What’s Up Idaho Youth Ranch
April 2019
A Word from Scott, Idaho Youth Ranch CEO
“At the end of the day people won’t remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.” -Maya Angelou Some of you may remember that I used that same quote at the beginning of my first What’s Up article. I was only a few days into this position, and I thanked the many who had already made me feel welcome. Now I get to extend that thanks to everyone, as over the past three months I have visited each of the incredible locations of our mission, including all the thrift stores, the counseling and program sites, Hays, the Hands of Promise Campus, and our distribution centers. What a whirlwind tour it has been trying to meet you all and learn about your work! So, what do you think I remember? As I wrote above, it has been a whirlwind, and I don’t remember too much of what was said or done at each of those visits. But, as Maya Angelou’s quote says, I certainly can tell you how you made me feel: inspired and humbled. You all are amazing. I heard so many stories of how our staff treat one another, take care of our shoppers, stay focused on the youth that we are impacting, and develop relationship with our volunteers and donors. I shed many tears, as IYR teammates shared passionately about why they came to work here and how it has changed their lives. I watched a young man receive beautiful words of support and encouragement as he prepared to return home after being in our programs for almost a year. I heard volunteers
A Word From Scott share how much they appreciate being able to help the programs while filling their need for community. And I saw TONS of creativity and passion, as staff behind-the-scenes and on the front lines make our work fun and impactful. I am so inspired by you all. I also learned a great deal about the youth of our state and the serious needs they have. The impacts of childhood trauma are tremendous, and I ah humbled to be a part of this team at the forefront of tackling those. Thank you for all that you are doing to change our world, and thank you for allowing me to be a part of your world. I am so honored to have this opportunity. We will have a great celebration on May 9th, as we open the Hands of Promise Equine Arena. I will, once again, be inspired by the incredible work that has gone into making that happen and humbled to be able to speak on behalf of this great organization. Please know that, whether you are at the ceremony or not, your spirit and the inspiration you have provided me will surely be there. Scott p.s. On one of my store tours, I made my first store purchase as an IYR employee, and it’s now on the bookshelf in my office. Seems appropriate, doesn’t it?
Programs Adoptions Success Story
By Donna Euler, Program Supervisor Tara adopted an infant through IYR in 2007. At the time, her son Matthew’s birth parents were farm illegal immigrants who did not speak English and chose adoption as a way to ensure he would have a secure future. The birth family and adoptive family remained in contact for some time but eventually lost contact with one another. Tara recently contacted IYR because Matthew who is now 12 years of age is concerned about the welfare and whereabouts of his birth parents. It remains to be seen whether or not we will be able to locate Matthew’s birth parents and if, given the current political climate, they will be trusting enough to correspond with an agency representative, but Tara is appreciative of the work we are doing on her behalf to gain updated information about Matthew’s birth family.
Marketing and Events IYR Takes the Blue Thumb Challenge!
By Whitney Springston, Director of Marketing What’s Up in Marketing and Events! Well, a lot actually. I want to take a moment and look backward at an incredible April. As you are aware, April was Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month. More than most causes, the prevention of child abuse is in the awareness of it. It is possible to abuse a child and think you are just parenting. The more people learn to recognize the signs of child abuse and the results, the more we can all be a voice to stop this terrible crime. Child abuse is often physical abuse, sexual abuse, or physical neglect, but emotional abuse and neglect have both been recognized by the CDC as being as damaging or more damaging than physical abuse. By participating in the blue thumb challenge, you are inviting people to have a conversation about child abuse so that you can become an advocate! April was also Horse Expo month. The teams from Marketing, Social Enterprise, Admin, and Programs spent a weekend engaging the public (and selling over $8000 in really cool stuff) in Idaho Youth Ranch’s mission to help Idaho’s kids. There was a lot of excitement and engagement about the new arena, volunteer opportunities, and support for kids. We also released our Spring Profile newsletter in April introducing Scott to the community. You can check out a digital version at www.youthranch/ profiles. Knowing the signs: • Fear and anxiety are common behaviors from kids who are abused. For example, a child who seems afraid to go home or those who worry about letting down a parent or seem afraid to disobey. • Aggression is also a common behavior for kids suffering abuse or neglect. It is for this reason that boys who experience abuse are twice as likely to abuse their partners and children as an adult. • Sudden changes in school performance are a strong indicator at the onset of child abuse. • Particularly in girls, eating habits and sudden weight loss are signs of abuse as well. Female child abuse victims are likely to develop eating disorders in their teens. • Visible, frequent bruising is a strong indicator, especially around the ears, neck, and torso areas. These are areas that are not as likely to sustain an injury during regular child play or sports. • Trouble walking or sitting is a tragic determinant of child abuse. If you suspect child abuse, please reach out immediately to the Department of Health and Welfare. This is not about being polite. These children do not have a voice and need your protection. 1-855-5437.
