Archive for the 'SPECTRUM'S PROGRAMS' Category

Bob Hallowell is a long-time Spectrum Board member as well as a mentor in Spectrum’s Mentoring Program for 6 years As Bob once said to me, “What a wonderful thing to have friends in life and it’s so great I can count David as one of mine.”

The New York Times ran a two-part article this week about the recession and how it is causing an increase in homeless and runaway youth in America.  They reported from Oregon, New York, and several other states. The general theme was that as more families fall into poverty due to the worsening economy, and stressors increase within families, more teenagers and young adults are becoming homeless. 

The author of the article did not report on Vermont, but I can tell you that this article absolutely rang true for those of us at Spectrum.  For years we would go through periods of time when our shelter was full, but within a few weeks the numbers would go back down.  Our transitional living residence, the SRO, has never had all 9 apartment units full.

But for the last 12 months, our shelter has been full virtually every day, particularly on the male side.  And the SRO, which always had an occupancy of 7 or 8 youth at a time, now runs full regularly.  The result?  We have to turn homeless kids away due to lack of beds – something I absolutely hate to do. 

The two articles are linked below, please read them and also watch the videos associated with each.  The reporter did a great job on this very sad spectacle, and remember that what is true for Oregon and New York is absolutely true for Vermont as well.

 Part I of the article http://bit.ly/PartOne

Part II of the article: http://bit.ly/PartTwo

Three Peer Outreach Workers and our Outreach Coordinator took ten kids camping to Little River State Park in Waterbury. The kids loved it, especially roasting marshmellows over the fire. For a few of the kids, this was the first time camping and sleeping in a tent under the stars.

This is a terrific success story. Erin has been with Spectrum ’s services for over 2 years. She completed Driver’s Ed with us, participated on the Youth Advisory Committee and is in the process of becoming part of our Adult Living Program. She is currently working with our Youth Development Program (YDP) and is preparing to head off to Utica College this fall, working on Financial Aid, etc.

All of us at Spectrum are proud of Erin for being awarded the annual Ernest A. Pomerleau Scholarship and receiving the Outstanding Young Vermonter Award! Please read article for full story.

Some people enjoy Suduko, and others love getting lost in a jigsaw puzzle. Burlington resident Beach Conger has created a puzzle that challenges himself and helps Spectrum Youth and Family Services. Conger, 67, has developed a database that Spectrum can use to evaluate all of their programs. Over the past two years he has logged countless hours and earned the nickname “Data King” … (Read full article)

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200904200415/NEWS02/904200320

“I’m always going to be there for her even if what we’re doing isn’t very inspirational; she knows I’ll be there.” ~Sally Cook, Spectrum Mentor for over 3 years~

For full story read more: http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=10005197

A big thank you to the folks at Healthy Living Market in South Burlington. Starting today, Healthy Living staff members are volunteering to prepare/serve lunch and dinner multiple times a week at our Drop-in Center for the months of March and April. This is a tremendous help and eases the cost of our food budget for the Drop-In Center (we serve more than 5,300 meals annually to 500 kids). We are excited to have Healthy Living staff members volunteering and interacting with our youth.