DOVE’s mental health award belongs to all of us

Published 6:30 am Tuesday, August 11, 2026

Earlier last month, I had the honor of accepting the Washington Mental Health Counselors Association (WMHCA) Clinical Innovation Award on behalf of DOVE’s mental health program. This award recognizes innovative clinical programs that develop creative and effective approaches to meeting the mental health needs of their communities. To be recognized by peers across Washington state has been both humbling and meaningful.

While my name is attached to the award, this recognition belongs to our entire team at DOVE and the many community partners who have helped make this work possible. Mental health care is most effective when it is collaborative, responsive and tailored to the unique needs of the people and community it serves.

When I joined DOVE, our mental health services focused primarily on supporting survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault through our Community Access to Therapy (CAT) Voucher Program. Over time, we recognized that many community members faced significant barriers to care, including lack of insurance, financial hardship, transportation challenges, lack of culturally responsive care and limited access to specialized trauma treatment.

In response, DOVE developed a comprehensive rural mental health model centered around trauma-informed and evidence based treatment. Today, our program includes three interconnected services: in-house trauma therapy, embedded mental health support at Vashon High School and the CAT Voucher Program. Together, these programs help increase access to care while reducing barriers that often prevent individuals and families from receiving support.

What makes this recognition especially meaningful is that it highlights the power of community-driven solutions. On Vashon Island, we face unique challenges related to provider shortages, transportation and access to specialized services. Through partnerships with organizations such as Vashon Youth & Family Services, NeighborCare Health, Vashon Island School District, Vashon Health District, first responders and other local agencies, we have worked to create a coordinated network of support that meets people where they are.

As a therapist and clinical director, I believe mental health care should be accessible, trauma-informed and rooted within the community it serves. This award reinforces the importance of continuing to expand access to care and develop services that reach individuals who might otherwise go without support.

Most importantly, this recognition reflects the courage and resilience of the clients we serve every day. Their commitment to healing inspires our work and reminds us why these services matter. It also reflects the dedication of our therapists, advocates, interns and community partners who invest their time and energy into strengthening mental health care on Vashon Island as a whole.

I am deeply grateful to WMHCA for this recognition and proud of what DOVE has built alongside our community. While it is an honor to receive this award, I see it as encouragement to continue growing, innovating and expanding access to empirically supported trauma-informed mental health services for those who need them most.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey. This award belongs to all of us.

You can learn more about The DOVE Project’s mental health services at https://www.vashondoveproject.org or via email at info@vashondoveproject.org

Rashaun Renggli, a licensed marriage and family therapist, is the clinical director and supervisor at The DOVE Project on Vashon Island.