Eastside Interfaith Social Concerns Council Recent Programs

March 11, 2008

YOUTH EASTSIDE SERVICES (YES): WORKING WITH AND FOR TEENAGERS
Linda Penhallegon, (425-747-4937) director of YES"s chemical dependency program reported on their mission, which is Youth Eastside Services is a lifeline for kids and families coping with challenges such as emotional distress, substance abuse and violence. Through intervention, outreach and prevention, YES builds confidence and responsibility, strengthens family relationships, and advocates for a safer community that cares for its youth.

What YES does:
For 40 years, YES has been improving the lives of our community"s young people, helping them heal from and avoid drug and alcohol abuse, sexual abuse, dating violence, gang activity, and discrimination. In 2006, over 24,000 kids and family members discovered the inner strength to overcome painful crises and to make decisions that led them toward happy, healthy lives.

How YES does it:
Through the efforts of 73 employees, nearly 19,000 annual hours of volunteer service and a $3.3 million yearly budget, YES provides individual and family counseling; substance abuse education, prevention and treatment; community- and school-based violence prevention, family support, consultation and training. Contributions from individuals, businesses, foundations and public agencies help fund our work and, on average, more than 86 cents of every dollar go directly to providing services to kids and their families. At YES, a family's inability to pay for services never stands in the way of their finding the help they need.

How YES got here:
YES was founded in 1968 as a grassroots movement by local volunteers concerned about the emergence of drug abuse among teenagers. In those early years, troubled youth found a drop-in center they could "rap" with sympathetic adult volunteers. Today, our approach has broadened to deal with the escalation of violence, substance abuse, teen alienation and family stress, along with a focus on the issues affecting young children aged six to 12, the dynamics of counseling whole families, and the unique challenges faced by culturally diverse communities living on the Eastside.

You can make a difference in the life of a child and in the life of our community: You can get involved in Youth Eastside Services in a variety of ways to help kids, families and our Eastside community.

As a donor, you can help us continue our good work to build confident and self-reliant kids, supportive families and a safe community. Your tax-deductible gifts mean that a family's inability to pay will never stand in the way of getting help for a child.

YES offers a variety of volunteer opportunities. Each year, YES depends on the work of more than 400 volunteers who donate nearly 20,000 hours a year to help us build self-reliant youth, strong families and a safe, caring Eastside community. Our volunteers receive training and support, along with the deep satisfaction of knowing you're making a real difference in the lives of young people. Here are just a few ways you can help:

• Plan and coordinate fundraising events. YES' annual Invest in Youth Luncheon is a fun, exciting event that relies on volunteers for everything from planning the program to designing materials to setting up the venue for the big event. Other special fundraising activities throughout the year also depend on volunteer efforts.
• Greet visitors and answer phone calls at our reception desk. At our busy office in Bellevue, you'll be the first person to welcome clients, parents and other visitors. YES is fortunate to be able to rely on volunteers to provide 100 percent of our receptionist duties.
• Assist with accounting tasks in our financial office. For three hours a week in a flexible schedule to fit your needs, you'll help with day-to-day duties as well as special projects.
• Repair and maintain computers. Help us troubleshoot technology problems and keep our computer equipment up to date. Flexible hours to fit your schedule.
• Interview youth and families. Work with potential new clients at our Bellevue office to help determine the appropriate counseling programs or other services to meet their needs. As a volunteer "intake worker," you'll be asked to commit to one regular four-hour shift per week for at least nine months.
• Mentor a student. Provide the continuity and caring that may be missing from a young person's life. Volunteer mentors in our SUCCESS program receive quality training, weekly support, monthly newsletters and activities. You'll be asked to devote two to four hours per week for at least one year to your mentoring relationship.

And for more information on YES's many programs and to learn how you and your congregation can help them provide a lifeline for Eastside kids and families, either call them at 425-747-4937 or visit them on the web at www.youtheastsideservices.org.