Thank You! With your help, the 2010 Human Race was a ton of fun and profitable.  Together with SAY’s wonderful Human Race crew, friends, board members and staff helped raise over $4,000 for SAY programs and services.  The fleet and the fast, together with the sure footed, walked and ran the 3 and 10k races.  We are sure records were set due to the energy boost everyone got from wearing a snazzy SAY t shirt.  (We still have a few left.  See below on how to purchase one.)  After the race, we all had an important birthday party to attend. The Tamayo House  celebrated its 5th anniversary.  In honor of this occasion, La Tortilla Factory hosted an incredible BBQ Pig Roast.

Here are a few photos from the day’s events:

If you would like to purchase one of our tee shirts for just $15, please call Caitlin Childs at 707-544-3299 x 216 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to reserve a shirt.  (Who knows, it might make you run a little faster???)

This letter was written by Pamela, a mother of a youth who lived at SAY’s Tamayo House from November 2007 to June 2009.

I am writing to express my appreciation and support for Social Advocates For Youth (SAY). This organization’s critically needed programs benefit our community in so many ways, particularly for mentally ill youth. I can attest to its effectiveness in one young man’s life.

I first learned about SAY several years ago through a group called Parents Supporting Parents (PSP). I had joined PSP for help in dealing with my teenage son’s out of control behavior, which would be explained by a later diagnosis of mental illness. But during this time I assumed I was dealing with extreme teen rebelliousness and sadly discovered there were few community resources to help families in crisis, particularly for youth.

PSP members often cited the SAY teen shelter as an emergency resource and my son used it on several occasions. He also helped a friend escape a violent home environment by taking him there. I learned about SAY’s counseling and referral services along the way, and took advantage of them.

After a psychotic break my son was finally diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 2007 and medical intervention began to stabilize his life. But he was unable to live independently, so housing became a major issue. There appeared to be nothing available for youth. Then I discovered SAY’s transitional housing program at Tamayo House.

I learned about this remarkable program purely by coincidence – I work for the County of Sonoma and employees of the mental health department would occasionally come into my office. One day out of desperation I asked one of these employees whether he knew of any programs that might help a homeless mentally ill teen. I almost fell over when he told me he worked for Project Hope and the Transitional Age Youth (TAY) program, which partnered with SAY’s transitional housing program. He said that my son seemed like the perfect candidate and we began the process of applying. He was accepted into the TAY program and eventually found a spot at Tamayo House.

This wonderful facility provides a safe place to live and a path to self-sufficiency for mentally ill youth. Discovering [Tamayo House] seemed like a miracle, since I was in a very desperate situation up to that point…my son’s illness hadn’t completely stabilized yet and our relationship had deteriorated to the point that I felt unsafe around him. I couldn’t allow him in the house, yet there was nowhere else for him to go. At times he lived in my garage or in a tent in the back yard.

I never knew what I’d find when I returned home from work and constantly hoped he’d suffer a psychotic break severe enough to require extended hospitalization, just so he’d have a roof over his head. It was a terrible time.

But through TAY and SAY he found a secure and comfortable home. He lived at Tamayo House from November 2007 until June 2009, and during that time he acquired essential living skills and learned how to communicate and work cooperatively with others. The foundation he received has enabled him to move into a subsidized studio apartment and live on his own for the first time in his life.

I can’t say enough about the good work SAY does. Without its help I’m certain my son would be homeless and his illness much worse than it is. He’d have none of the skills that are enabling him to live semi-independently and attend the local community college.

Mentally ill youth are a particularly vulnerable population, and programs like SAY provide a critical safety net that wouldn’t otherwise exist. My son is living proof that SAY is measurably improving the lives of youth in our community.

Sincerely, Pamela

Each December, the Tamayo Family gets together to cook a very special dinner for the residents of Tamayo House.  For those not in the know, Tamayo House is a transitional housing opportunity for youth who have aged out of the foster care system.  It offers a safe place to live, case management, counseling, and invaluable job training and educational support.  Right now, there are about 20 youth living at Tamayo House, many of whom work and go to school.  Although the residents share a kitchen, they don’t always share meals.  That is why the holiday dinner is so special; it’s a time for everyone to come together to enjoy a festive meal and celebrate the friendships they’ve built over the year.

