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 7,500 COUNSELING SESSIONS TO 352 PEOPLE IN 2023.

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 2023, THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTED 120 INDIVIDUALS.

FAMILY PLACE: FAMILY PLACE PROVIDES ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES DESIGNED TO BRING PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO AGE 5 YEARS OLD TOGETHER TO FORM SOCIAL AND RESOURCE CONNECTIONS WITH A FOCUS ON HEALTHY CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND INCREASING THE FAMILY PROTECTIVE FACTORS. FAMILY PLACE OFFERS THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES: PARENTS AS TEACHERS, OPEN PLAY, KALEIDOSCOPE PLAY & LEARN, ENGLISH CLASSES AND RESOURCE SUPPORTS, PARENT CAFES AND FAMILY DINNERS, AND DEVELOPMENT SCREENINGS. IN 2023, FAMILY PLACE REACHED AN AVERAGE OF 290 CHILDREN AND A SIMILAR NUMBER OF ADULTS.

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 139 CHILDREN FROM 102 FAMILIES IN 2023.