6 Days of Impact

We want to start by introducing you to Jenna*, a 16 year old young woman who has faced more hardship than most people experience in a lifetime. Growing up with abuse, neglect, and instability left Jenna carrying deep anger, sadness, and fear. Those feelings often showed up as emotional outbursts and aggression, making it hard for her to feel safe, understood, or in control. 

With the support of Youth Homes and her Therapeutic Behavioral Specialist - and through an incredible amount of her own courage and effort - Jenna slowly began to heal. She learned to recognize what was happening inside her body and mind when she felt overwhelmed, and she practiced new ways to cope with big emotions. Over time, Jenna replaced aggression with healthier outlets like boxing, cooking, and art, and began taking accountability for her choices while asking for the support she needed to keep growing. 

Jenna’s story is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when young people are met with compassion and consistency. Your generosity makes this healing possible by ensuring youth like Jenna have access to trauma-informed care and trusted adults who don’t give up on them. 

Today, we want to introduce you to Nico*, a young man who has always wanted to succeed but faced real barriers when it came to focus, confidence, and understanding what it truly means to hold a job. With an intellectual disability, traditional work environments often felt overwhelming - and without the right support, mistakes could have led to discouragement or termination rather than growth. 

At Youth Homes Thrift Shop, Nico was given something different: patience, structure, and people who believed in his potential. Over the past few months, his managers have seen remarkable growth. Nico’s ability to stay focused on tasks has improved, and he’s become more comfortable and confident engaging with customers. These may seem like small steps, but they are powerful building blocks for Nico’s future independence and success in the workplace. 

Because of you, Nico has a safe place to learn, practice, and grow. Your support ensures young people with unique needs aren’t set up to fail, but instead are given opportunities to build skills, confidence, and pride in their accomplishments. 

Today, we want you to meet Lyla*, a 22 year old young woman living with depression and anxiety in a home environment that often feels unsafe and overwhelming. School settings have never felt supportive for Lyla - she struggled academically and often felt anxious and out of place. Trying something new, especially in a group, felt intimidating, but deep down, Lyla wanted more for herself. 

With encouragement from Youth Homes, Lyla stepped far outside her comfort zone and enrolled in a community art class. Even while battling social anxiety, she showed up to every single class, traveling there and back completely on her own - something she rarely does outside of Youth Homes' support. Over time, she began to take pride in her work, eagerly sharing her creations and discovering confidence she hadn’t felt before. Alongside this growth, Lyla chose to begin EMDR therapy, naming it as the most effective tool she’s found to work through trauma and better understand herself. 

Lyla’s story is about bravery in small, powerful moments. Because of you, she has access to creative outlets, healing therapy, and trusted adults who support her as she builds confidence, self-awareness, and hope. 

Today, we want you to meet Sebastian*, an 11 year old middle schooler who was struggling deeply both at home and at school. He was frequently suspended and nearly expelled, caught in a painful cycle of acting out while also being bullied, and often feeling isolated as one of the few Black students in his school. The weight of that experience took a toll on his mental health, leaving him anxious, depressed, and unsure of where he belonged. 

With support from Youth Homes, Sebastian was able to transfer to a new school with strong emotional support - and the change has been life-changing. In an environment where he feels seen and supported, Sebastian is thriving academically and emotionally. He now has a 4.0 GPA, his depression has significantly eased, and he’s gaining confidence in himself. He’s joined the Black Student Union, found community, and is learning to recognize what healthy, supportive friendships truly look like after leaving a toxic friend group behind. 

Sebastian’s story is a powerful reminder that the right support at the right time can change everything. Because of you, young people like Sebastian are given second chances, safe spaces, and the opportunity to rediscover their potential. 

Welcome to day 6, the final day of our “6 Days of Impact”, a series of stories to remind you of the profound impact your generosity has on Youth Homes clients (this is the only one we’ll share directly to your email, but you can click here to view all six!) Thank you for your steadfast support in 2025, and we look forward to continuing our work together in 2026! 

Today, we want you to meet DJ*, an 8-year-old boy whose early life has been shaped by uncertainty and separation. When both of his parents were incarcerated, DJ spent nearly a year moving between relatives and foster care. The instability deeply affected him, showing up as challenging behaviors at school and big emotions he didn’t yet know how to name or manage. 

When DJ began Therapeutic Behavioral Services with Youth Homes, everything slowly started to change. With consistent support, he learned how to regulate his emotions, stay engaged in class, and build trusting relationships with adults at school. At the same time, his mother was released and committed fully to doing the work needed for reunification. Through weekly family sessions, DJ and his mom practiced skills together, rebuilt trust, and prepared for what it would mean to be a family again. Step by step, through supervised visits, unsupervised time, and overnight stays, DJ worked incredibly hard toward his biggest goal: going home. 

And he did. In September, DJ was officially reunified with his mother. His story is a testament to what patience, consistency, and belief can make possible. Because of you, families like DJ’s are given the tools and support they need to heal and reunite.