Lorraine Colpitts of Brewer is in the
transportation business. Her cargo: troubled teenagers.
Parents rely on Colpitts and her crew at Safe and Sound
Youth Transportation Inc. to safely deliver their child
to teen intervention
programs across the country -
mostly against their will. Though an impressive six feet
tall, Colpitts uses compassion, not brawn, to get her
clients safely delivered. "About 85% of the kids warm up
to us by the time we get to our destinations, and give
us hugs when we leave," she says. "The other 15% will
not talk to us, and will not accept what is happening.
We do not enjoy those trips as much."
Colpitts employs a group of 20-plus intervention
specialists from across the country. Working in teams,
they drive and/or fly to pick up the teen at a
preplanned time and place. While Safe and Sound staff is
trained to safely handle any physical aggression,
Colpitts finds that a portable DVD player, snacks, new
headset batteries, and a calm attitude are usually all
she or her colleagues need. So far so good: in four
years, 100% of her clients have been delivered to their
respective programs, safe and sound.
