Alpha Connection

As the holiday season approaches—a time often filled with family traditions, celebration, and togetherness—we at Alpha Connection Youth & Family Services in Apple Valley, CA recognize that this period can be especially difficult for many of the young people we serve. For foster youth, the holidays can stir feelings of loneliness, loss, and uncertainty, particularly when family connections are strained, absent, or complicated.

During these moments, our staff steps into a role that goes far beyond daily care. They become trusted mentors, steady supports, and compassionate listeners. We understand that while the world around them is filled with festive lights and cheerful gatherings, some of our youth are quietly navigating emotions that are far more complex.

Understanding the Holiday Blues

At Alpha Connection, we openly acknowledge the reality of the “holiday blues”—a sense of sadness, isolation, or emotional heaviness that often surfaces during this time of year. Our trained team is skilled at recognizing these feelings and responding with sensitivity and care. We take intentional steps to ensure every young person feels seen, heard, and validated.

Creating a Safe and Supportive Space

Empathy is at the heart of everything we do. During the holidays, we focus on creating a safe, nurturing environment where youth can openly express their feelings without fear of judgment. Through thoughtful conversations, supportive activities, and consistent routines, we help them understand that it’s okay to experience the holidays differently—and that their emotions matter.

Building New, Meaningful Traditions

While honoring each child’s individual experience, we also work to create new, positive memories. Our staff organizes inclusive holiday activities centered on connection, kindness, and shared experiences. These moments help foster a sense of belonging and community, reminding our youth that they are not alone and that they are valued members of something bigger.

Support That Lasts Beyond the Season

Our commitment doesn’t end when the holidays are over. Alpha Connection provides ongoing emotional support, counseling, and programs designed to help youth process their experiences year-round. We remain focused on building resilience, stability, and hope—long after the decorations come down.

How the Community Can Help

We invite our community to stand with us in supporting foster youth during the holidays and throughout the year. Whether through volunteering, donating, or spreading awareness, your involvement helps create a more compassionate and supportive environment for these young individuals.

This holiday season, let us remember the impact of empathy, understanding, and human connection. Together, we can ensure that every child at Alpha Connection feels supported, valued, and part of a caring community—one that extends far beyond traditional definitions of family.

While the holidays are undoubtedly pleasant for many, they can also cause problems for those in recovery. Not only do these celebrations often bring back reminders of times past, but the use of various substances during the holidays can make it hard for someone who has worked to get clean to stay that way. As a friend or family member, then, it is important to know how you can provide support during the holidays.

Don’t Leave Loved Ones Alone During the Holidays

For many, simply having a constant presence can work wonders. So don’t leave your loved one alone during the holidays, whether that means making sure that they have company during important events or simply checking in to have coffee from time to time. Isolation can be a significant issue during recovery, and those who find themselves struggling to connect are also those who might have the most prominent problems staying on the right path as the holidays come and go.

It’s also helpful to make sure that you provide safe alternatives for your friend or family member during his or her recovery. If the person in question is recovering from issues surrounding addiction, for example, you may want to avoid having parties in places that are closely tied to his or her addicted past. Likewise, simply being willing to stay sober during events can allow your friend or family member to feel like they are less alone.

The Importance of Time Management

Finally, make sure that your friend or family member isn’t using the holidays as an excuse to duck out of treatment. While business hours can change wildly during this time of year, make sure that you’re providing support to ensure that they can still get to therapy or attend meetings. Sometimes just being able to give someone a ride can be helpful.

Don’t be afraid to support a friend or family member who is going through recovery. Whether this means being present, providing stability, or just supporting the other person’s journey, you can do a great deal to help ensure that your friend or loved one has a better chance of making it through the holidays unscathed.

Dear Friend of Alpha Connection,

This Thanksgiving season, Alpha Connection Youth & Family Services is preparing to once again bless our community with our Annual Turkey Tailgate Giveaway. On Saturday, November 22, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., we will gather at our Apple Valley campus to distribute 350 turkeys to local families, seniors, and veterans in need.

But we cannot do this without you.

