Newberg Graphic
November 13, 2007
By Amanda Newman, Newberg Graphic Reporter

'Ignite the Light' successful fund-raiser

   Chehalem Youth and Family Services (CYFS) provides counseling services, mentoring, residential treatment and alternative education to troubled children. They also offer parenting education, family counseling and teen suicide screening. But they can't do it alone.
   "There's a gap in the dollars needed to continue (the) teen screening and family counseling (programs)," executive director Deborah Cathers Seymour said Thursday evening at Ignite the Light, a benefit event.
   She said the organization needed to raise $50,000 to continue the programs. Their goal for the night was half of that.
   Cathers Seymour began by quoting Herbert Hoover, who said, "Blessed are the young, for they will inherit the national debt."
   Now, she said, youth will inherit even more problems, including "global warming and the growing meth problem." But even with world issues looming large, there are some children whose plates are piled even higher, who have to deal with personal troubles.
   "We serve the children who have suffered the most," she said.
   Founded in 1970, CYFS works to help troubled children and their families in the community. And with a dedicated team of staff and volunteers, they are making their goals reality, Cathers Seymour said.
   "Our programs here at Chehalem Youth and Family Services work," said Cathers Seymour, who has worked with CYFS for many years. She explained her longtime dedication, saying, "God called me - he loves all of his children and he has a special place in heart (for them)."
   For many of the staff, the kids are what keep them going.
   "I've been able to connect with these kids and it's amazing," said Laura Erickson, director of the CYFS Candlelight Choir, which performed throughout the evening. "My heart gets overwhelmed: a little sadness, but a lot of joy."
   "You kids rock!" said Kathy Brown, a board member who, as a teacher in the public schools, has worked closely with the children. "You are what makes each of us do what we do."
   To illustrate the impact individuals can have on a child's life, Brown led a presentation called "Ignite the Light." Misty Alsup, a soon-to-be graduate of the CYFS program, came up on stage with a basket of candles.
   One by one, Brown called up people who - directly and indirectly - had impacted Misty's life.
   Soon, the stage was full of foster parents, caregivers, teachers, counselors, doctors, a court-appointed special advocate, a Department of Human Services (DHS) caseworker, members of the two boards of directors, original CYFS directors and house parents and representatives from the judicial system (Judge John Collins) and the governor (Anita Decker from the State Commission on Children and Families).
   One by one, their candles were lit. Finally, Collins lit Misty's candle. "How many people does it take to ignite the life of a child?" he asked. "It often takes very many."
   The Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce kicked off the giving with a $4,000 donation raised via its annual auction. Individuals rose to the occasion, contributing an additional $19,400.
   "We've had additional phone calls that other checks are on the way, so we will probably reach our goal for the night of $25,000," Cathers Seymour said. "Everyone is celebrating at CYFS, especially those whose positions or projects were hanging in the balance."
   She said she hopes the other half of the "gap" will come in over the holiday season and through the organization's concert/silent auction event in the spring.
   With the funds, CYFS will be able to continue focusing on what they do best: helping the children.
   "Part of the thing that CYFS does that I love is they bring out the best in these kids," said board member Pastor Ron Thomason, giving the evening's blessing.
   Sometimes, bringing out the best means simply giving them a chance to dream. "Somebody's light gets ignited and they end up following their dream and fulfilling their dream," Cathers-Seymour said.

Newberg Graphic
April 9, 2003
By Christie Scotty, Newberg Graphic Reporter

The Ford Family Foundation grants $243,457 to fund community education in Newberg