Marketing and Events
Moving on to May! On May 2, the Marketing team and Savannah Swisher and Brianna Woosley from Programs were out with our favorite co-worker, Bear the Therapy Dog. A few highlights – • We raised over $8,000 from 101 people! • We earned 15 new donors! • We engaged two alumni who have directly benefited from Hays House. • We talked to lots of partner organizations who were excited to learn that we have resources. • Talked to several people who had a child they are concerned about and who wanted to learn more! It was a great day!
The Arena Grand Opening is finally here!
The Grand Opening of the Equestrian Center at Hands of Promise is a big deal for a lot of reasons. It marks the completion of the first structure on the new campus. It gives us the opportunity to offer Equine Therapy – a unique, experiential therapy that helps kids and families overcome traumatic experiences. We are also sharing our new facility with Ride For Joy who does therapeutic riding for kids with special needs and wounded veterans. More to come in next month’s What’s Up!
May 15th is Boise’s 5th annual Wine Women & Shoes event. WWS is Boise’s
premier event. Under the leadership of Stacey Moody, Director of Cooperate Sponsorships and Events, this year there will be more than 550 women in attendance raising money and sharing the mission of Idaho Youth Ranch. Meanwhile, Coeur ‘d Alene is gearing up for their 6th annual WWS in July. They were recently voted the best event in the Northwest! Awesome Job to Amy and the team.
Programs Treasure Valley Youth & Family Services
By Jennifer Guzman, Clinical Program Manager March was a record breaking month for TVYFS! We are so excited to announce that we completed 24 new client intakes this month for individual, family and group counseling services. Also in March, Lovena Magalsky, began her second round of the Adolescent DBT Group- Be Here Now. She is working fervently to teach life-long and useful skills to the youth signed up. The Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths Assessment (CANS) is a newly State mandated assessment that a therapist can utilize to assess the strengths and needs of the client and family. The TV Team all completed their CANS Certification Training and thankfully all passed! Yay! Adrienne Anderson will be completing her second round of her Girl’s CBT Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy group. She has been completing intakes this month for her FULL group! Whoot! Whoot
Treasure Valley Success Story
Tom and his family were referred to Idaho Youth Ranch for family therapy services. The family was interested in trying a non-traditional therapeutic approach and opted to participate in Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy. Tom and his family shared with their therapist that the family is struggling to be a cohesive family unit. The family identified that they struggle in communicating well. They stated that they would often talk over one another and had a difficult time respecting boundaries. The family was hoping to gain some effective ways to communicate to reduce arguments and tension within the home. Tom and his family are currently participating in Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy. The family has reported that since their initiation of services they have seen a shift in their dynamics. They are applying learned communication skills and home that is helping them to listen and validate one another. They are also recognizing the each person in the family communicates differently and this is helping them to not take a “one-size� fits all approach. The family acknowledges they still have work to do before they reach their end goal. But, the great thing is that they have vocalized their hope and excitement because the skills they have learned are already helping them to be a more connected and supportive family.
