A family support organization serving King County families has become a reality, and the search is on for a special leader to be the first executive director.

Guided Pathways – Support for Youth and Families is a new, nonprofit organization started to provide support to parents and kinship caregivers with a child or youth struggling with behavioral, emotional or substance abuse challenges.

Founded with the sponsorship of the King County Mental Health, Chemical Abuse and Dependency Services Division (MHCADSD), the organization is run by families helping families to empower, support and advocate for parents and youth in navigating their journey through complex, multiple systems of care.

GPS for Youth and Families will be “a place where parents and youth have walked and left footprints to follow.”

The parent-run organization has a majority of the board members having experience in parenting a child with mental health or substance abuse issues. The board members come from all corners of King County and wear many different hats. They include trained parent partners, youth peer advocates, service providers, people with business and fundraising experience, community organizers, and individuals who grew up with parents or siblings suffering from mental illness or addiction.

The organization has launched a county-wide search for an executive director to provide leadership in developing family support services in King County.

More information about the organization and the executive director position is available at http://kcfso.blogspot.com/.