From our ED, Mark . . .

I wanted you to see this video—it’s fun to watch and does a good job explaining the impact you have on our youth.

I’d love to know what you think. Let me know in the comments below.

Thank you for keeping our doors open,

Mark Redmond
Executive Director

The post The Doors You Keep Open appeared first on Spectrum Youth & Family Services.

Here’s a recent letter that our Executive Director, Mark Redmond, wanted to share with you:

Last week I was honored to give the convocation speech at Champlain College.

After talking about my rather nonlinear path to becoming Executive Director at Spectrum, I told the first-year students that day, “You can make an impact on this world, on this planet, in every field of study, no matter what you do. You don’t need to wait… You can do it now. We need you. This city needs you.”

And, as I said these words, I was thinking of all of you—our donors, our many partners, community leaders, mentors, Spectrum staff, board members, former clients—all of you who have come together around the common goal of making sure young people get help when they need it most. All of you who keep our doors open.

You can watch the entire speech by clicking here.

Thank you for giving back to our youth. They need you.

With gratitude,

Mark Redmond
Executive Director

The post “We need you. This city needs you.” appeared first on Spectrum Youth & Family Services.

Mark and Ms. Piper, with a combined 53 years of experience in the field of child protection and youth services, offer broad recommendations to improve the system.

Their letter outlines the excessive burden placed on DCF workers who are “faced with making difficult decisions with limited time and resources.” Mark and Kate then note that response rates from the Vermont DCF are the second-lowest in the country.

“It is imperative that [the DCF] start investigating far more of the calls that citizens make when they suspect a child is being abused or neglected.”

Mark and Kate draw attention to dismal safe reunification rates. Vermont has the sixth-worst record in the nation for the percent of children who re-entered foster care within 12 months of being reunified with their parents.

“The number of calls alleging abuse and neglect has [increased] 24 percent . . . So calls are going up, fewer children are being removed from homes, and the community supports aren’t there.”

They advocate for better investigations and training materials for ethics and risk assessment of these children’s lives, as well as for increased support for relatives of abused and neglected children:

“If we are going to ask relatives to step up and help with abused and neglected children, we have to provide them with much better support.”

Mark and Kate also address the dual-track Differential Response system in Vermont–the intention is that fewer children be removed from their homes, because more community support can be made available. However, they say, that’s not how it plays out.”The number of calls alleging abuse and neglect has [increased] 24 percent . . . So calls are going up, fewer children are being removed from homes, and the community supports aren’t there.”

Read the full editorial here.

The post Mark Redmond on State Child Protection System appeared first on Spectrum Youth & Family Services.

Spectrum’s most recent e-newsletter is now online. Read it here.

A letter from Executive Director Mark Redmond is below:

Dear Friend,

Recently, I was asked by a school superintendent if I remembered Joseph, because he had referred Joseph to Spectrum five years ago for counseling and a place to live when he became homeless. I remembered Joseph as a young man with a lot of difficulties and challenges.

One week later, I saw Joseph on my way to work. He smiled and waved. He said he was waiting for the bus to go to his job, and that he has an apartment nearby. “I’m doing really well,” he told me.

Running into Joseph was so gratifying. His story serves as one more lesson that we never know how the help we offer someone will affect them – this is why we must offer all we possibly can to every single person seeking our help, empowering them to make positive changes in their lives.

Sincerely,

Mark Redmond
Executive Director

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The post Meet Joseph: Independent, Employed, Happy appeared first on Spectrum Youth & Family Services.