Programs ANCHOR HOUSE REACHES THE COMMUNITY
By Amanda Smith, Equine Program Supervisor The Clinical Team attended a two day CANS Training together in anticipation of the Medicaid roll-out in July. Clinical Team members attended a Suicide Prevention and Awareness Training with coworkers in Boise. Interviews were conducted to fill the position of Equine Specialist Relief Staff. The candidates were strong, skilled, and experienced and we are moving forward in the hiring process with one of them! We hope to excitedly welcome her officially to our team next month. An Anchor House therapist presented at the “Kids in Grief Awareness Day” at the Hospice of North Idaho event. The presentation was on how EAGALA (Equine Therapy) is beneficial and effective with clients who are experiencing complications with their grief and loss. Detective J. Wilhelm from the City of Coeur d’ Alene Police Department gave a presentation to the staff of Anchor House regarding human trafficking, illegal substances, sexual assault procedures, and other topics relevant to our field that are currently effecting our community and the clients we serve.
Success Story: Anchor House
CC came to Anchor House after successfully finishing Inpatient Substance Abuse Treatment. He is now sober but needing to address the underlying mental health issues that contributed to his use in the first place. Specifically he wanted to work on social anxiety, depression, and family issues. CC had one relapse on marijuana but immediately worked his Relapse Plan with his counselor. He recently gained employment and is working in the food industry. Family conflict has reduced significantly and mom has said “It’s like night and day.” He physically works out regularly at the gym and his grandpa accompanies him. He has been writing music. He has set a goal to finish high school (one credit left) and then he wants to go to college! CC’s self esteem has improved. His physical health and appearance has improved. His motivation to remain sober and achieve his goals has improved.
Programs YOUTHWORKS 2019 Kicks Off!
By Brianna Woolsey, Next Steps Program Manager
We kicked off March by opening up the application for YOUTHWORKS! summer job training. We are very excited about the opportunity to work with 24 young people this year in teaching them the foundations to hard work and success! We have sent out 33 applications! Application deadline is May 23rd. YW! summer job training will start June 15th. Our outreach efforts have stretched to Payette and Ontario as we are hoping to have a couple trainees join us from that end of the Treasure Valley. With the help of our new grant of $26,292 we are hoping to be able reach more youth through all YW! efforts this year.
The Alumni Association coordinated a college tour at Boise State University. Clients and an alum attended and were able to meet a former Hays House resident who is currently attending BSU. She presented about all the resources and support available to them if they decide to attend college. Participants also ran into a former resident who is currently attending BSU. Participants were then able to eat dinner in the BSU café with students during the “Mardi Gras” theme dinner. We coordinate these tours not only to teach youth about college opportunities but to also present opportunities where they can see themselves in that environment.
“What if everyone keeps telling you ‘no.’ I feel like all I hear from people is ‘no’ when I ask for a job or help finding a job” - Participant of Job Search Workshop
Accounting What’s Going On in Accounting
By Kim Thomas, Chief Financial Officer
• We’re in the final stages of the budget completion with a due date to the Audit & Finance Committee of April 25. • The 401K and interim audit are scheduled for the week of May 6. • The annual financial audit is scheduled for the week of July 22.
“I never thought my mom and I would have a close relationship. Now we are connecting, bonding, she is understanding me, and she’s supporting me. I’m so happy to have her in my life again!” -DBT Client
Thrift Social Enterprise Updates By Rich Cline, Senior Director of Social Enterprise
March was a great month for Social Enterprise! The weather broke to springtime temperatures and our donors fed us with some great merchandise! Here are some of the highlights: • Same store sales in March ended up at 12% over prior year which is another OUTSTANDING JOB by the entire thrift retail and distribution team!! .. Sales were strong across all categories, but especially: ◊ Ruby’s vintage item displays at 5 Mile, Fairview and Main Street were up 65% over LY ◊ All of our new products, including Q Line were up 220% over LY ◊ All clothing was up almost 10% over LY. • We had 2 big events during the month: .. The Treefort festival ran in Boise from 3/203/24. Our Main St team along with help from eCommerce and our thrift management team put together a fabulous display of musical instruments, cool clothing and furniture. Main St ended up doing over $26,000 in sales over 6 days and was +40% over last year’s event! Great job everyone! .. Bethany and her Ontario team, along with help from eCommerce, Boise distribution and the thrift management team put on a great effort to display unique items for their annual Comicon event in Ontario. The sales from this event helped Ontario to crush their March budget! Yahoo Ontario!!
