The Relatives Family Update

Why Mental Health Matters in Crisis

When a young person arrives at The Relatives Crisis Center, they are often carrying more than a single moment of crisis. Mental health care allows us to address the emotional distress underneath it, helping youth feel safe, understood, and steady enough to begin healing.

At the Crisis Center, we serve children and adolescents ages 7 to 17 who are facing family conflict, homelessness, or other destabilizing situations. Through trauma informed counseling, a secure environment, and access to 24 hour crisis support, we focus on stabilizing the present while supporting long term resilience.

Recently, Mr. Randy, our part-time Licensed Mental Health Clinician at the Crisis Center, worked with a young boy grieving the loss of his father while navigating major changes at home. Initially guarded, the young boy slowly found the words to express his grief and fear. With support, he was able to share those feelings with his mother, opening the door to deeper understanding and connection.

Mental health care in crisis response is not about fixing everything at once. It is about creating space for honesty, strengthening relationships, and helping young people move forward with dignity and hope.

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A Note From Trish

Most of the youth arriving at The Relatives have faced severe abuse, neglect, and loss that require attention. Mental health care does not always happen in an office. For many of the young people we serve, support begins in the community, on a walk, during a phone call, or through a follow-up at home or on-site at one of our locations.

At The Relatives, we meet kids where they are. Our counselors build trust by showing up consistently and flexibly, recognizing that healing is rooted in relationship, not just case notes. They listen, check in, and stay connected in ways that reflect the realities young people are navigating every day.

This approach matters because many of the youth and families we serve have experienced systems that felt distant or hard to access. Care that adapts to real life helps make mental health support feel possible and safe.

I’m grateful for donors like you who enable us to maintain part-time therapists at both our centers. As requests for flexible mental health support continue to grow, our goal is to expand counseling services to five days a week so we can respond more consistently and reach more young people. The gap is real, and closing it would make a meaningful difference in the lives of the youth we serve.

Thank you for your support in helping The Relatives show up for youth in crisis in moments of despair.

Trish Hobson
Executive Director
The Relatives

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Last Month at The Relatives:

Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon

In April, we honored National Volunteer Appreciation Month with a luncheon celebrating our incredible supporters. We were proud to recognize our unsung, everyday heroes Todd Yaeger and Elizabeth Daly, along with groups who exemplify the spirit of service- including the women of the Community School of Davidson and Elevation Church Uptown. While April serves as a national reminder of the impact volunteers make, we are grateful every day, as our mission is possible only because of the commitment of our dedicated community. Thank you for the meaningful difference you continue to make.

Health Fest Carnival

Our Spring Health Fest Carnival brought together 17 local organizations and service providers to support more than 30 young adults. From child and family planning to fitness and overall wellness, participants received access to on-site exams and meaningful connections to trusted providers. These resources will help our clients take important next steps toward maintaining healthy, fulfilling lives.

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A Space Made for Healing

Thanks to support from donor Pat Dries and the Dries Family, and the congregation of Myers Park UMC, the renovated Snowy Peak House at the Crisis Center now houses Hope is Here, a counseling space designed to offer calm, privacy, and care for youth and families at the Crisis Center.

As Rev. Ben Rogers, Pastor and Associate Director of Missions at Myers Park UMC, shared:

“Our mission at Myers Park UMC, at its core, is simple: love God, love neighbor. Partnering with The Relatives has been a beautiful way for our congregation to live that out in tangible ways in our own community.”

Pat Dries, who named the Snowy Peak House in memory of her husband, reflected on why this space is so important for young people in crisis:

“Removing the stigmatism around mental health help is extremely important. No one is immune to stress, anxiety, and mental health challenges.”

Because of this support, the Hope is Here counseling room offers more than a renovated room. It offers a place where young people can be heard, supported, and encouraged as they begin their healing journey.

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Make A Connection, Make A Difference

Sometimes making a difference is as simple as opening a door. Many of our strongest partnerships at The Relatives began because a supporter thought, “I know someone who should hear about this.” When you introduce us to people, groups, or organizations who share our values, those connections often grow into something more powerful than any of us expected.

If you believe your employer, community group, church, or a friend would appreciate the work happening at The Relatives, we’d love to meet them. You can reply directly to this email with your ideas, or if you feel comfortable, copy your contact and make the first introduction. From there, we can explore their interests, share our impact, and help them find the place where their passion fits within our mission.

Your connections can help grow our family of supporters, one introduction at a time.

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Here Before You Know It

Summer brings a surge of youth seeking comfort and support at The Relatives, and we rely on our volunteers to help meet that increased need head-on.

Daytime activity leaders, meal providers, and snack donors keep our Youth Crisis Center and On Ramp Resource Center running strong when demand spikes, freeing our staff’s attention to the invaluable services they provide for our youth and young adults.

By bringing your presence or dedicating your outside time and energy, you can both directly and indirectly touch many lives when they need it the most. Learn more by contacting Volunteer Engagement Officer Redia Baxter with your ideas and questions at rbaxter@therelatives.org