Youth Villages - 2018 Annual Report

TYRIC
Growing up in a tough neighborhood, Tyric
fell in with a group of friends who smoked
marijuana and broke the law. When his juvenile
record lengthened, he was sent to a detention
center.
At age 18, Tyric was released and became one
of the first participants in a new program
offered by Youth Villages Multisystemic
Therapy for Emerging Adults, an evidencebased
program model designed to help young
adults with juvenile justice backgrounds make
the transition to productive adulthood.
The program pairs each young adult with
a counselor, available 24/7, who provides
intensive support as the young person learns
to make good decisions; finds housing and
employment; and builds a positive support
network.
Monika Hicks, a master’s level social worker,
saw that Tyric was ready to hit the reset button
on his life.
“We’ve worked on school, jobs, getting my
driver’s license; she’s kept me on my Ps
and Qs,” he said. “She’s someone to talk to,
someone to open up to a little bit more. There’s
always someone speaking positive in my ears.”
Tyric’s life is different than before. His
priorities changed, too.
“I have a newborn little girl, and that’s my main
focus - my little girl and my family,” Tyric said.
“I’ve been using what Monika taught me. I don’t
have to go back to street life to get where I’m
trying to go.”
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