Lifeskills Management Center

Join honorary guest Will Shields for the Bridge to Hope Benefit,

from 5:30-8:50 pm on Saturday, April 17 at the 1819 Central Gallery in KCMO.

.

The Bridge to Hope Benefit will feature:

• The video debut of “Bridge to Hope” produced by Flaming Fiddle Productions
• Delicious hor d’eorves from Design Catering and a cash bar
• Musical entertainment
• A silent auction featuring a 1 week stay at a North Carolina Beach House, a wine-tasting party for 20 from Holy-Field Vineyard, and a certificate to Michael Shae’s Salon and Day Spa, as well as other distinctive items, and
• Presentations and art from LMC youth

All proceeds from the 2010 Bridge to Hope Benefit will support programs serving at risk youth and families in Johnson and surrounding counties.  These important prevention and intervention programs assist youth-at risk for or already involved in the justice system-attain direction, motivation, reasoning skills and self-worth, while empowering parents to take charge and effectively parent challenging youth.

Tickets are available for $50 per person. Send a check to the address below or pay through paypal and indicate “ticket.”  Sponsorship opportunities are available.  Email darya@mutualrespect.org to learn more.

The 2010 Bridge to Hope Benefit is sponsored by: Will Shield’s 68 Inside Sports Fitness & Health Club.

Thank you to all of our generous sponsors of 2009 for supporting the work of Lifeskills Management Center through these trying financial times.  We are pleased to report that your generous support helped make it possible for us to provide services to 44 youth and their families in the Crossroads Treatment Program and 81 students in Project SAM.  More important than the number of people we see, is the quality of services we offer.  Last year, 81% of youth and families graduated from Crossroads Treatment Program and 83% were adjudication free after 6 months.  During the Fall ‘08 - Spring ‘09 school year, there were less than 5% of repeat suspensions among students participating in Project SAM, an educational alternative to out-of-school suspension. Through grants and community sponsorship in 2009, LMC provided over $47,000 in scholarships toward service fees for low and no-income families.  We are lucky to have long-standing donors who have faithfully supported our efforts over the years, as well as new donors who recognize the community benefit of our programming.  Please know that no matter your donation, each of you are essential in all that we do!   

On behalf of the staff and volunteers at LMC, we appreciate you supporting our efforts to give the youth in our community a more hopeful outlook on their futures.  

Barbara Ladd, MA, President of the Board of Directors

Individual Donors 

Morgan Swofford

The Birky Family

The Levin Family

The Grossman Family

Debbie Swearingen

Dante Bolden

The Seldner Family

The Gleeson Family

The Shipley Family

The Tilson Family

The Korosec Family

The Gottschalk Family

The Routman Family

Les Hamilton

Sara Turk

Amy Marks

Barbara and Glenn Ladd

The Williams Family

The Khalili Family

Anonymous from Greater Kansas City Community Foundation

Business Donors

Garry Gribble’s Running Sports

 Fulks Chiropractic

Key Dynamics Chiropractic

Behavioral Health Specialists, Inc

Edible Arrangements

Dragonfly Boba Tea and Bakery

Backwoods

Zen Massage

Krispy Kreme

Quik Trip

Starbucks

Culligan Water

Hy-Vee

Price Chopper

Innocent Primate Vegan

Special thanks to:

 Courtney Courter, Miss Kansas USA 2009

for sponsoring the 5^th Annual Kids 4 Character 5K Walk and Run!

The Board and staff at LMC gratefully thank our many donors whose gifts, while not listed above, help to make a positive difference in the lives of the youth, families and communities we serve.  Thank you all for your support!

According to the National Mentoring Partnership, mentored young people are:
46% less likely to get into drugs;
59% more likely to get better grades; and
73% more likely to achieve their goals.

Mentors don’t need a degree in youth development to make a difference.  They just need to believe in the potential of a young person.  Think back on the adults outside your family who made a difference for you when you were growing up.  Who were those adults?  What did they do you make you feel special? 

Youth involved in the Johnson County Courts struggle to make good life decisions and often lack supportive adult role models in their life.  Our Skills Mentorship Program matches youth, ages 15-18, with caring mentors who possess skills or career experience within the interest of the youth.  For 6 months, the mentorship pair work towards creating and accomplishing goals related to academics, community involvement, and career-building, all the while establishing a trusting and supportive relationship built on mutual respect.  Mentors are provided training, materials and support by the Program Coordinator and agency. 

What do current Youth Mentees and Skills Mentors have to say:

“I want a mentor to help me figure out what I want to do,

to give me encouragement and support me

to follow through with my goals.”