Grant proposals and joint meetings paid off in a big way for Newberg with a new $243,457 grant to fund community education. The money, which will go toward after-school classes and adult education, comes via the Ford Family Foundation of Roseburg through the Rural Community School Partnerships Program (RCSP). "We didn't go in and say we need the money, we said we have an amazing program and can really provide quality education, and they believed us," said Karen Pugsley, program director for the Newberg Community Learning Center housed at Newberg High School. Split over three years, the nearly quarter-million dollars will fund increased programming and personnel for an education model already underway at a Mabel Rush Elementary School site for the past two years. Classes like choir, newspaper, martial arts, Japanese and the literature of Harry Potter have all been successful at the Mabel Rush site and are likely to continue, Pugsley said, while future money will extend offerings and provide more sites. Pugsley wrote the grant, but securing one of 17 available was the cooperative effort of a little-known group called Newberg Community Coalition. That coalition has been meeting since 2000 and includes the library, park and recreation district, schools, area youth outreach, and the drug and alcohol prevention program Newberg/Dundee Oregon Together. The cooperating partners had each other to thank. Newberg Mayor Bob Stewart pointed to Newberg as a town that retains community qualities despite its size. "It's a very difficult budget time for (everyone) and for this to happen is an indication of some real strength in our community ...," Pugsley agreed. "We're the largest rural area that was granted - a lot of people don't consider Newberg rural because of its proximity to the metro area, but we do have a unique flavor in our community where everyone cooperates, more than you'll see almost anywhere else. "The whole thing is we have a shared vision." Organizers say classes could begin at the existing Mabel Rush Community School in June, and are seeking a coordinator to oversee the grant program.

Newberg Graphic
May 9, 2001
Claudia De La Vega

Spirit Mountain fund helps out CYFS

[excerpt]
Grande Ronde - The Spirit Mountain Community Fund has provided a grant of $6,120 to the Chehalem Youth and Family Services to improve computer and Internet access for troubled youth of the community. According to a press release form Spirit Mountain, CYFS provides residential treatment and private special education service to children from ages 11 to 17. Challenged with developmental disabilities like autism, child abuse and its emotional aftermath, the children are provided formal education at middle and high school levels from regular public school systems.

Newberg Graphic
December 12, 2001
Amy Trampush

A consortium of caring nonprofits Organizations join forces to serve those in town underserved for years, including caregivers

[excerpt] In 1997, three area nonprofit organizations joined forces and are now helping to serve those who have gone years without needed health and human services. Known as the Integrated Services Network (ISN), Catholic Community Services, Chehalem Youth and Family Services and Rainbow Family Services have pooled resources into joint service contracts to improve the quality and cost effectiveness of delivering services. The consortium recently secured a "self-directed support brokerage", which mea s rather than setting up a program, ISN will develop and contract services to match the individual's need through brokering. Needs may include: respite, vocational, physical supports (a ramp or changes to their environment), recreation or access to the community.

Newberg Graphic
April 10, 2002
Christie Scotty

CYFS students have gone to the birds

[excerpt]
Chehalem Youth and Family Services operates under the motto, "Building Brighter Tomorrows", for the youth it serves. Last week students in the organization's Sixth Street School were doing their own building - for the birds. Armed with glue, hammers, Popsicle sticks and other materials Friday, they packed into a portable classroom next to Newberg School District offices to build birdhouses. Students, supplied with plywood donated by Lumbermans and under the careful guidance of staff members, carefully created small wooden structures. James Swertfger had the advantage of experience, having built a smaller version of the birdhouse he was working on at his own home, and expertly re-created the aviary. "I'm hoping I'll raise good birds in this, maybe some blue jays," said one of his classmates. The students' designs will be auctioned along with the other entries at the Tweet of Dreams event May 10.

Newberg Graphic
August 28, 2002
Christie Scotty

NHS student's project yields school supplies for CYFS

[excerpt]
A mother and daughter's brainstorming session resulted in 36 pounds of school supplies for Chehalem Youth and Family Services. Jessica Van Atta, a Newberg High School sophomore, and her mother planned a party this summer in their Newberg home. But rather than bringing a party game or chips and dip, they asked the roughly 30 people attending to arrive armed with extra school supplies. The result was an avalanche of supplies, mostly notebooks and pencils, which now fill a giant green Tupperware container bound for CYFS's downtown Newberg offices. "We're probably going to do this again next year," said Van Atta, who added she was pleasantly surprised by the turnout.

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