The Relatives Family Update
Please ensure you scroll down to read all of the recent stories in this newsletter.
“When we’re frustrated or going through a tough time, we all just need that one person in our corner to really listen and care.”
– A young adult at The Relatives
My name is Melvin Battle, and I serve as the mental health counselor specializing in trauma and post-traumatic stress at On Ramp Resource Center.
As we recognize May as Mental Health Awareness Month, I want to share how your support makes a lasting difference—especially during a time when our nation is facing a profound mental health crisis.
At The Relatives, we see the impact of this crisis every day. The young adults we serve have endured severe trauma before arriving at our doors. Over half have been involved in child welfare investigations for abuse or neglect, and more than 30% have had contact with the criminal justice system. These young people carry heavy burdens—and yet, they show up, ready to grow.
Alongside our dedicated program staff, I work closely with these youth to begin the hard, necessary process of healing. We help them identify and untangle the effects of trauma, set goals, and take steps toward independence and stability. The work isn’t easy, but it’s deeply rewarding. Every day, I witness remarkable transformations—and the ripple effect this has on our entire community is powerful.
Unaddressed trauma can become a major barrier for young people trying to break the cycle of crisis. But thanks to your generosity, we’re able to offer on-site mental health support that meets youth where they are—providing them the tools to process pain, build resilience, and find hope.
To thrive, young people need more than services—they need relationships with caring adults who show up consistently and unconditionally. That’s what The Relatives offers and what our young adults need. Your gratitude and support help make On Ramp a reliable resource for our young adults. Thank you for being in their corner. Thank you for being a Relative.
Melvin Battle, LCMHCS, Trauma Informed
Mental Health Counselor
On Ramp Resource Center | The Relatives
Summer On The Horizon
Summer will be here before we know it; whether we’re ready or not, hot days and kids home from school means extra planning for everyone including our Youth Crisis Center staff.
The Relatives will need meals throughout the day since youth staying at the shelter will be around during the days instead of in school. This change means our staff is spending more time in the kitchen rather than engaging with our youth in enrichment, counseling, and support activities.
You can make a tremendous difference for everyone by volunteering to provide a meal for our youth once or all summer long – homemade on-site, store-bought and dropped off, or Uber Eats are all wonderful options!
Please click here to register as a volunteer and browse our real-time volunteer needs. Questions? Please contact volunteer coordinator Redia Baxter.
Empowering Parents Through Love and Logic
Each month, Case Manager Yvette Smithen leads our transformative Love and Logic program, designed specifically for the young adults we serve. This program equips parents with essential tools and mindsets to enhance their parenting skills, fostering a nurturing and supportive environment for their children. Through interactive sessions, Yvette guides participants in developing effective communication strategies, setting healthy boundaries, and managing stress- all crucial elements for successful parenting and navigating our community as an adult.
Love and Logic is just one of the many programs we offer to support young parenting adults. By providing these resources, we aim to free them from the daily pressures of parenting, allowing them to focus on personal growth and self-improvement. Our holistic approach ensures that parents not only become better caregivers but also have the opportunity to better themselves, creating a positive ripple effect in their families and communities.
Join us in celebrating the success of our Love and Logic program and the dedication of Yvette Smithen – along with all our Case Managers and program staff – as they support the mental health and wellbeing of the young adults we serve.
Together, we are making a difference in the lives of young parents, empowering them to thrive both as individuals and as caregivers.
Continue Making A Difference
Mental health services are one of the many ways The Relatives help support the most vulnerable young adults who experience homelessness or housing insecurity in Charlotte.
The Relatives has expanded access to mental health counseling services both at The Youth Crisis Center and On Ramp Resource Center, ensuring this crucial care is available whenever needed.
Responding to the mental health challenges faced by our young people carries a cost of $115.00 an hour. You can help support young people in crisis as they journey towards stability by making a gift today.
Circle Back and Help Us Hit Our Target!
Until June 30th, all your purchases at Target can help to benefit The Relatives!
By signing up or using your existing Target account each time you shop, you can gain rewards points through the Target app just by providing your phone number at checkout. Your rewards points can be donated to support The Relatives and the more points accumulated, the more Target gives to support our critical work.
Each time you shop at Target, make sure you enter your phone number at checkout. Then in your Target App, you can click ‘My Target’ and then ‘Explore Benefits’ to view how many votes you have currently and can use them to vote in their Community Support feature.
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