March 2012 - Youth Consultation Service

A young woman finds hope for the futurein the place she least expectedWhen 19 year old Sharay talks about the future, her eyes light up. he soft spokenteen is eager to return to her old school and have greater independence at the newYCS Sawtelle group home in Sewell. It’s a move she has been working very hardto make.In November of 2010, Sharay was admitted into the YCS Emergency Diagnostic Reception Unit(EDRU) in Newark. It’s hard to believe this composed young lady when she says she was “horrible” duringher first six months at the program. “I’m from south Jersey so I was afraid of being in Newark…I gave the staff a veryhard time, and wouldn’t listen to anybody.” Sharay admits that she is very sensitive and would overreact when her feelingswere hurt. According to her clinician Seby George, within the first few months Sharay had more than a dozen episodes thatresulted in visits to a hospital crisis unit.With constant clinical support and warm encouragement from the EDRU team,Sharay began to trust in herself and those who were helping her. “Sharay loves tohelp others,” said George. With intensive therapy, Sharay’s behavior stabilizedand she was given the opportunity to earn extra allowance for doing chores onthe unit. For several hours each week, Sharay worked alongside the householdstaff and helped out in the office when needed. She did so well that she wasoffered a job doing light clerical work for the YCS training department in EastOrange. At first she had a one-on-one mentor, but quickly graduated to workingon her own.Yvonne Montemurro, YCS assistant director of training, describes Sharay as thedream employee. “She’s punctual, focused, follows directions, asks questionswhen unclear about a task, and completes every assignment.”Sharay has also been participating in the YCS Youth Group. The youth groupwas formed by Montemurro to assist adolescents in YCS residential facilitiesexpand their range of social experiences and prepare for independence.Adolescents who have demonstrated maturity and self-control are given theprivilege to meet twice a month for dinner and special workshops.Sharay (right) with other members of theYCS Youth Group prepared desserts andserved guests at the YCS Festival ofFlavors benefit in November. “I was soproud to be chosen,” says Sharay. “Inever did anything like that before. I wasafraid at first, but everyone was so nice.”Sharay beams when she talks about the progress she’s made and the earnings that she has been able to save. Reflecting onthe past and how far she has come. Sharay says, “The old Sharay gave everybody a hard time and had to be restrained. Thenew Sharay can control her anger. I like the new Sharay. I get to do more fun things like going to the movies or bowling.”George is confident that Sharay will continue to make strides at the Sawtelle step-down program. “She understands herstrengths and weaknesses…she loves to work and is eager to help anyone who needs it...Her greatest strength is her empathyfor others and the genuine value she places on friendship.”YCS EDRUSince its opening in 2007, the YCS Emergency Diagnostic Reception Unit (EDRU) at Grace Hall in Newark, hasprovided intensive, short term, medical and psychiatric care to over 400 youth in crisis who have exhausted allother placement options. Once a full evaluation is completed, and the adolescents are stabilized, the EDRUclinical team develops an appropriate treatment plan so that the youth can transition into a more permanentprogram or return home.6