Alexander Youth Network

04/10/2026

Last Friday, we were honored to take part in Mental Health Night with the Charlotte Hornets, including a powerful pre‑game panel centered on a simple but essential truth: Every Child Needs a Team. 🏀💙

Moderated by Mathu Gibson, the conversation brought together lived experience, clinical insight, and community leadership to explore what today’s children are navigating — and how caring, connected adults make all the difference.

We’re incredibly grateful to our panelists Brennon Graham, Fonda Bryant, and Cali Johnson for sharing their voices and insights, and to everyone who joined us in person to listen, learn, and engage.

At Alexander Youth Network, our work is about building bridges — between children and families, support and services, challenges and hope. Nights like this remind us why that work matters and how powerful it is when a community shows up together.

And of course… the Hornets taking home the W didn’t hurt! 🐝🎉

Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make this such a meaningful night.

04/09/2026

🐾Bark and Heal 🐾

Watching a therapy dog graduate is something special, especially when our kids have been part of the journey from the very beginning. Through teaching, guiding, and building trust with Sunny, they were also building confidence, patience, and emotional strength within themselves.

As Sunny grew, so did they. And that is what makes moments like this so meaningful.

A special thank you to our partners at Billie’s Buddies for helping Sunny graduate from our Bark and Heal program at Alexander Youth Network.

And thank you to Sunny’s new foster parents, Nate and Anna, for continuing his journey with so much love 🐾

04/07/2026

We’re celebrating a special milestone at Alexander Youth Network 💙

Please join us in welcoming Ozlem Ugur, who was officially licensed as a Therapeutic Foster Parent on March 3, 2026. This is more than a milestone. It is a commitment to providing a safe, supportive home for a child who needs it most.

Our Therapeutic Foster Care Program creates healing partnerships between families and foster parents to support children facing mental health challenges and trauma related behaviors.

✨ Why our program matters:
✔️ Stable, nurturing environments where children can heal and grow
✔️ Evidence based approaches like Pressley Ridge and Together Facing the Challenge
✔️ Ongoing training and support every step of the way

We are currently enrolling for our next foster parent training class:

📅 May 4 through June 15
(No class on Memorial Day)

🔗 Learn more and apply: https://www.alexanderyouthnetwork.org/how-to-become-a-foster-parent-nc/

If you’ve ever thought about fostering, this could be your moment to change a child’s life.

04/06/2026

A few weeks ago, we asked our team who they thought would take home the NCAA Men’s National Title. 🏀 Now, with the final matchup set, it’s time to see whose bracket held strong… and whose didn’t 👀

From confident picks to last-minute upsets, our staff had a lot to say and kept the energy high all tournament long. It’s been a fun way to connect, spark a little friendly competition, and bring some excitement into our day-to-day work.

Now it’s your turn.
Who are you rooting for to win it all?

Drop your pick in the comments ⬇️

04/06/2026

🐰 The Easter Bunny hopped by our campus for some springtime fun! 🐰

Our campus was filled with smiles and excitement as our kids enjoyed a special Easter egg hunt, all thanks to our amazing friends at New City Church.

Because of their time and generosity, our children were able to create joyful memories and simply enjoy being kids.

We are so thankful for community partners like New City Church who continue to show up and make moments like this possible. 💚

04/02/2026

Meet Ann Payne, one of our dedicated Lunch Buddies at Alexander Youth Network 🍎

Through something as simple as sharing a meal, Ann is building meaningful connections and creating moments that matter for the children we serve.

Becoming a Lunch or Dinner Buddy is a small commitment that can make a lasting impact. By setting aside just one hour each week, you can share a meal on campus and take part in enriching activities with a child during a weekday or weeknight.

Sometimes, the most powerful support is simply showing up.

Interested in making a difference? Individuals must be at least 21 years old to participate.