This year’s holiday party was especially festive thanks to the generosity of the Kobrin Family.  Together with their clients at Kobrin Financial Services, the family donated gifts for the residents of Tamayo House.  It was a wonderful evening. Watch the slideshow below and see just how festive the evening was.  One photo is worth a thousand words!

A Holiday Wish
Dear Supporter and Friend of SAY,

In this season of thanks and celebration, Social Advocates for Youth wishes you the best.  From our family to yours, happy holidays.

Warmest regards,

Tom Bieri, Executive Director

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Sonoma City Council Passes SAY Sponsored Social Host Ordinance

The Sonoma City Council passed an ordinance to charge parents who knowingly allow drug use and teen drinking in their homes with a misdemeanor. Danielle Ronshausen, SAY’s Environmental Prevention Coordinator successfully lead the efforts of the Sonoma Valley Coalition to Prevent Teen Drinking in sponsoring the new ordinance.

The Sonoma Index Tribune covered the story in a front page article today and we encourage you to read the full story on their website.

Read More

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The BIG Thank You is a BIG Success

On November 9th, SAY hosted The BIG Thank You at the Fountaingrove Inn, an event honoring SAY’s donors and volunteers.
The BIG Thank You, generously sponsored by Fountaingrove Inn, honored supporters like Willie Tamayo, Bill Friedman, Barbara Konicek, and Marcus Benedetti.  Volunteer of the Year, Board Member of the Year, and New Board Member of the Year were named!
Read More
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Judy James of Clover Stornetta Joins Board

The SAY Board of Directors was happy to welcome Judy James, Director of Community Relations for Clover Stornetta Farms this month.

Judy, former Executive Director of Sonoma County Farm Bureau and owner of James Family Cellars, will be an important board leader, supporting our relationship with Sonoma County’s agricultural and wine communities.  In addition, Judy’s public relations experience greatly enhances SAY’s marketing capacity.  Welcome aboard Judy!

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SAY’s New Website Launches 12/4

Social Advocates for Youth has partnered with Jamie Spooner and Planeteria to redesign our website.  Our goal is to offer parents, youth, and community a resource that is engaging, informative, and easy to navigate.  SAY is proud to announce that our new website will be English-Spanish bilingual and ADA compliant, making it accessible to much wider audience.

We’ve built our new website to be a bridge between the family in crisis, the youth in need, the community member seeking information, the donor who is looking to give back, and SAY.

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Jynessa Lazzaroni, Youth Board Member Extraordinaire

As part of our commitment to helping youth and families help themselves, we know it’s important to make sure that we are listening to all of the members of the SAY community, from clients and staff to donors and volunteers. That’s why we are so happy to welcome 19 year old Jynessa Lazzaroni to our Board of Directors!

Read More

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A Mixer with Meaning: SAY Tours

It will be the best lunch mixer you’ve been to in a LONG time!

Forty-five minutes is all it will take to to see how the Reverend James E Coffee House homeless and runaway teen shelter and the Mary and Jose Tamayo House transitional living housing change lives and our community each and every day.

Come meet SAY’s Youth Ambassadors!  Mixers are monthly.  December’s Mixers with Meaning are 12:00-1:15PM on the following dates:

Coffee House: Tuesday, 12/8
Get Directions

Tamayo House: Thursday, 12/10
Get Directions

RSVP: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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Ask the Editor

What is Social Advocates for Youth?

How many youth does SAY serve?

How can I help or get more informed?

What do YOU want to know about SAY?  Do you have a thought or opinion you’d like to share?  Drop The SAY Connection editor a line!  Your inquiries and feedback are important to Social Advocates for Youth!

Email the editor: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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Donate Now!

It’s tax credit time.  98% of SAY’s services are free because of support from friends like you.  In addition, please know that when you donate $1 to programs such as SAY’s Functional Family Therapy, you save Sonoma County $28!  It’s a win-win-win.

Make a difference in a young life today, Donate Now!