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Making a difference in the lives of troubled youth

By Livi Regenbaum, Staff Writer

February 22, 2002

Sandi Isaacson

The 16-year-old's life was on the skids. He was failing school, and drinking heavily became a daily routine. When he got in trouble with the law, the court sent Joe (not his real name) to Lifeskills Management Center, a non-profit agency that addresses the needs of delinquent children and their families.

Not thrilled at first with the prospect, Joe told The Chronicle he was surprised later to find out how much the center helped him and how he grew to love the place.

"It is a place where everyone cares about kids here," Joe said. "It is another option from The Kansas Juvenile Correctional Facility in Topeka. I was court-ordered to come here by the judge. (Until) you come here, you never realize how much an anger-management program could actually help you."

Congregation BIAV (Beth Israel Abraham & Voliner) member Sandi Isaacson, who has a doctorate in psychology, was named associate clinical director of the center in January, She agrees with Joe: It is a place where troubled kids can get help.

"We love kids that the rest of society has given up on," Isaacson said. The center's programs have helped Joe, for one, she said..

"Joe is a 16-year-old who entered our program because of multiple problems at home, school and in the community," she said. "Now he has put himself on a career path, has improved relationships with his family and is beginning to receive passing grades in school."

Founded in 1992 by Congregation Beth Torah member James Khalili, who has a doctorate in psychology, and funded by the United Way, Lifeskills Management Center's principle has been to keep children and parents together whenever possible. LMC, 413 E. Santa Fe, Olathe, Kan., provides a wide range of long and short counseling programs including group, individual and family therapy, at little or no cost to families whose children are at imminent risk of residential or group-home placement. It also provides psychological evaluations to court-involved youth and provides training and consultation to judges, probation officers, detention-center staff, attorneys, schools and other mental-health professionals throughout the area.

Since 1999, Isaacson has been with Lifeskills Management Center. As associate clinical director, Isaacson puts in 12-hour days helping kids like Joe by leading and overseeing group and individual psychological sessions. She also is responsible for supervising interns.

A licensed psychologist, Isaacson received her degree in counseling psychology from Michigan State University and completed postdoctoral training in child and adolescent clinical psychology at the Menninger Foundation in Topeka.

Isaacson said she finds her job most enjoyable when she can help make a difference in the lives of kids. "To me, the most rewarding thing is seeing a youngster become aware that there are other, more positive, options for himself or herself," she said.

Khalili said Isaacson is a real asset to LMC. "Dr. Isaacson is an enthusiastic therapist and superb evaluator," Khalili said. "Our clients are indeed fortunate to have this quality of therapist available to them."

On a daily basis, Isaacson said, the center deals with kids who been ordered to come from the court system and have committed three non-violent crimes such as shoplifting, car theft, disobedience, defiance in school or problems respecting authority in the home.

Isaacson said many youngsters also have disabilities that keep them from performing well in school. "A very high percentage of our kids have undiagnosed or untreated learning disabilities, which makes it harder. They begin to fall behind academically, socially and emotionally," Isaacson said.

LMC welcomes kids from any county, and they do not have to have a court order to be accepted by the center.

As a psychologist, Isaacson said that today's world is a difficult place for kids and that it is vitally important that they have adults who will listen to them and try to understand them.

"I think kids today are living in more complex times than they have lived before," Isaacson said. "They live with the reality that there are people out there who are willing to crash planes into buildings and bring guns into schools. I think it is most important to constantly communicate with our kids. To let them know that we value them and form bridges to them to reduce their isolation and alienation that has been a factor in every documented school shooting. It is only when teen-agers feel that they don't have relationships with adults that they turn to their friends, music, TV and pop culture to make their decisions."

The goal of the center, said Isaacson, is to help youths find a positive focus and develop their character. "Our goal is to help these young people develop into caring, contributing, law-abiding citizens and help their families become supportive, nurturing environments," she said.

Isaacson said Judaism is an important influence in her life and her work. She observes Shabbat and leads BIAV's junior congregation. "I think it gives me a strong moral compass and a base from which to recharge each weekend," she said.

Joe said he would recommend LMC to other troubled youths. "I can come here, I can tell my therapist about anything, and everything is cool," he said. "It's a place that has lots of mentors. It has helped a lot of kids who had problems with personal life or with school."

For more information about the Lifeskills Management Center, call (913) 254-0001.