–Current Youth Mentee (’10)

“I am an understanding person who believes that past mistakes

may be used to help a person learn and grow.”

–Current Skills Mentor (’10)

“This is an amazing opportunity to share my knowledge and experiences

with someone who is interested in the same field that I am currently studying.

Teens have so much potential, and I appreciate the opportunity

to help them achieve whatever they want.”

–Current Skills Mentor (’10)

If you are 21 years or older, are in college or possess a vocational degree or above, can commit to at least 4 hours a month for 6 months, and have a desire to work with at-risk youth in our community, please contact our Program Coordinator, Darya at (913) 254-0001 or darya@mutualrespect.org.   

Mentoring is a volunteer position. Accepting applications today. 

ACCESS  is a researched-based, 14 week program designed with emphasis on cognitive-behavioral theory and research of human beliefs, emotions and behaviors. Long experience with at-risk adolescents suggests that a combination of groups and family therapy maximizes success. Families who are dealing with the following issues would benefit from ACCESS:

• Family discord/Anger issues/Decision making
• School problems/attendance and impulsive behavior
• Drug and alcohol use/experimental to moderate use
• Early violent or criminal behavior/police involvement
• Diversion or probation are likely or at-risk for probation revocation

The program consists of the following sessions: 14 Youth Group (reasoning skills, anger, fear and conflict management) 14 Family Therapy (cognitive behavioral approaches to family harmony) 14 Individual sessions (communication, problem solving and negotiation skills)  with 14 parenting classes.

New classes forming in 30 days

Please call 913-782-4996 for more information Click here to download the latest access-flyer.

LMC would like to recognize the following volunteers from TeenLink for their invaluable contribution to the 5th Annual Kids 4 Character Walk/Run last Saturday. It was early and it was cold, but they were there with big smiles and great attitudes.

Maddi Rabinoff
Birat Acharya
Justin Feuerborn
Jacob Alstott
Iyonna Shinskia
Jordan Fitts
Becca Collichio

LMC thanks you!

It was a crisp and beautiful autumn morning. Many people walked and many ran. All supported LMC’s mission to help at-risk youth and their families in our community. Thank you to everyone who supported, participated and volunteered!

Check out our pictures on facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=19894&id=1618433163&ref=mf.

For the results of the race, click kids-for-character-5k-run-results

LMC mentors provide support, reinforcement and constructive examples to help others succeed. For some, mentors are among the few who teach listening.

Previous dedicated mentors have shared their knowledge and enthusiasm of electronics, sound system, robotics, computers, graphic arts and music production, writing HTML codes and developing web pages.

Interested in Mentoring? Contact Suzy Williams at (913) 254-0001

Also come and learn more at the 5th Annual Kids 4 Character 5K Walk and Run on October 10, 2009 at 7:30am at Corporate Woods, Bldg 40, Overland Park. REGISTER today at http://www.sportkc.org/sportkc.aspx?pgID=866&event_id=293

The first day of Project SAM is FREE when a parent or guardian attends our free one hour Suspension & Truancy Parenting Group within 10 days of registration.  Classes are scheduled on Tuesday’s from 5-6pm.  Please call 913-254-0001 to sign up for a class.

Project SAM

This program serves students 12 to 18 years-old who are suspended from school.  Project SAM offers full day supervision, educational monitoring and Social-Skills Training (Best Practices of Dr. Botvin) as well as access to Lexia reading improvement software.  Parents should call as soon as as soon they are notified of the suspension or the night before to confirm availability and are encouraged to bring all assigned school work. Focus is on maintaining motivation to return to school and not falling further behind.

Project SAM encourages schools to recommend this program for all suspended students.  Review of over 800 students impacted suggests the earlier use of Project SAM may decrease recidivism.

For information call: 913-254-0001

Check out our newest SAM flyer 2009

Finally, it’s time to register for the 5th Annual Kids4Character 5k Walk/Run!!!!  This event has brought together the community time and time again to celebrate and support the continued efforts of LMC. So, get your family and friends and get out to support the youth in our community.

The Run will be taking place on Saturday, October 10, 2009 from 7:30-10:30am at Corporate Woods in Overland Park, Kansas.

Download the registration form 2009 (pdf) and send it in to Lifeskills Management Center at the address below or register at sportkc at http://www.sportkc.org/sportkc.aspx?pgID=866&event_id=293 .

413 E. Santa Fe, Olathe, KS 66061

Hope to see you there!!!

ALSO, if you want to volunteer before or on the day of the event or have ideas for sponsorship, please email lifeskillscenter@yahoo.com.

AND, there is a new opportunity for sponsorship for your company: We will advertise your company logo on the t-shirt and other publications if you register 4 or more runners.