Thrift • Michelle Sams, Dennis Miller (Idaho Falls), Nathan Bell and Ben Avoux (N.ID Distribution) and her teams in N. Idaho are going after sales by expanding their hardline footage: .. Sarah and her team at CDA pulled down all of their hardline shelving and replaced it with taller units with more shelves. They increased their hardline linear footage by 330 feet. Looks great you guys and we will love the extra sales! .. Tiffany and her team at Post Falls wanted to get into the game as well and they added 288 linear feet of hardline shelving to their sales floor! With all the donations that they are getting, it will be great to have more room to stock it!! • Michelle Sams also went out to Rupert to work with Lois and her team and they added 192 more linear feet of hardline shelving….All to drive more sales in our successful little store!
North Idaho Wine Women & Shoes CDA Wins BIG!
By Amy Evans, North Idaho Regional Director One of our local publications - The Inlander - has an annual “Best Of ” issue — a poll that allows their readers to name their picks for the finest food, art, culture and shopping in the Spokane/Coeur d’Alene area. This is a must read in Spokane and CDA and all businesses, organizations, etc. fight hard to even get their names on the ballot! We were even more honored since we were not aware we were nominated.
Thrift Round Up donations contributed over $26,229 to helping Idaho’s most vulnerable kids in April of 2019! STORES ABOVE 50% ROUND UPS ONTARIO
72.11%
POST FALLS
70.68%
LEWISTON ST
60.48%
CDA 59.79% EAGLE STORE
58.14%
ORCHARD ST
57.51%
JEROME
57.36%
MIDDLETON
57.22%
FIVE MILE
56.87%
RUPERT 55.51% CALDWELL
53.78%
BROADWAY
53.24%
MAIN ST
53.07%
FAIRVIEW 2
52.59%
IDAHO FALLS
51.73%
MOUNTAIN HOME 51.11% MERIDIAN
50.73%
TOP ALEJANDRO RODRIGUEZ Lewiston 77.78% VAL WERLY Post Falls Outlet 76.19% EMILY RUSSELL Ontario 75.96% KATHY WILK Coeur d’Alene 74.42% DYLAN SMITH Ontario 72.79% KIMBERLY NELSON Mountain Home 72.19% COURTNIE JOHNSON Five Mile 70.97% SARAH ATOR Coeur d’Alene 70.15% BETHANY GZIK Ontario 68.49% BRITTANY TYNER Broadway 67.78%
Human Resources Ten Ways you can STOP Seasonal Allergies
By Peggy Pagan, Risk Management Coordinator 1. Alleviate Your Allergies - See your doctor, take an antihistamine, and avoid the allergen as much as possible (pollen count is the highest between 5 am and 10 am) 2. Overhaul your home – CLEAN allergen gathering spots such as bedding, carpet, damp areas, and air filter. Keep your windows closed in your house to avoid letting pollen in. 3. Get rid of mold – Mold spores can trigger problems. Check for mold beneath sinks, around air conditioning units, under carpet, on kid toys. 4. Adjust your thermostat – homes/environments warmer than 70 degrees and humidity greater than 50% is a breeding ground 5. Eat the right food – Eating the right foods can help alleviate many health problems including seasonal allergies 6. Lose extra pounds – Carrying extra pounds can make it harder to breathe 7. Reduce Stress – Constant stresses can affect your immune system. A weaken immune system increases your chances of an allergic reaction 8. Wash Your Hair – Pollen can get stuck in your hair. Washing your hair before you go to bed is a quick way to stop allergy symptoms 9. Wash Your Bedding – Prevent dust mites and allergens by washing bedding once a week in hot water. 10. Drink These Teas – A cup of peppermint or chamomile tea every night could ease your allergy symptoms. Peppermint can help reduce inflammation and chamomile is known as a natural antihistamine.
