After nearly five years at the helm of Vashon Youth & Family Services, Executive Director Kathleen Johnson is stepping down from the social service agency.

Johnson, who lives in Seattle, announced her resignation this week, effective Nov. 2. She made the decision to leave, she said, because she was looking to improve her work-family balance and take advantage of a professional opportunity that presented itself. She has accepted a position with Historic South Downtown, a state agency responsible for preserving and restoring Seattle’s Pioneer Square and Chinatown-International District neighborhoods.

Johnson said she believes she is leaving the island agency in good hands. There will be ongoing challenges, she added, noting that any agency working in the community health field faces uncertainty when it comes to funding, particularly regarding potential changes to Medicaid and Medicare. She added that being in an isolated, rural community presents challenges of its own, but they can be addressed with the right staff and resources.

“Those challenges can be overcome, but it does take effort,” she said.

A search for a new executive director will take place, but VYFS board member Carol Goertzel will step in and lead the agency on an interim basis for as long as is necessary. She is an islander, has served on the board for the past one and a half years and has more than 35 years of experience leading nonprofit agencies.

“My experiences and my heart is very much in sync with Vashon Youth & Family Services,” she said.

She noted that the adage about when one door closes, another opens is true for an agency.

“I think we will be in terrific shape,” she said. “While I will really miss Kathleen, I look forward to continuing all the efforts and all of the great work (VYFS is) doing.”