Vashon Youth And Family Services

VASHON YOUTH AND FAMILY'S MISSION IS TO FOSTER A THRIVING COMMUNITY OF EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY AND RESILIENT CHILDREN, YOUTH, ADULTS AND FAMILIES ON VASHON-MAURY ISLAND IN UNINCORPORATED KING COUNTY.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: VYFS ENACTS ITS MISSION TO FOSTER A THRIVING COMMUNITY OF EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY AND RESILIENT CHILDREN, YOUTH, ADULTS AND FAMILIES BY PROVIDING LOW- TO NO-BARRIER ACCESS TO INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY, AND GROUP COUNSELING FOR RESIDENTS OF A RURAL AND GEOGRAPHICALLY ISOLATED ISLAND. VYFS ALSO PROVIDES BILINGUAL CASE MANAGEMENT, FREE CRISIS STABILIZATION, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER (SUD) COUNSELING, AND VOUCHERS FOR THE HEALTH NEEDS OF LOW INCOME ISLANDERS. AS VASHON'S ONLY LICENSED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AGENCY, VYFS PROVIDED COUNSELING & CASE MANAGEMENT TO OVER 449 PEOPLE IN 2021.

FAMILY PLACE: FAMILY PLACE PROVIDES ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES DESIGNED TO BRING PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO SIX YEARS OLD TOGETHER TO FORM SOCIAL CONNECTIONS WITH A FOCUS ON HEALTHY CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND INCREASING THE FAMILY'S PROTECTIVE FACTORS. FAMILY PLACE OFFERS THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES: PARENTS AS TEACHERS, A COMPREHENSIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD HOME VISITING PROGRAM, BILINGUAL KALEIDOSCOPE PLAY & LEARN GROUPS, PLAY 'N' CHAT DISCUSSION GROUP, VASHON EARLY LEARNING COALITION/YOUTH MOVING IN SOLIDARITY, PARENT EDUCATION CLASSES, AND DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS FOR ISLAND CHILDREN. IN 2021 FAMILY PLACE SERVED OVER 290 ISLANDERS.

VASHON KIDS: VASHON KIDS IS A DEPENDABLE, CREATIVE, AND CULTURALLY COMPETENT BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR 5 TO 12-YEAR-OLDS. DELIVERED BY EXPERIENCED STAFF. VASHON KIDS ENCOURAGES PERSONAL AND SOCIAL GROWTH THROUGH HEALTHY PLAY, THE ACCEPTANCE OF DIFFERENCES, AND PEACEFUL CONFLICT RESOLUTION WHILE SUPPORTING EACH CHILD'S DIGNITY AND PERSPECTIVE. DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR STAFF ASSIST CHILDREN WITH HOMEWORK AND COLLABORATE WITH CHAUTAUQUA EDUCATORS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES IN COORDINATION WITH SCHOOL CURRICULUM AND EVENTS. ACADEMIC AND ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES AND CLUBS FOCUS ON SCIENCE, ART, HUMANITIES, LITERACY, HEALTHY EATING, AND SPORTS. VASHON KIDS SERVED 115 CHILDREN FROM 83 FAMILIES IN 2021.

HISPANIC AND LATINO OUTREACH AND SUPPORT SERVICES: THE HISPANIC AND LATINO OUTREACH SERVICES PROGRAM SUPPORTS HISPANIC AND LATINX MEMBERS OF THE VASHON COMMUNITY. THIS PROGRAM IS WORKING TO OVERCOME BARRIERS THAT EXIST TO ACHIEVING EQUITABLE CHILDHOOD EDUCATION OPORTUNITIES AND SOCIAL SERVICES. IT PROVIDES BILINGUAL CASE MANAGEMENT AND INTERPRETATION SERVICES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VASHON ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND ENSURES THAT SCHOOL DOCUMENTS (FOR STUDENTS) AND COMMUNICATION (FOR PARENTS AND FAMILIES) ARE TRANSLATED TO SPANISH. IN 2021, THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTED 48 HOUSEHOLDS. RESILIENT VASHON: OUR RESILIENT VASHON PROGRAM IS MAKING VASHON A TRAUMA-INFORMED COMMUNITY. THROUGH COMMUNITY EVENTS AND TRAININGS, WE ARE RAISING AWARENESS OF THE CAUSE AND EFFECTS OF TRAUMA AND TOXIC STRESS, REDUCING STIGMA OF THOSE SUFFERING, AND BREAKING THE CYCLE OF TRAUMA THAT CAN BE PERPETUATED THROUGH GENERATIONS. IN 2021 THIS PROGRAM SERVED 139 PARTICIPANTS.