WILBURS Note from HR – We received a record number of Wilburs in March. Great job, everyone, in recognizing each other for the great things we do! I only wish we could include every single one in the What’s Up. Celebrate & Share Our Victories! To: Tony Romancik, John Kashindi, Yvonne Darrow, Martha Puras, Aaron Banks, Ramadhan Kabango, Dina Radcliff, From: Jim Stanhouse – Help with shoes or wherever needed, great team players! To: Amy Moe, From: Ryan Peterson – Thanks for all your hard work in getting Meridian fully staffed, Yes! To: Samantha Roberts, From: Amy Evans – You did a wonderful job at the Hospice event. Thank you for taking on a new challenge and representing IYR. Way to go!
Human Resources Watch Out for Hazards/Distractions During Summer Break By Peggy Pagan, Risk Management Coordinator
IYR truck drivers and company car drivers… ‘Heads Up’… There are a lot of hazards and distractions happening during the summer months. Kids and Teens • With summer getting closer, many kids & teens are looking forward to the long summer break ahead. They will be spending time with their family, hanging out with friends and sleeping in as late as possible. However, the summer months are also considered to be the most dangerous for kids. A recent study discovered that car accidents involving teen driers take over 1,000 lives in those 100 days between Memorial Day to the start of the new school year, which is more than 10 deaths each day. • The reasons for this spike are varied. Teens are on the road about 44% more in the summer. There are many distractions, i.e. texting and driving, on the cell phone while driving, and having friends in the vehicle. Construction projects. It is wise to follow these tips… • Avoid known work zones or anticipate the delay and allow extra time • Find an alternate route • Follow the signs and if a lane is being closed, merge before entering the work zone • Expect the unexpected, slow down and increase following distance Motorcycles on the Road. In the last ten years, the number of motorcycles has doubled. Drivers should consider the following when sharing the road with motorcycles • Be Extra Aware – they are difficult to see, can hide in your blind spot and its easy to misjudge a motorcycle’s speed • Look Twice • Follow a motorcycle at a Greater Distance. They can stop quicker than a car. Bicyclist are hard to predict. Like motorcycles a bike can be difficult to see. A bike rider’s intention can be hard to predict if they do not follow traffic rules or use hand signals. To keep bicyclists safe: • Laws give the bike riders the same rights as a vehicle operator • Give bicycles space – respect their rights to use the road • Watch when you are opening your car door AND while making right turns at intersections • Give them 3 feet of clearance when passing • When following a cyclist, give the plenty of space should they change directions or stop. Distracted Pedestrians - More people are out and out later. They may be focused on their cell phones. To ensure the safety of pedestrians, drivers should • Watch for pedestrians at night • Stop for pedestrians in crosswalks and never pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk, a pedestrian could be crossing the road • Look for pedestrians more than once before turning • Watch for pedestrians who might be distracted while walking Out of town visitors - that are unfamiliar with local roads. They may be • Driving overloaded vehicles with obstructed windows • Sleep deprived from longer days
WILBURS, continued... Expect Success & Create Plans to Achieve It To: Brian Stinson, From: Mel Waters – Thanks for being a great instructor on POS. It really helped my first few days! To: Jim Stanhouse, From: Leah Toland – Looking into the best way to have all store inventory on auto-reorder with me. Thank you! To: Michelle Sams, From Sarah Ator – I have had a vision for several years of my hardline department. Thanks to you, that vision is a reality! Excellent planning, logistics, execution. Thank you! To: Megan Miller, From: Jessica Park – For answering all the questions and addressing issues I come to you with almost every day! You’re amazing! Let’s Be Great! To: Kobe Dixon, From Laura Whitley – Handling difficult customer situations with ease and finesse. Great job! To: Elissia Schank, From: Carrie White – Ellie, you produced over 700 items averaging 123 items per hour for over 6 hours on RIMS. Way to rock it! Yes Before No To: Jake Peacock, From Lisa Collins – You did not hesitate when asked to get the icicles off the roof before someone got hurt. To: Joshua Bouman, From: Sarah Spears – Thank you for being willing to train new staff to become Rock Stars like you! We Are They To: Dennis Miller, From: Sarah Ator – You embodied the We Are They Wilber by everything you did to help our store become way prettier, more shoppable, and fuller. Thank you, Dennis, I’m glad we are on the same team! To: Shannon McNamara, From: Samantha Roberts – Thank you for covering some of our CDA’s. It helps us so much to have the extra help. Create Fun & A Little Weirdness To: Jessica Park, From: Amanda Smith – Thanks for decorating the house for St. Patrick’s Day! So festive, fun and Irish! Speak Up & Be Heard To: Dave Kelley, From: Leah Toland – Standing your ground on what process needs you have for eCommerce returns. Great Job!
