Happy Anniversary Carrie Spencer!
Carrie Spencer Celebrates 25 Years at Alexander Youth Network! Happy 25-year “AYN*niversary” to our Contract Specialist, Carrie Spencer! Carrie first joined Alexander Youth Network as a Recreational Therapist back in the late 1990’s and through the years, has worked in many different positions. “I’ve always been passionate about working with children and believe strongly in […]
Happy Anniversary Leonard Shinhoster!
Leonard Shinhoster Celebrates 23 Years at Alexander Youth Network! Happy 23-year “AYN*niversary” to Leonard Shinhoster, our Vice President of Residential Services! Leonard joined Alexander Youth Network in 2000 and noted, “When I joined AYN 23 years ago, I honestly did not know what culture I was walking into coming from another agency where the culture […]
Preparing Kids to Transition Back to School After Winter Break
The holiday season has just wrapped up and for children and parents, that also means the end of a long winter break period. Children are returning to school and for some, this can be an exciting time to see friends again and continue learning. For others however, the return to school can be difficult and […]
Providing a Safe and Affirming Space for LGBTQ Teens
Importance of Relationships in Therapeutic Foster Care Over 20 years ago, Gladys welcomed her first foster children into her home. With four biological daughters of her own, adding three more young girls to the family made for a very full house with love and laughter. Since that first placement, Gladys and her family have cared […]
Creating Calming Rooms
A Calming Room is a space that is meant to be a supportive therapeutic environment which assists children in self-calming efforts by offering them a designated space to relax and self-regulate. It is a designated place designed to calm the senses where the student can experience calming visual, auditory, and tactile stimuli. Items that should […]
Bark and Heal: Building Relationships & Building Skills
Alexander Youth Network welcomes the latest Bark and Heal class to our Charlotte Psychiatric Residential Program. Bark and Heal is one of the many therapeutic programs at Alexander Youth Network. The canine skills training programs offers the children at Alexander the opportunity to develop individual relationships with the dog they are paired within the program. At the […]
Alexander Youth Network and Anuvia Collaborate for Adolescent Treatment Services
Alexander Youth Network and Anuvia Collaborate for Adolescent Treatment Services Anuvia, one of Charlotte’s largest substance use prevention and recovery agencies in Mecklenburg County, will collaborate with Alexander Youth Network (AYN) to provide services for Adolescent Substance Use Treatment. In Mecklenburg County, substance use continues to impact our adolescent population. Among middle and high […]
Alexander Establishes an All-Inclusive Psychiatric Residential Treatment Program
Alexander Establishes an All-Inclusive Psychiatric Residential Treatment Program. Alexander Youth Network is excited to be chosen as a partner with Alliance Behavioral Health to pilot an All-Inclusive Psychiatric Residential Treatment Program (IPRTF). IPRTF is designed to address the barriers to successful discharge, long term therapeutic gains, and reduced likelihood of readmission. Through the partnership with Alliance Behavioral Health, the […]
Finding Calm On Their Own Time – In Their Own Space
Alexander Youth Network implements calming rooms to give children the opportunity to identify how they can best self-regulate under stress. Many of the children that are seeking treatment at Alexander Youth Network struggle to manage their mental and behavioral health challenges in social settings. They may act out, show signs of aggression, and find it […]
