By SUSAN RIEMER
Reporter
Vashon Youth & Family Services is heading into the new year with new leadership, and officials there say the agency is offering more services than it has recently, ranging from a grief group, to outreach to the Hispanic community, to substance abuse treatment slated to begin in the spring.
Carol Goertzel stepped into the executive director’s role last month on an interim basis after the departure of Kathleen Johnson, who served the agency for nearly five years. She brings 40 years of social service leadership with her and said she believes in staff being able to stretch themselves regarding the work they want to do and objectives they would like to achieve.
“I am open to people’s ideas to what they are seeing and what will excite them,” she said.
That perspective has led to some of the new efforts and moving on from what has been at times a difficult period for the agency, including losses of some long-term funding and a lawsuit, now settled. The agency is now re-stablizing, Goertzel said, noting she is optimistic about the future.
“I hope in the next year we will truly overcome,” she said.
Two of the programs central to the agency’s work are its behavioral health program — or counseling — and Vashon Kids before- and after-school program, both of which have had recent changes, Goertzel said.
The counseling program now offers two periods of evening hours each week, and after a hiatus from offering a sliding scale and accepting private insurance, the agency is offering both again. The sliding scale goes down to $5, and scholarships are available. Currently, the agency sees about 170 different people per month and would like to see 200.
VYFS closed its substance abuse treatment program a few years ago, saying it was a financial drain, but Goertzel said plans are in place to bring it back in March. She believes the program can be offered in a way that is financially feasible — and serve a need among current clients and others in the community.
Also in the works is a potential open arts studio for Vashon Youth & Family Services’ (VYFS) counseling clients that would meet twice a week at the Blue Heron. Goertzel said she is hoping for a grant, but if the agency does not get one, she would like to find another way to offer the program.
“We are trying all different ways of reaching out to people,” she said.
As for the Vashon Kids program, Goertzel said that it used to serve kids up to fifth grade, but this year it has expanded to include sixth-graders. With that change it is also offering enhanced experiences for kids in grades four through six, such as field trips — including some off-island — to enrich their experience. The program serves 78 children from 63 families and could serve eight additional children with its current staffing.
More groups are in the making as well. A grief group is currently underway. When it ends, others will likely begin, she said, with possibilities including groups for pregnant moms or single parents.
The agency has also begun a concerted effort to reach out to the expanding Latino community on the island. Four staff members are Latino or are fluent in Spanish, and Goertzel said agency materials have been translated into Spanish.
Additionally, members of the VYFS group are working with Spanish-speaking islanders on a needs assessment and then a determination will be made on how best to meet those needs.
Added to the list of new offerings is the baby box program, which launched this month and provides a free, safe-sleep baby box filled with items such as parenting books, a sleeper, and discounts and special offers at island businesses. All parents on the island who are expecting to give birth to or adopt a baby are encouraged to participate and receive a box of their own.
Looking to the future, Goertzel spoke highly of the current staff and an influx of board members in the last year.
“We are excited about the possibility of really being able to assist people,” she said.