Culture Network What’s the Culture Network Doing? By Scott Curtis, CEO IYR Teammates: I have been informed that an update on the Culture Network is somewhat overdue. I apologize for that, and my hope is that everyone will read this email and feel fully informed. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. Here’s what I know about the Culture Network: • The Culture Network was formed last fall (2018) with an attempt to include representation from across the organization. • The primary intent of the Culture Network was to look at: 1. Why does IYR do what it does (why do we exist)? 2. What does IYR believe (what are our values)? 3. Where do we want to go with the company (reviewing our vision and how it impacts IYR culture)? • The culture network has had 6 meetings in the last 8 months. • The group has shared in depth about what drives our organization, why we exist, etc. • Culture network members have often sought out information from their teams and brought this to the meetings. • There has been a good deal of work around the mission statement (this was added to the mix after lots of feedback caused the group to take on the mission statement as well) and our values; this is work that takes a good deal of time. What’s the current status and the next steps? 1. The Vision statement has had some revisions. You might have noticed this in the annual report that every employee received, as this included our revised language. It’s attached here in a format that’s ready for you to share with anyone and everyone. The second attachment is primarily for STAFF and shows the goals that are under each of the strategies. These will continue to be adapted. The third attachment (see next page) is for STAFF ONLY and shows you what language was changed. 2. Mission Statement: a subgroup is working on this and will continue to process this through the Culture Network. The draft will be shared with everyone for input, and it will also get reviewed by the Executive
Culture Network, continued... Leadership Team and our Board of Directors for approval. They have gathered dozens of stories from individuals across our organization in an attempt to help shape the words that truly capture who we impact, why we do what we do, and how we do it. That’s a lot to cover in one statement! 3. Values: We are also continuing to work through a list of values that guide our behavior, thereby shaping our culture. These will also be shared with everyone when they are drafted. 4. Wilburs: The team is also looking at how the mission and values coordinate with the Wilburs. More to come on that. Any questions? Just ask!
DEVELOP & GROW A BESTIN-CLASS SYSTEM TO TREAT TRAUMA & BUILD RESILIENCE IN YOUTH
BE EXTRAORDINARY. ATTRACT, DEVELOP & RETAIN EXCEPTIONAL STAFF & SUPPORTERS
EXPAND OUR SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MODEL
PATH TO A PROMISING FUTURE
Our Vision Forward 2018-2021
ADVANCE A TRAUMA CARE MOVEMENT IN IDAHO
2018 ANNUAL AWARD RECIPIENTS Sherri Green Development 2018 - Outstanding Service Delivery Rich Cline & Terri Savage 2018 Outstanding Team Involvement
Daniel Springston Orchard Thrift 2018 Modeling IYR Values
Human Resources Spring Cleaning
By Mel O’Neill, Human Resources Director On April 11th, several IYR employees cleaned two of our records retention areas out. In a matter of hours they eliminated 23,340 lbs of Program, Accounting, Development and HR records. The team included: Susan Akerele, James Jarvis, David McDaniel, Kahn Borge, Rebecca Cole, Megan Miller, Shannon Myers Gentry, Ashton Undesser, Peggy Pegan, Terri Savage, Tara Nejezchleba, Amy Moe, Mel O’Neill-German, Kerry Lewis, Sandy Knowlton and Cameron Hasenbalg. A special huge thanks to Dave Kelley for keeping the teams supplied with empty pallets. Thank you to all that participated in the dirty event!