Families and Youth, Inc.
Brian Kavanaugh has an extensive work experience in various leadership and management roles in the field of youth and family services. Brian served as the Chief Executive Officer and Acting Chief Executive Officer at Families & Youth, Inc, where they led the overall strategic and operational functions of the organization. Brian cultivated a community level collective impact culture, ensured programmatic excellence, and developed a strong board of directors. Brian also served as the Chief Operations Officer, where they provided leadership and managed a comprehensive array of services and programs. Before that, they were the Division Director of Juvenile Justice & Prevention Programs, where they supervised multiple community-based programs and secured program funding. Prior to that, they held roles as the Director of Juvenile Justice Programs, Program Manager in Juvenile Community Corrections, and Case Manager in various programs. Additionally, they worked as a Youth Development Specialist at Crossroads For Youth and as a Youth Specialist at the Ottawa County Juvenile Detention Center.
Brian Kavanaugh earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Juvenile Justice from Grand Valley State University. Brian attended this institution from 1998 to 2002. Later, they pursued a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree in Public Administration at New Mexico State University and completed it from 2014 to 2016.
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Families and Youth, Inc.
Families and Youth, Inc., (FYI) underlying philosophy is to build on family and individual strengths to preserve family ties whenever possible. FYI's approach to youth development is to empower the youth to increase personal assets and enhance coping/survival skills. A multi-systemic approach to providing services is utilized by the staff, emphasizing specific skill development. Individual cognitive behavioral therapy and strategic or structural family therapy are provided to the adolescent and their families based on their individual treatment plan. FYI began as Children in Need of Services (CHINS, INC.,) on April 1977 under the leadership of Jose V. Frietze, LISW. To assess what services were needed, future State Representative Antonio Lujan, LISW, wrote a conceptual white paper and introduced the concept of a program based on the Salvador Minuchin Model of Family Therapy. Using this model, the CHINS approach focused on the participation of the entire family to enhance the possibility of a child's success. This model was adopted for statewide implementation of CHINS Services. As a result of elections in New Mexico, a new Governor was elected in 1984. That Governor proceeded to eliminate all funding for CHINS programs statewide. This sudden and dramatic change in funding forced CHINS, Inc., to re-examine its organizational structure and its focus. CHINS, Inc. was on the verge of closing down and the staff members who remained chose to make this challenge an opportunity. Collectively they decided to rename the agency Families & Youth, Inc., (FYI). A mission statement was developed and a new assertive attitude surfaced among the FYI staff.