Whatcom Family & Community Network

WFCN AIMS TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, YOUTH SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND VIOLENCE,RESILIENCY IN INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AND TO SUPPORT SCHOOL SUCCESS THROUGH COMMUNITY CHANGE AND CAPACITY BUILDING EFFORTS. THE ORGANIZATION ASSISTS IN LINKING EXISTING CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICE EFFORTS, ENHANCING CURRENT PROGRAMS AND ENCOURAGING THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROACTIVE NEW PROGRAMS WITHIN WHATCOM COUNTY AND THROUGHOUT WASHINGTON STATE.

CONVENE COMMUNITY TO INCREASE AWARENESS, EDUCATE ABOUT AND APPLY TRAUMA-INFORMED, RESILIENCE AND HOPE BUILDING FRAMEWORKS TO COMMUNITY PERVENTION STRATEGIES. 324 PEOPLE WERE TRAINED. SEEK SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS FAMILY RISK FACTORS; DEVELOP PROTECTIVE FACTORS TO INCREASE POSITIVE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES FOR THE PURPOSE OF INCREASING STRONG MENTAL HEALTH; AND DECREASE RISK OF EXPOSURE TO ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES THAT CAN LEAD TO SUBSTANCE USE AND POOR MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES. 20 ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVED COMMUNITY CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT.

PREVENTION SERVICES COORDINATION THROUGH WHATCOM PREVENTION COALITION AND MT. BAKER COMMUNITY COALITION. ENGAGE BROAD SECTOR COMMUNITY VOICES TO INCREASE PROTECTIVE FACTORS AND DECREASE RISK FOR THE PURPOSE OF PREVENTING YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE AND PROMOTING YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH. COALITIONS CONVENED 24 TIMES; PROVIDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO 60 INDIVIDUALS AND 10 YOUTHS. COORDINATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MAD HOPE YOUTH SUICIDE PREVENTION AND WELLBEING PROGRAM THAT IS IMPLEMENTED IN LOCAL MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS. IN 2022, WE SERVED 1,705 YOUTHS AND 67 ADULTS DIRECTLY AND ENGAGED 467 YOUTHS IN VARIOUS WAYS INCLUDING 30 IN LEADERSHIP LEVEL PROGRAMS. DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT OF YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING FOCUS ON SERVING LGBTQ+, RURAL, HISPANIC AND NATIVE YOUTH. COALITION EFFORTS REACHED 2,849 YOUTHS AND 1,754 ADULTS AND ENGAGED 749 PEOPLE IN DIRECT COALITION EFFORTS.

PROVIDES FISCAL AND PROGRAM SUPPORTS, INCLUDING GRANT SUPPORT AND STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR GRASS-ROOTS AND SMALL STATE NON-PROFITS WHO NEED A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT HOME TO DEVELOP AND INCREASE COMMUNITY IMPACT AS IT RELATES TO WFCN'S MISSION. IN 2022, WE SUPPORTED 10 EFFORTS - THE ROOSEVELT NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY CENTER, PERINATAL MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH TASKFORCE, THE WHATCOM COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER NETWORK, THE FOOTHILLS COMMUNITY HUB; THE FOOTHILLS COMMUNITY ALLIANCE, RACIAL UNITY NOW, AND BOARD EQUITY STIPEND PROJECT. WE SPONSOR COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT ALSO SUPPORT OUR MISSION, SUCH AS THE KENDALL SUMMERFEST, COMMUNITY MEALS AND BELLINGHAM FOLK FESTIVAL. WE ENGAGE IN PARTNERSHIPS TO BUILD COMMUNITY CAPACITY THROUGH STRATEGIC PLANNING, GRANT-WRITING, AND SOLUTION CATALYZATION LIKE WHATCOM RESOURCE INFORMATION COLLABORATION AND COLUMBIA VALLEY COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS. THESE PROGRAMS OUTREACH TO THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES WHO ARE HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED.