In The News
It is our further good fortune that Marilyn Engelman, Chair of the Special Needs Committee and member of the Saving Teens Board of Directors, had arranged for John to speak during the Special Needs session on Friday afternoon. John began by thanking the IECA and Executive Director Mark Sklarow for generously allowing Saving Teens to participate in the Conference. He talked about the mission of Saving Teens, about its Board of Directors and Board of Advisors, and about how we define success. “Success is a family brought back together and a child living a drug free, functional, and most importantly happy and fulfilling life”, John said. He then explained that Saving Teen’s greatest opportunity to raise more funds and save more families is by connecting with families who have utilized IECA and NATSAP services, through the generous scholarships many programs have offered our families, and through grants, including one from the US Department of Justice.
John then outlined the make-up and nature of our recently formed Educational Consultants Outreach committee, including Leslie Goldberg, Tamara Ancona, Marilyn Engelman, and Lon Woodbury, and talked about the results we have already experienced, which include scholarship agreements from therapeutic schools programs, as well as targeted fundraising initiatives. He invited consultants to learn more about this volunteer committee by meeting him after the session finished. If you would like more information please contact Ann Tomassini, Director of Operations and Development at atomassini@savingteens.org .
Max and John appreciated the opportunity during an information swap, to meet and reconnect with program directors and educational consultants, and returned home enthused by the interest they generated around Saving Teens. As an outcome of this, John believes, “we are positioned to expand the Educational Consultants Outreach committee, and I feel strongly that many of the consultants at the conference will be joining the committee soon.”
About NATSAP
“We are delighted to announce this partnership,” said Cliff Brownstein, Executive Director of NATSAP. “Our organization has been looking to work together with another nonprofit for some time, specifically to help less fortunate families. STICC’s 501(c)(3) designation allows them to accept charitable contributions as a foundation, whereas we cannot, so this partnership provides a perfect solution.”
In Crisis Collaborative (STICC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2004 to assist families of teens struggling with substance abuse and other emotional issues. The partnership will help families who could not otherwise afford services for their troubled teens get the help they so desperately need.
In Crisis Collaborative (STICC) was founded to help families of troubled teens struggling with substance abuse and other emotional issues gain access to services they could not otherwise afford. The Saving Teens methodology is unique in that it provides a long-term holistic approach which incorporates all of the professional disciplines – medical professionals, educational consultants, wilderness programs, boarding schools, and rehabilitation centers – to evaluate, place, and fund a child into an appropriate program. By leveraging the expertise and generosity of dedicated professionals, caring institutions, other charities, and altruistic individuals, STICC guides children and their families towards a brighter future. For more information, visit www.savingteens.org.-- Click Here To View John's Training Updates and Fundraising Status --
Folks;
Jeremy's Run has donated $10,000 to Saving Teens In Crisis Collaborative! An enormous THANK YOU to everyone who made this possible!
Jeremy's Run, held annually in memory of Jeremy Glass, is a 5k walk/run and a 1 mile fun run to raise awareness on the dangers of substance abuse. This year, the run was to benefit Saving Teens In Crisis Collaborative and the Partnership for a Drug Free America.
For race results, photos and more information, please visit www.jeremysrun.com.
Saving Teens
In Crisis Collaborative is very pleased to announce that we are expanding in order to serve even more families. STICC has recently merged with the Alldredge Family Foundation (AFF), a charitable organization also dedicated to supporting struggling teens and their families.
The unique mission of Saving Teens In Crisis Collaborative is to bring a teen and family through an individualized long-term plan for recovery, from the point of crisis, through 18-24 months of evaluation, intervention and education, to a promising future. Alldredge Family Foundation was founded to provide support for families whose teen had already completed a therapeutic residential program. Their program evolved into a focus on “after care” services, including scholarship awards for families who might not otherwise be able to afford the professional counseling that is often so critical during the transition and adjustment back to family and school life. Nearly 70 families have received financial support under AFF’s aftercare scholarship program since 2005.
The Alldredge Family Foundation and its program have now merged with and will operate under the name of Saving Teens In Crisis Collaborative (STICC). To families and our friends in the therapeutic and educational communities, we are now one, and can now offer an expanded level of services to families in need.
STICC will continue to offer funding to teens from the point of crisis all the way through graduation and after care, but will additionally be able to assist families whose teens have already graduated from a program, so that they can make a successful transition home and stay on the path toward a healthy adulthood.
Saving Teens In Crisis Collaborative (STICC) is very pleased to welcome Jim Dredge, Paul Lavallee, Les Mann, and Rich McKinless to our Board of Directors. Our newest members of the Board bring a new range of experiences, skills and innovation to our volunteer leadership.
Jim Dredge is the former President and Chief Operating Officer of Aspen Education Group, the largest company in the US delivering education and therapeutic services to struggling teens. Prior to Aspen, Mr. Dredge spent most of his career building and operating education software companies, and served as president and CEO for Academic Systems.
Paul Lavallee is a former software industry entrepreneur and a volunteer Board member of Webster Place Recovery Center, Riverz Edge Arts Project for at risk teens, and the Roger Williams University Gabelli School of Business. He is also a parent whose son as a teenager completed wilderness and emotional growth programs.
Les Mann is a sales and marketing executive and served on the Board of the Alldredge Family Foundation. He is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of Zeta Psi Educational Foundation, and has a young adult son in recovery.
Rich McKinless, CPA, is a partner at the international accounting firm KPMG LLP, and led his firm’s Washington, DC exempt organization practice from 1994-2008. In addition to serving as Board Chairman of the Alldredge Family Foundation, he has served the volunteer boards of Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, the National Kidney Foundation, the Corcoran Gallery, and The Orphan Foundation.
Click here to listen to John Reuben's Radio Interview with Dore Francis of Horizon Family Solutions on the radio show Troubled Teen Help
“Sorry, I’m Afraid We Can’t Help You”
What can educational consultants, schools, and programs do when a parent calls but cannot afford their services or tuition? This interactive session examined the magnitude of the problem and looked at different approaches or solutions that exist.
STICC founder, John Reuben, was joined at the by an educational consultant as well as representatives from wilderness programs and boarding schools on this panel.
John Reuben took on Heartbreak Hill and run the Boston Marathon in honor of Saving Teens In Crisis Collaborative. STICC supporters and their friends came out in force to cheer John on during the race and to rejoice in both the triumph over 26.3 miles of New England real estate, and the simple pleasure of giving back to those less fortunate.
Everyone gathered afterwards at the Westin in Copley Square near the finish line for a Marathon Day Party to celebrate with delicious food, drinks, the beautiful and unique jewelry of One Pearl, and of course, many terrific people. Many thanks to the Boston Westin Copley Hotel for their generous donation of rooms and services that made this event possible
Just 5 months earlier, John ran the November 2005 NY Marathon, though he had only been running for a year or so, and had never run a marathon before. He decided to run that marathon out of a deep-seated passion for struggling teenagers, and the personal experience he has had raising his sons on his own for the last 5 years.
Both sons have had their struggles, and John has been lucky enough to be able to provide them with access to the programs that could help. Their success heightened his desire to assist less fortunate families, and so, in parallel with his own sons’ recovery and the formation of Saving Teens In Crisis Collaborative, John worked hard to fulfill his personal goal of running a full marathon.
Completing the marathon became a metaphor both for what John and his sons have achieved over the last few years, and for what STICC will do for other struggling teens and their families.
STICC Board member Theresa Hines has raised over $23,000 through sales of her unique and beautiful jewelry, and handmade, imported silk products.
One Pearl donates all of its profits to charity, aiming to increase access to educational and behavioral services for people who cannot afford them. Each piece of One Pearl jewelry features the trademark contrasting black or white pearl, symbolizing the life transformed because of a One Pearl purchase. With the holidays approaching, now is the perfect time to give beautiful, original gifts to those you love…and support Saving Teens In Crisis Collaborative!
One Pearl… making giving fashionable
Over 1500 long and short distance runners, walkers and wheelers participated and competed in this fun-filled family road race to benefit Saving Teens In Crisis Collaborative.
The race, a reincarnation of the famed Charles River Run which also took place on the on the beautiful Charles River in Boston, featured an expo, live entertainment, Dragon Boat rides and fun for all. www.newcharlesriverrun.com
Special thanks to Second Nature Wilderness Program for their generous support of our teens:
“Second Nature is proud to offer a 75% scholarship to children that have been approved and funded by Savings Teens for a long-term recovery program. We do so because we value the Saving Teens methodology. This begins with their comprehensive evaluation, which insures that the kids we are providing scholarships for are a good fit for our program. Once they have completed their wilderness component, Saving Teens funds a longer-term therapeutic environment, like a therapeutic boarding school. We think that this commitment to aftercare for our clients gives them a much greater likelihood of eventual success. Saving Teens also recognizes the important role the family plays, and provides funding and emotional support for the parents during the process so they can attend workshops and have someone to talk to. We feel this is another essential component for success. Finally, Saving Teens requires that the parents contribute to the process financially, according to their need, and that they commit for the long-term program of 18-24 months, to strongly discourage their removing their children.
“Overall we feel that Saving Teens has created an excellent model for recovery based on real world experience. This gives us great confidence that the large financial commitment we are making will be rewarded with troubled teens transformed into functional, happy young adults. We hope that we can be an example for other programs and schools by fully participating in this very important initiative.”
To Our Schools and Programs: Be a part of helping teens and their families, and share in that public recognition and prestige through the Saving Teens In Crisis Collaborative network of contributors, providers, referring parties, parents, and the government institutions that support us. Please click here to view our Press Release on StrugglingTeens.com.
Many thanks to Congressman Ed Markey of Massachusetts for his support of Saving Teens
methodology, and the opportunity to apply for our federal grant!
Aspen Education Group has placed a “Saving Teens ~ Donate Now” button on their Alumni Website, and has also made a very generous donation to STICC in the names of 80 individuals as thanks for their participation in an Aspen survey to improve services. STICC thanks everyone Aspen Education Group for their enthusiasm, collaborative spirit and support of the Saving Teens methodology and mission.
Click here to read about the teens we are funding.
Saving Teens In Crisis Collaborative (STICC) is proud to announce the funding of our third teen, a 14-year old from Columbus, Ohio. STICC will provide the teen with an environment where he can deal with his addiction, regain his academic footing, and confront the emotional issues that are so often the root of these problems.
Many thanks to our Collaborative Partners, Tamara Ancona and Denni David, for providing pro bono educational consulting services, and Building Bridges, for providing a generous program scholarship to this child. These services and scholarships, along with a grant from the US Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, have made it possible for STICC to fund this teen.
