County Council recognizes Youth Eastside Services as it celebrates 45 years of assisting young people

November 18, 2013

Summary

Agency provides wide array of services to youth and families

Story

Youth Eastside Services—YES—an agency that has been a resource for generations of families throughout east King County, is celebrating its 45th year of service. The Metropolitan King County Council today recognized YES and the impact it has had on young people not only on the Eastside, but all of King County.

“There is so much to be proud of and, yet, so much to be done in the future. YES continues to grow and reach out to families and their children that are healing,” said Council Vice Chair Jane Hague, sponsor of the recognition. “Please join me in saluting 45 years of making a difference to the families and youth of our Eastside communities.”

Incorporated on Nov. 1, 1968, as a place where young people could “rap” with sympathetic adult volunteers, Youth Eastside Services has grown into an organization that provides a number of programs and services to young people, ranging from mental health counseling to prevention programs and substance abuse treatment. YES services have also expanded to the more modern challenges facing young people, offering programs on sexual abuse, dating violence, gang activity and bullying.

These services reach 4600 youth in direct treatment programs and are an additional 32,000 in prevention and educational programs.

YES provides these services regardless of the family’s ability to pay through the support of a number of public agencies that include King County and the city of Bellevue, as well as donations and public benefactors.

YES works collaboratively with more than 40 partners, including schools, teen centers, and community centers throughout east King County, and its volunteers log nearly 20,000 annual hours of service.

“YES continues to develop new and critical services to fill gaps for kids and families coping with tremendous challenges,” said YES Executive Director Patti Skelton-McGougan. “We started with the support of the community, and we continue to be able to do what we do because of the county’s and broader community support.”

---

WHEREAS, Youth Eastside Services (YES) was incorporated on November 1, 1968, and has been serving our community’s youth and families for the past 45 years; and

WHEREAS, the dedicated volunteers of YES serve more than 4,500 kids and families annually by providing mental health counseling, prevention programs, substance abuse treatment, and support for parents; and

WHEREAS, YES prevention and education programs, such as those aimed at teen dating violence and youth bullying, reach an additional 25,000 youth annually; and

WHEREAS, YES works collaboratively with more than 40 partners, including schools, teen centers, and community centers; and

WHEREAS, YES’s critical mental health counseling and substance abuse treatment programs are provided regardless of a family’s ability to pay, thanks to the support of private donors and public benefactors, including the City of Bellevue and King County;

NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Metropolitan King County Council, recognize and congratulate the founders, Board, staff, and volunteers of

YOUTH EASTSIDE SERVICES

for 45 years of making a difference, and we enthusiastically support all that they do to improve the lives of kids and their families in our community.



Youth Eastside Services (YES) Executive Director Patti Skelton-McGougan speaks to the Council shortly after the agency was recognized for 45 years of service to the residents of east King County.



Councilmembers join YES Executive Director Patti Skelton-McGougan and Board President Jennifer Ivan.