Across America, millions of households are struggling with food insecurity. According to Feeding America, more than 34 million people, including 9 million children, face hunger each year. Here in California, food banks report record demand as families battle the double impact of inflation and rising housing costs. Since 2020, grocery prices have risen by nearly 25%, with staples like turkey, eggs, and dairy seeing some of the highest increases. What was once a simple holiday meal has become out of reach for too many of our neighbors.

For many families in the High Desert, the Turkey Tailgate is more than a giveaway, it’s hope. It’s a reminder that they are not forgotten, that dignity and compassion can meet them at their point of need. With your help, Alpha Connection can provide not just food, but comfort and connection during this season of gratitude.

We invite you to partner with us by becoming a Turkey Tailgate Sponsor:

·       $50 –   Supporter of Alpha

·       $100 – Friend of Alpha

·       $250 – Alpha Pal

·       $500 – Alpha Connection Gold Donor

Your tax-deductible gift will directly purchase turkeys and holiday essentials for those who might otherwise go without. Together, we can ensure that our most vulnerable, seniors living on fixed incomes, veterans who have sacrificed for our nation, and families working hard to make ends meet, experience the joy of a warm Thanksgiving meal.

We know that times are challenging for everyone, but your generosity can transform this season for hundreds of households. Imagine the smile of a child seeing a holiday table full of food, the relief of a parent spared the choice between rent and groceries, the gratitude of a veteran who knows their community remembers them.

Please join us in making this vision a reality. Your support today will put food on tables and hope in hearts.

To donate, please visit alphaconnection.org/donation or call us directly at (760) 247-7930 Checks may be sent to 22675 Anoka Rd. Apple Valley, CA 92308.

On behalf of all of us at Alpha Connection, thank you for being part of this mission of compassion. Together, we can make this Thanksgiving brighter for our community.

With gratitude,

Barron Wilson
Chief Executive Officer
Alpha Connection Youth & Family Services

https://alphaconnection.org 760-247-7930

At Alpha Connection, we’ve seen firsthand how powerful a single act of generosity can be. For over three decades, we’ve worked tirelessly to uplift and support troubled youth—helping them rediscover purpose, rebuild confidence, and reclaim their future. But none of this would be possible without you—our community, our supporters, and the heart of our mission.

While there are many ways nonprofits like ours can secure funding, donations remain the heartbeat of everything we do. They’re not just about finances—they’re about connection, compassion, and commitment.

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More Than a Check—A Lifeline of Purpose

When someone gives to Alpha Connection, it’s more than just a financial contribution. It’s a statement. It says, “I believe in what you’re doing. I believe these young lives are worth investing in.”

Each donation we receive is a bridge—a powerful link between our mission and the hearts of those in the community who share our vision. It tells us that our work matters, that our message is resonating, and that together, we’re building something meaningful.

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Donations Reflect Community Engagement

Donations are more than just support—they’re real-time feedback. They tell us when our message is connecting. They help us gauge whether our outreach is reaching the right people, whether our programs are aligned with the needs of the youth we serve, and whether our community feels seen and heard.

If the giving slows, we don’t just look at the numbers—we look inward. Are we communicating clearly? Are we staying true to our mission? Are we listening to the needs around us?

Your support helps keep us accountable, responsive, and grounded in the community we serve.

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Your Generosity Keeps Us Going—And Growing

At Alpha Connection, we don’t see donations as handouts. We see them as partnerships—powerful collaborations between those who give and those who serve. They allow us to provide safe spaces, mentorship, crisis support, educational resources, and life-changing programs for youth who might otherwise fall through the cracks.

Every dollar is a spark of hope. Every gift is a step forward for a young person in need.

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Be Part of the Story

If you’ve supported us before—thank you. If you’re just learning about Alpha Connection—welcome. There’s always room to join us in this mission of healing, empowerment, and transformation.

Together, we’re not just making a difference—we’re making futures possible.

The teenage years can be difficult to navigate – teens are developing social skills with not only their friends, but with other adults and members of the opposite sex. They will have successes and failures, and it’s important that they have a trusted individual that can guide them when it comes to fostering healthy relationships. Below are several tips that can be reinforced to help teens foster healthy relationships.

