
The young people from Crosswinds Youth Services are proud to present the Crosswinds Youth OrisiRisi Spectacular at Lori Wilson Park in Cocoa Beach on Saturday, May 30th, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. This profound cultural experience will be educational and fun for the whole family. The public is invited and the event is free.
Entertainment during the afternoon will include African folklore, dance and drumming. Through an artist-in-residence grant from the Brevard Cultural Alliance, OrisiRisi African Folklore, a performing arts company formed by Don Harrell and his Nigerian born wife Tutu with the expressed purpose of sharing the beauty and poignancy of African life and culture, has taught the youth of Crosswinds how to play the drums, then added words and dance moves to go with the rhythms, creating an exciting African musical theater production which they will perform on Saturday.
Orisirisi (pronounced O-re-she-re-she), is a Yoruba term meaning "different things." OrisiRisi has received critical acclaim far and wide for its unique, African-rooted, educational and entertaining presentations.
FAST TRACK GED Training Prepares Young Adults for Success
(May 13, 2009) Nine young adults recently completed an intensive 12 day training to prepare for the General Educational Development Test (GED). Passing the GED Test gives adults the opportunity to obtain the equivalent of a high school diploma outside of the traditional high school setting.
The FAST TRACK GED training, developed and taught by Education Solutions International, was offered through the collaboration of Community Based Care of Brevard, Connected by 25 Brevard, and Crosswinds Youth Services. The students aged 18 to 23 were offered this training as part of an initiative to assist those who age out of foster care to make a successful transition to independent living.
Most of the students had not been in school for some period of time and had not had successful educational experiences prior to this course. They showed great determination and focus and made great progress during this intensive period of time.
Jan Lokay, President/CEO of Crosswinds, and Dr. Patricia Nellius-Guthrie, Chief Executive Officer of Community Based Care of Brevard, presented the students with certificates and incentive awards at an inspiring graduation ceremony upon completion of the course.
Students receiving certificates upon completion of Fast Track GED
Top left to right: Tonia Ocansey, Michael Moreno, Tiffani Hernandez
Bottom left to right: Tanesha Atwood, Amanda Howard, Deanna Guinyard
Crosswinds' Street Outreach Targets Runaway, Homeless and At-Risk Youth
(February 16, 2009) In January Crosswinds launched a new Street OutreachProgram to target the needs of runaway, homeless and at-risk youth by providing services on the streets of Brevard County. Reaching out to runaway and homeless youth has been a significant part of Crosswinds’ history, as it was founded in 1974 in response to a tragedy in Brevard County in which several runaway teens were murdered.
The goal of Street Outreach is to move youth out of street life into stable housing and connect them with community resources and services which provide them with opportunities to succeed in life. Crosswinds’ Outreach Team is on the streets four or more nights a week, connecting with youth where they are, building rapport and trust and providing immediate assistance. They talk to youth about shelter options and hand out snacks, clothes and hygiene packs. Youth can receive these services without questions. They are also given information and referrals for other needed services, including medical clinics, food banks, GED assistance, and job training programs.
The national average for teens that are homeless before receiving stable housing and services is nearly seven months. The longer a youth stays on the streets, the harder it is for him or her to exit street life permanently. It is important to make a connection with youth in their first 90 days on the streets. That is why Crosswinds’ Outreach Team is on the streets seeking them out. After immediate needs are met and trust develops, long-term solutions to leaving street life are addressed.
The Program Coordinator for Street Outreach is Raylene Coe, a former public defender for youth in Brevard County. For more information on the program, contact Crosswinds at 321-452-0800.
Crosswinds staff members are available to make presentations to community groups, to talk with youth and families in need of services, and to lead youth focus groups on a variety of topics. Crosswinds Youth Services, Inc. is a nonprofit organization which has been providing services to at-risk youth and their families in BrevardCounty for 35 years. For more information call 452-0800.
Crosswinds' Outreach Team members (left to right) Shundell Lang and Raylene Coe
prepare to hit the streets.
© 2012 Crosswinds Youth Services, All Rights Reserved
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