Highlights
COMING SOON!!
As we proceed through 2021, we will continue to promote and encourage the KYJO community to be FEARLESS! To help support KYJO and our FEARLESS campaign. You will soon be able to purchase a FEARLESS t-shirt. A variety of styles and designs will be available for purchase on our website!
KYJO Events & Outings
On Sunday April 18th several of KYJO staff, residents and FFA team embarked on a day long hiking adventure at Sequoia National Park. Located in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains, this excursion was the first of many experiences as a part of our new Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program. A highlight for all partaking in the endeavor was witnessing and touching the huge sequoia trees in the giant forest, notably the landmark General Sherman. Another memorable experience of the trip was stopping through the underground Crystal Cave which features scenic water streams and stand out rock formations. Thank you to all the staff you helped plan and coordinate this adventure.
Residential Spotlight
Check out these milestones from a few of our residents at the Celeste and Hazel homes!
“She has really adjusted to school and has been working really hard. She has an A+ in math. She is excited to attend and makes sure that she is on time every day.”
Female, Age 11
“She has really struggled with some challenging behaviors and not engaging with her peers. In the past couple of months, she has started developing relationships with peers and KYJO staff. She has learned that she enjoys baking and making goodie snacks for everyone. She also has grown into an entrepreneur by making and selling different arts and crafts. She will be leaving our placement with KYJO soon and staff are so proud of her growth while she has been with us.”
Female, Age 14
“She is fairly new to our program, but has been willing and open to personal growth and mental health. She has been actively working alongside her support team to help her grow through what she went through. She has been engaging with her peers and helping support them through what they are going through and is working hard to be a positive role model for others.”
Female, Age 14
“He has been in placement for almost a month. Attends school daily with no issues. We can really see that he is been doing his best in placement and hasn’t had any incidents. He actively attends all groups and individual therapy. He enjoys his visit with his mother every week and outings with peers, in particular working out with Kevin.”
Male, Age 14
Foster Family Agency
Welcome Angelica!
Welcome Angelica Rodriguez to the KYJO family as our newest FFA Social Worker. Angelica recently acquired her Masters in Social Work, having been introduced to KYJO while doing her Graduate internship with our agency. She previously worked at a boys Residential Youth Home for four years, a job she very much enjoyed. Angelica was inspired to work in this field because she saw the need for advocacy for individuals and families who are lacking and need support with mental health services. In her free time Angelica enjoys traveling, attending sports games, going to concerts and spending time with friends & family.
Employee Spotlight
Staff Anniversaries
Much gratitude to our KYJO staff celebrating anniversaries this month! Thank you for your hard work and dedication to KYJO.
3 Years:
Doris Anderson – Facility Manager
5 Years:
Marilyn Cantu – Administrative Assistant II
Kevin’s Huddle
Hello KYJO Family,
April has truly been a month of learning and growing! Even with the challenges and adversities of ever-changing demands from the state, and adjustments to various behaviors, we made it through…together! We can never control everything that happens to us, but we can definitely control how we respond. Knowing this, it is imperative to practice self-care often. Here at KYJO, we have recently introduced Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) to our program. The fact that we know stress and adversities will hit at any given time, it’s best to prepare for it daily.
This month the KYJO residents, foster youth, and staff all participated in an MBSR activity together by hiking Sequoia National Park (Moro Rock). Concentrating on the present helped everyone leave the stresses from the past behind, helped refrain from looking into the future, and alleviated overthinking. With that newfound mindfulness approach, it helped everyone conquer the defeating mindset of climbing Moro Rock. It actually created a FEARLESS mindset that helped all conquer Moro Rock and even aiding one of our foster youth overcome their fears of heights! This wouldn’t have ever happened if we gave up. Concentrating on the present can help many create a better future and decrease depressive & anxiety symptoms. KYJO will be adding more MBSR techniques and activities throughout the organization because it truly helps all to concentrate on the now!
Kevin Jordan
Executive Director
Donations
Our doors are always open to donations for our Residential Group Homes and foster youth. We are in need of:
- Athletic shoes, hiking boots and river sandals (variety of men’s and women’s sizes)
- New pillowcases and bath towels
- New or gently-used sweatpants
- Paper products (toilet paper, tissues, and paper towels)
- Kitchen supplies (aluminum foil, zip lock bags in sandwich and one-gallon size)
- Cleaning supplies (no-ammonia all-purpose cleaners, laundry detergent, dishwasher soap)
- New, unopened packages of athletic socks – crew or low cut – and boys’ and girls’ underwear
- Personal hygiene items for boys and girls (deodorant, hair supplies, bar soap, toothpaste/toothbrushes, body lotion, etc.)
- Gift cards to grocery and retail stores (Target, Wal-Mart,), restaurants/coffee shops
- Movie, bowling, skiing or swimming passes or tickets to sporting events, concerts or plays
- Arts and crafts items (yarn, beads, art paint, construction paper, poster board)
- Board games, puzzles and playing cards
Amazon Smile
KYJO Enterprises, Inc. is now a featured organization of the Amazon Smile Foundation. Amazon Smile is a charitable extension of Amazon that allows consumers to donate a portion of their purchases to the organization of their choice. Most products that are featured on Amazon are eligible for Amazon Smile with 0.05% of profits being donated. Please visit https://smile.amazon.com to learn more about the program and to sign up to have your Amazon purchases benefit KYJO.
