Proceeds

Proceeds of the Ultimate 10K Benefit the Youth Villages   (Donations to date: $87,000)

Youth Villages’ range of programs is designed to best treat the issues children and adolescents face, including depression, developmental disabilities, emotional and behavioral problems, attention deficit disorder, unruly or delinquent behavior and physical and sexual abuse.

Youth Villages accepts referrals from psychiatrists, parents, judges and social workers and works in partnership with the child welfare departments in the states we serve.

To achieve our mission of helping children and families live successfully, Youth Villages provides Multisystemic Therapy (MST), an innovative treatment approach treating emotionally troubled children and their families in their own homes and communities. Teaching children and families the skills they need to deal with their individual problems and situations has proven to be one of the few effective treatment approaches in randomized, long-term clinical tests.

As the nation’s largest provider of MST, Youth Villages annually serves more than 3,000 children and families at 33 locations.

Over the years, Youth Villages has emerged as a leader among mental health care providers. In both 2001 and 2002, the American Youth Policy Forum’s annual report to Congress cited Youth Villages as a national model. The Coalition for Juvenile Justice also recognized Youth Villages as a leader in children’s mental health in 2001 and encouraged other states to replicate Youth Villages’ approach.

Youth Villages was formed in 1986 when Dogwood Village and Memphis Boys Town, two residential centers in Shelby County, Tenn., merged. The Joint Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations accredited Youth Villages and its programs the same year.

In the following years, Youth Villages expanded, opening facilities in Middle Tennessee and developing new programs and services to meet the needs of children and families.

By 1995 Youth Villages was serving annually more than 1,000 children and had become a fully integrated Continuum of Care. By 2000, Youth Villages topped 2,000 children served annually. As Youth Villages kept growing, opening offices throughout five southern states and expanding the range of services offered, Youth Villages became a leader in mental healthcare service.

Tennessee honored Youth Villages with the Tennessee Quality Achievement Award in 1995.

In 1996, Youth Villages received the Greater Memphis Award for Quality and The United Way of America honored Youth Villages with the Silver Excellence in Service Quality Award. Youth Villages was the first agency nationwide to receive this award.

Youth Villages’ 33 locations are in 23 cities across Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama and Texas.

Locations throughout Tennessee include Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Clarksville, Cookeville, Columbia, Dickson, Morristown, Dyersburg, Jackson, Johnson City, Paris and Linden.

Mississippi offices include Jackson, Tupelo and Hattiesburg.

Arkansas locations are in Little Rock and Jonesboro.

Alabama offices are in Huntsville and Anniston.

Youth Villages also has an office in Dallas, Texas.

As a private nonprofit organization, Youth Villages’ success depends on effective, caring staff and generous donations from individuals, corporations and foundations. The Ultimate 10K is a crucial fundraising initiative. You can help support Youth Villages’ efforts to help children and families live successfully by participating in, volunteering for or making a donation to The Ultimate 10K. Either way your help is greatly appreciated by the children and families of Youth Villages. For more information, visit our Web site at www.youthvillages.org.