Highlights This month, we’ve been busily prepping for Big B.A.N.G. Weekend 2019, ensuring that everything’s set to run smoothly on the big days (July 12 and 13). That includes printing flyers, sharing videos, pitching to our partners, registering kids, connecting with NFL and college football players … it’s a LOT OF WORK, but we ARE…
DetailsThe Center for Disease Control (CDC) has identified that rates of depression for African-American males have increased within the last 20 years (CDC, 2019). The 2010 Census noted that rates of suicide amongst African-American males between the ages of 18-56 were 12% higher than Caucasian males (Gray, 2014). As rates of depression and suicidal ideation…
DetailsHighlights May is Mental Health Awareness Month and, as you can imagine, that means something special to us at KYJO. As an organization that works with kids from all walks of life, helping those kids achieve better mental health is a BIG DEAL to us, which is why we worked to become an accredited Mental…
DetailsLots of potential foster parents ask us what the foster parent approval process parent looks like. So many, in fact, that we decided to lay out the steps to becoming a foster parent in this post! Read on for the 11-step checklist to becoming a foster parent with KYJO: Step 1: Attend an Initial Orientation…
DetailsHighlights It’s April, which means it’s time to gear up for Big B.A.N.G. weekend! This year’s Big B.A.N.G. (our 7th!) will take place July 12 – 13, with a pre-game celebration at Fresno’s Dave & Buster’s on Friday night, and the FREE “Believe and Achieve” football clinic once again taking place at Fresno State’s Bulldog…
DetailsWhen people hear the words “mental health,” many things come to mind. More often than not, negative connotations follow. I’ve never understood why so much negativity surrounds these words. In fact, many people tend not to seek out mental health services and professional help because they think that others might think they’re “crazy”. This…
DetailsHighlights As we roll through March, mental health care is foremost on our minds. Our journey toward converting into a Short-Term Residential Treatment Program has taught us that we need to look at some aspects of our program through a different lens, and be open-minded enough to think differently. But also, we need to encourage…
DetailsHighlights Last week, the KYJO team was blessed to attend the 2019 CA Alliance Executive’s Winter Conference. With the state mandating many changes regarding Continuum of Care Reform (CCR) and the Integration of Mental Health Services, it’s truly a blessing to be a part of the Alliance family. They help us make sense of all…
DetailsHighlights: Angel Tree Thank You … Thanks to our many wonderful Angel Tree sponsors and hosts, over sixty (60!) underprivileged youth received Christmas gifts this year – making 2018 a great KYJO Christmas. All our KYJO kids’ wishes were fulfilled, and we received some amazing presents, including Kindles, Beats headphones, a guitar, a Nintendo Switch,…
DetailsLast month, Nixon (pictured above) showed what consistent hard work and dedication can do, by becoming one of the most successful residents in KYJO history! Nixon moved up to the fourth and final stage (Test) of our residential group home program, a testament to his perseverance and straightforward attitude. Nixon faces down his fears and struggles each day because he’s dedicated to…
DetailsMeet Trish, a foster parent who has dedicated her life to helping youth in need. This interview explores the challenges and rewards of fostering, as well as the importance of creating a quality foster care home.
