Love Stories
We’re Accredited!
We have achieved accreditation through the Council on Accreditation (COA)! We are so proud of our team for this amazing accomplishment. COA accreditation means that our organization’s programs, services, administration, and management have been rigorously evaluated and meet best practice standards.
Read our press release. To learn more about COA accreditation, please visit www.coanet.org.
Ashley’s Success
Cascade Youth & Family Center (CYFC) received a crisis referral call from a family in Bend. ‘Ashley’ was heading in a dangerous direction, and the family needed help. Ashley had run away from home several times, she was on probation, and falling behind in school credits. The family had explosive parent – youth conflicts, further deteriorating trust on both sides. To give her and her family space to de-escalate their crisis, Ashley entered our emergency shelter program at CYFC where she was able to accomplish several things.
Ashley began working hard to complete her community service and get off probation. She began catching up on school credits and reengaged in school, excelling in her academics. Ashley also got a part time job. She became a resident of Living Options For Teens (LOFT), our longer-term transitional living shelter which provides a stable home for youth and was a better option for Ashley during this time. While living at the LOFT, Ashley became involved with various services from community partners such as mental health services, local dental and vision services, as well starting the process to be matched with a mentor through our Big Brothers Big Sisters program.
During her stay, Ashley and her family participated in multiple family mediations and ultimately, she was able to go home to a safe environment. She took with her new coping skills such as boundary setting, communicating clearly with family members, emotional regulation and de-escalation skills. Ashley had learned to advocate for herself. Her family was also equipped with better communication tools and resources to turn to, including a team of case workers who will continue to be available to support the family. Ashley is now on track to graduate! She has prioritized ways to develop herself, and, hopes to go college with her sights on becoming a social worker.
Fjällräven Gift
Fjällräven Bend store manager, Chadd McTeer, contacted J Bar J with a generous offer to provide their beautiful jackets to a family of four. Our Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon program had the perfect family.
We made a date with Little Sister Mikayla and her the family to meet at the store. The Fjällräven staff were excited to greet them and spent 45 mins with Mikayla and her family of two sisters, her brother and mom. They had fun trying on jackets and looking at all the great outdoor clothing Fjällräven has to offer. Chadd and the staff had a blast outfitting the family with jackets and beanies.
Thank you Fjällräven for your generosity!
To top the day, Bleu Bite Catering provided 4 boxed lunches for the family! Thank you Bleu Bite!
We LOVE our community and are grateful for the kind things people do for one another.
J Bar J Youth Build Tiny Homes for Veterans Village
In spite of the exponential growth Bend has seen over the last few years, and the challenges of 2020, our community remains connected. We are strong as ever when a ‘barn raising’ such as a Vocational school for youth or housing for Veterans is needed, and you can count on Rotarians to be there to help!
The Bend Rotary Clubs supported J Bar J Youth Services construction of a Vocational Training School for the adjudicated youth in residence at the boy’s ranch. The J Bar J program is designed to help the boys understand and change the behavior that brought them here and help them achieve a GED and or a High School Diploma. In 2019 a Vocational training program was added to include training in the construction trades and Culinary Arts
The Bend Rotary Clubs understood the need for this training immediately and stepped up to help. Mt Bachelor Rotary donated funds from the St. Patrick Day Run and Greater Bend committed $75,000, naming this their 3 year Signature Project.
The boys are now receiving instruction in the classroom and on line and are getting hands on experience building the tiny homes through a mentorship with Hayden Homes Project Manager, James Limerick. The boys will build the first three homes for The Bend Heroes Foundation’s, Veterans Village, at J Bar J and be transported to the permanent site on Poe Sholes Road where the village is under development.
Deschutes County has leased the land to The Bend Heroes Foundation for the Veterans Village and the City of Bend is forgoing development fees and has awarded $200,000 to the project. Many community businesses, local and state foundations and citizens have donated to this project for homeless Veterans. It’s been said many times but nothing describes this project better than the phrase “It takes a village.” That village often starts with or includes the community servants of Rotary. Thank you!