from the children and families of Ryther Child Center to all our friends

in the Puget Sound business community who support the services

which help children and families break the cycles of

abuse, neglect, crime and chemical addiction.

Meet the Ryther Kids

• Amber is happily placed in a foster home after nine different placements and two years at Ryther.

Like many of the children who come to Ryther, Amber had been in many different foster homes, as well as other treatment programs, before she came here. She was referred to Ryther at the age of six because she needed the special focus of our Children with Sexual Behavior Problems Program. Born addicted to heroine and methadone, Amber also suffered from life threatening seizures. Serious neglect and lack of supervision at home resulted in the start of her journey through "the system."

At Ryther she responded very well. She rapidly developed appropriate positive social skills with the children and adults, learned to take responsibility for her behavior and its consequences and learned to trust adults. She received specialized counseling to help her learn behaviors which would not alienate her from her family and peers.

Her self-esteem strengthened, her life skills enhanced, Amber was able to make a successful transition to a foster home, where there is even a very good chance that she will be adopted. This will be the first permanent home of her life.

Amber's struggle doesn't end with this wonderful opportunity. She will continue to use the skills and the self-help techniques she has acquired through her time at Ryther, benefiting from the Ryther Way.

• Todd has "graduated" to regular school and is living harmoniously with his dad after years away from his family.
  

Todd came to Ryther at the age of four. Both of his parents were chemically addicted. They were not able to cope with even the basic needs of a young child because of their addiction and were in the middle of a bitter divorce, as well. This resulted in emotional neglect and abuse, and physical abuse by his father.

Todd had been in foster care, had spent two weeks being evaluated at Children's Hospital and from there was referred to Ryther's Mental Health Day Treatment Program. When he first arrived, he was angry, verbally assaultive and defiant, did not have the basic social skills to play with other children and had no way to express his feelings except through aggressive behavior. The Ryther staff knew what to do.

The staff helped Todd learn to express his feelings with words instead of violence, how to play successfully with other children. They also worked closely with the mother, and later with the father. Through staff work, the Ryther Way, Todd's father is now doing well in treatment for his addiction and abusive behavior. He has been given custody of Todd. The new healthy parenting skills, learned with Ryther staff guidance, have healed the broken relationship between father and son. Family therapy with his father at Ryther continues to ensure long term success. This is the Ryther Way.

• Joseph is finishing high school and plans to enter college--no more tattoos or gangs.

Joseph came to Ryther from Echo Glen, where he had been sentenced after his conviction for robbing a man at gun point. He had also been heavily involved in gang activity. At Echo Glen, he showed clear, positive indications of rehabilitation making him eligible to finish his sentence in treatment at Ryther' LAUNCH program. His family struggled with poverty, crime, drug addiction and domestic violence.

In the LAUNCH Program, Joseph has made major strides in changing his life and the goals he has made for himself in a brief six months. He attends individual counseling on a weekly basis, several therapeutic groups in which he explores his "offense cycle," , ways to get out, and stay out of gang life, and avoiding drug abuse....the Ryther Way.

He has asked to have his gang tattoo removed and no longer wears gang clothing. His is finishing high school and is providing a significant and positive role model for other young men in the LAUNCH program. He has definitely proved that he can Learn And Understand New CHoices at Ryther.

Because of the Ryther Way, Joseph has a better chance of becoming a contributing member of society as he rejoins his family in the community.