1. Respect is key. Speak to others the way you wish to be spoken to, and that includes the tone of voice you use and the words you choose to communicate with. If conversations become too heated, it’s okay to take a step back, compose yourself, and return when your emotions are a little more under control.
2. Establish boundaries. Know in advance what you are and aren’t willing to do in certain social situations, and stick to your decisions. When you stand up for what you believe in, others can respect you for it and may be inspired to establish their own standards in life.
3. Practice conversations with a trusted individual. If you need to have a difficult conversation, practice what you are going to say beforehand with someone you know and trust. Knowing what you want to say will help keep your emotions in check and help you keep your thoughts organized and collected.
4. Keep your social circle open to new individuals. We all like to have a few close friends, but having new acquaintances broadens our experiences and opens us up to new ideas, and exposes us to things we may not get the chance to experience otherwise.
5. Helping others allows you to help yourself. When you are helping someone in need, it allows you to reflect on things and see things from another person’s perspective. Another’s life experiences may be totally different from your own, and you can each learn from the other.
6. Try to avoid preconceived notions or prejudices towards others. Outward appearances are just that – you never know what is truly on the inside until you begin a conversation and start to get to know someone.

Many parents believe that at some point around the time their kids become teenagers, their kids become foreign creatures who act bizarre, dress strangely, and are impossible to communicate with. It is important for parents to have open communication. It is also important for teens to be able to express themselves and be heard. Communication is one of the most powerful tools teens can have in their arsenal. Here are some tips for getting them armed for the future.

Steps to Teaching Effective Communication

Listening is the first and more important key to good communication. We need to encourage them to talk and then listen with interest when they do. Let them finish their thought without interrupting. It is vital that they know we hear them. Teach them to listen as well. Do not just demand they listen. Explain active listening to them and why it is important for them to use in the future.

Teenagers need specifics. When talking about issues, discuss behavior, not personalities traits. Try to be logical and not judgmental. Let them know what they need to be doing, but also let them know why. Knowing the reason for behavior helps them to reason through behaviors in the future. Also, please take this opportunity to teach them skills for communicating with adults. Sometimes they feel we are a little foreign too. Help them understand we are on the same side and want the same things.

When things get a little heated, take a break. Teach your teenager it is okay for them to ask for a break if they are getting a little overwhelmed. Be patient and allow them to gather their thoughts, catch their breath, and process the conversation. Teach them to do this as well and let them know that when speaking to adults, sometimes we are a little slow and need time to process information as well.

Communication is a vital tool, and teaching your teen how to use it correctly will serve them well in their future endeavors. Learn how to talk to your teen with patience and respect and teach them these communication skills as well. It is important to talk calmly, using logic instead of emotion. It is important to listen effectively without interrupting and letting them know you hear them. It is vital to communicate, a good skill for you, and a good skill to teach your teen for the future.

Counseling can be an incredibly useful experience for those who are in the process of recovering from trauma or addiction. It can also be a useful process for anyone who is looking to sort through personal issues or who simply feels like they need help moving forward in their lives. With that said, it can be difficult to speak to a counselor for the first time, especially if you’re going in without outside supports. That’s why it’s vital to have a plan to prepare for your first counseling session.

Steps Toward Counseling

The first step to take is to think about the reason why you are attending counseling. For some, those reasons will be crystal clear from the first moment. For others, though, it will take a bit of digging to figure out why you are looking for help. It’s entirely appropriate to go to counseling simply because you’re not sure what else to do because you want to get your life on track, but it never hurts to spend a bit of time interrogating your reasoning for speaking with a counselor.

The next step is to prepare yourself for what an actual counseling session is like. While there are many depictions of counseling in media, most of them are quite inaccurate. It might be useful for you to call the counseling office to find out what to expect for your first session. In some cases, you’ll simply complete some minor intake paperwork and spend a bit of time on introductions. In other cases, you might get right to work. Knowing what comes next can calm your nerves and better prepare you for what comes next.