Learn more and get involved:
https://www.alexanderyouthnetwork.org/make-a-difference/volunteer/

04/01/2026

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month 💙

In North Carolina, there are more than 115,000 investigated reports of possible child abuse or neglect each year. Behind every number is a child who deserves safety, stability, and care.

At Alexander Youth Network, we are committed to being part of the solution. Through prevention, early intervention, crisis stabilization, residential treatment, and family based services, we work to support children and families at every stage.

Together, we can create safer spaces and stronger futures for every child.

03/31/2026

Every child deserves a team.

Join us for a powerful and timely conversation on children’s mental health during Mental Health Night at the Spectrum Center.

We’re proud to host a special panel, Every Child Needs a Team, bringing together leaders and advocates who are committed to changing the way we show up for youth:

✨ Brennon D. Graham, President & CEO, Alexander Youth Network
✨ Mathu Gibson, Former Professional Football Player & Founder, Connecting the Dots
✨ Fonda Bryant, Founder & Executive Director, Wellness Action Recovery, Inc.
✨ Cali Johnson, MSW, LCSW, Therapist, Alexander Youth Network

🗓 April 3rd
🕒1:00 PM
📍 Spectrum Center
🎟 Free with event ticket: https://www.gofevo.com/event/AlexanderYouth23
A portion of the proceeds will benefit Alexander Children's Foundation.

This conversation will center on resilience, access to care, and the life-changing impact of having the right support system. Because when one caring adult shows up, outcomes can change.

Then stay and be part of the energy. Doors open at 5:30 PM for shoot-arounds and pregame experiences before tip-off at 7:00 pm.

Let’s come together as a community to elevate the conversation around children’s mental health and show what it truly means to be part of a child’s team. @top fans

03/30/2026

03/30/2026

Ukeru has officially launched, and our kiddos are already hands-on 💚

Ukeru is a trauma-informed approach that focuses on comfort and creating safer spaces for children. It helps reduce the need for physical interventions by meeting kids where they are and supporting them in moments of stress with understanding and care.

A special shoutout to Patrick Brown, Tasheena Adhahn Sutton, Ashley Sparks, Marshand Hager, Brianna New, and our incredible team at our Facility-Based Crisis program for leading the way. They kicked things off by inviting the kids to paint the mats with bright colors, positive quotes, and fun characters. What started as part of the implementation quickly turned into a moment of creativity and joy.

This gave our kiddos a chance to feel included, take ownership, and help create a space that feels safe and welcoming.

03/27/2026

Alexander Youth Network and our affiliates, The Relatives and Youth Focus, have completed our triennial Joint Commission survey. 🎉

The Joint Commission is one of the nation’s most rigorous accrediting bodies for healthcare organizations. Many mental health providers choose not to pursue Joint Commission accreditation because of how demanding the standards are. We do, because children and families deserve care that is safe, consistent, and held to the highest expectations, even when no one is watching.

This survey takes a close look at how we do our work, from safety practices and clinical care to staff support and continuous improvement. While the final accreditation decision comes later, the survey itself went extremely well and reflects the strength of our organization and our programs.

This kind of result is only possible because of our people.

To every member of our Alexander, Youth Focus, and The Relatives team, thank you. You show up every day with compassion, skill, and persistence. You sit with young people in their hardest moments and keep believing in them. This survey outcome reflects who you are, not just what you do.

And to our Performance Improvement team, your tireless behind-the-scenes work makes excellence possible. This moment belongs to you.

Together, we build bridges to hope and healing—and we are deeply grateful and incredibly proud of the team doing that work every single day.💚

03/26/2026

An hour out of your day could make a lasting impact on a young person’s life. 💚

At Alexander Youth Network, volunteers help create meaningful moments for the children and families we serve. From supporting campus activities and special events to helping with projects or simply showing up with encouragement, every act of service matters.

We invite you to visit our campus, take a tour, and see how you can get involved. Your time can help create positive experiences and brighter days for the youth in our care.

Learn more about volunteering and sign up today: https://www.alexanderyouthnetwork.org/make-a-difference/volunteer/