Family & Youth Forum
E-Newsletter from Family & Youth    Lake Charles, LA

February
2  0  0  7

 What's Inside

Front Page

Market Your Mission

A Powerful Voice

A Team Approach

Building Social Connections

Experience a Change

Our Business is Taking Care of Yours

The Back Page

Mission
It is the belief of Family & Youth that all individuals possess the ability to solve their own challenges and live full healthy lives when support is available. It is the mission of Family & Youth to provide affordable and professional support through programs and services dedicated to advocacy, counseling, and education for the people of Southwest Louisiana. Our effort and commitment to building family values will guarantee a stable and stronger community.

Past Issues

February 2007

September 2006

May 2006

Building Social Connections
by Danielle R. Caraway, MA, LPC, LMFT, Director of Autism Support Alliance

Consider the possibility of feeling frustrated, obsessed, distracted, and frightened, but not knowing why. Imagine feeling this way all day, every day. Imagine living with an autism spectrum disorder.

Today, one of 150 babies born will develop some form of autism. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition that affects a person’s ability to communicate, to reason, and to interact with others. ASD is more common than childhood cancer, cystic fibrosis, and multiple sclerosis combined, and it is a lifelong disorder.

The Autism Support Alliance, a program of Family & Youth, promotes opportunities for individuals with ASD and their families to become fully participating members in their communities. We provide a safe, tolerant environment in which children, adolescents, and young adults can learn and practice valuable social skills.

To learn how you can assist the Autism Support Alliance in helping those with ASD build their own social connections, please call us at 337-436-9533, or visit us on the web at www.fyca.org.

Saying Thank You

Autism Support Alliance advisory council member Ramby Cormier thanks College Oaks Elementary School principal Arlene Hobaugh for participating in the Denim Days for Autism fundraiser with two books. The books To Be Me and Looking After Louis are stories about children with an autism spectrum disorder.