No matter what you do, you should also remember that meeting with a counselor is ultimately your choice. You have the power in this situation, so you are taking a positive step to improve your own life. If you are ready to speak with someone about the problems that you are encountering, you should give yourself credit for taking an action that will ultimately give you more options as to how you will move forward to a better future.

Dear Friends, Colleagues, and Community Partners,

We are excited to announce that Alpha Connection Youth & Family Services, in partnership with 360 Human Services, will be hosting a Back-to-School Backpack Giveaway on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at our Corporate Office/Choice Medical Center site, located at 18522 Hwy 18, Apple Valley, CA 92307.

This drive-thru event is aimed at helping families prepare for the upcoming school year by providing the first 300 youth (ages 18 and under) with free backpacks filled with essential school supplies. In addition, we will be presenting 10 local teachers with fully stocked classroom supply baskets—acknowledging that many educators often purchase classroom items out of their own pockets.

We kindly ask for your support in helping us spread the word by sharing the attached flyer through your networks, social media platforms, and community spaces. If you’re in a position to do so, we also welcome any donations or sponsorships—no matter how small—that will help us continue to bridge the gap for students and educators in need.

Your support makes a real difference, and together, we can help ensure every child gets off to a strong start this school year.

With gratitude,

Barron WilsonChief Executive Officer
Alpha Connection Youth & Family Services

 (760) 247-7930

 barron@alphaconnection.org

June is Pride Month—a time to celebrate love, visibility, and the ongoing fight for equality within the LGBTQ+ community. While parades and public declarations of pride take center stage, it’s also a time to reflect on those who are often unseen—LGBTQ+ youth in the foster care system.

At Alpha Connection Youth & Family Services, we serve youth from every walk of life, including those navigating the complex intersections of identity, trauma, and displacement. For LGBTQ+ foster children, this journey can be especially isolating.

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The Reality for LGBTQ+ Foster Youth

National studies consistently show that LGBTQ+ youth are overrepresented in the foster care system, making up an estimated 30% of foster youth—a striking number considering they represent far fewer in the general population. Many of these youth enter care after facing rejection, abuse, or neglect at home simply because of who they are or how they identify.

Once in the system, LGBTQ+ youth may continue to experience discrimination, bullying, or a lack of understanding from caregivers or peers. They may be placed in homes where their identity is not affirmed, or worse, where it is dismissed altogether. This lack of emotional safety can lead to higher rates of depression, homelessness, and suicidal ideation among LGBTQ+ foster youth.

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What Pride Month Means for Foster Youth

Pride Month isn’t just about rainbows and celebrations—it’s about affirming the right of every individual to be seen, heard, and valued. For LGBTQ+ foster youth, Pride Month is a reminder that they are not alone, and that their identity is not a liability—it is something to be respected and celebrated.

At Alpha Connection, we believe in creating safe, inclusive, and affirming environments where youth can be their authentic selves. Our trauma-informed care approach is rooted in compassion, cultural humility, and the unwavering belief that every young person deserves a sense of belonging.

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Our Commitment to LGBTQ+ Youth

We are committed to:

• Training our staff to understand the unique needs of LGBTQ+ youth, including the use of correct pronouns, respectful language, and culturally competent care
• Creating safe spaces within our residential homes where youth feel free to express themselves without fear
• Collaborating with LGBTQ+ organizations to connect our youth with mentors, role models, and affirming services
• Listening deeply to our youth and advocating for their rights, their safety, and their dignity

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How You Can Help

This Pride Month, we encourage our community to move beyond celebration into action:

• Support inclusive policies in child welfare systems
• Volunteer or donate to programs that directly serve LGBTQ+ foster youth
• Educate yourself and others about the challenges these youth face
• Affirm and uplift the voices of young people who need to know they are loved and seen

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A Message of Hope

To every LGBTQ+ youth in foster care: You are not alone. You are valued, you are powerful, and you are worthy of love and stability. Pride is more than a celebration—it is a declaration that you belong.

At Alpha Connection, we stand with you—this month and every month.