Valley Cities Counseling & Consultation (Valley Cities) will recognize four individuals and an organization for their outstanding contributions to human services in South King County at a special awards and auction dinner.
The program will begin at 5:30 p.m. March 26 at Emerald Downs.
For the past seven years, Valley Cities has honored those individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to healthy communities by supporting the work of Valley Cities and who demonstrate, through action, care for the most vulnerable in our community.
This year’s award winners are:
COLLABORATION
Brian Wilson, Valley Cities Board Chair,
Federal Way Police Chief and City Manager
Brian is a true leader in this community and throughout South King County … he is known for both his intelligence and his heart. Brian bridges the gap between law enforcement and human services, deeply understanding the communities’ need to be both safe and secure. And that security comes from addressing the issues we face such as poverty, mental illness and homelessness. Mental illness is very misunderstood by most people even though mental illness and/or chemical dependency affects every family. Brian believes in treatment and recovery, which is a core value of Valley Cities. Brian has helped Valley Cities be recognized and respected in the Federal Way community and served on the Federal Way Youth and Family Services board before it merged with Valley Cities in 2002.
ADVOCACY
Jennifer Stuber, Ph.D.,
Assistant professor, University of Washington
Jennifer serves on the Washington State Coalition for Mental Health Reporting, providing tools and information for news organizations, journalists, journalism educators, and a broad coalition of news story informants on ways to improve reporting on mental health issues. She is part of the Mental Health Transformation Project, and has developed curriculum and training on “How Media Can Influence Public Perceptions of Mental Illness and What You Can Do About It” for law enforcement, journalists, media, nonprofit staff, government agencies, schools, businesses, faith communities and community members.
Christine Clarridge,
Seattle Times reporter
Christine is recognized for her work as a journalist. She recognizes the power of words, and fairly and accurately portrays people with mental illnesses in her news stories as people first rather than defining them by a condition. She asks whether their mental illness is relevant to the story rather than sensationalize it. There are many news stories where people with mental illness are portrayed as violent or dangerous, but Christine knows that there are many more who are in recovery with a compelling personal story about their journey. She writes their story as an encouragement for people experiencing mental health concerns…that there are people in the community experiencing serious mental illness who can serve as a valuable role for others — that mental illness is treatable, recovery happens, and prevention works.
DIRECT SERVICE
Yvonne Clements-Smith,
Juvenile Probation Counselor
Yvonne has worked with many Valley Cities clients over the past few years. She continually goes above and beyond for her youth and families. She actively attends and participates in Wraparound, a best practices treatment for troubled youth and their families that brings together various agencies, systems and individuals to work with these youth and their families. As a team member she understands the values and principles of Wraparound, to build on strengths and develop natural supports to help youth with behavioral disorders focus on recovery and a positive future.
INNOVATION
Washington Dads,
Fathers helping fathers with children with mental health, behavior, or emotional concerns
WADADS has been active since 2005, serving male caregivers of special needs children – mental health, behavioral, or emotional concerns – across Washington state with respite and resources to assist them in helping their children. WADADS offers a Training Institute that provides workshops on a variety of topics, including: Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), Parenting Skills, De-escalation, Collaborative Problem Solving (Based on “The Explosive Child”), Ending Isolation and Stigma, Parents Empowering Parents, Mental Health First Aid, Wraparound and High Fidelity Wraparound, and Crisis Intervention Training (for Law Enforcement Agencies). Valley Cities has a special relationship with the WADADS of South King County who meet at our facility, participate in Wraparound and parents advocate Steve Williams regularly attends our board meetings. We deeply believe in the recovery power of natural supports. We applaud the support for male caregivers who are often left out in the female dominated area of caregiving.
Valley Cities is a community mental health center serving low income children, youth, adults, families and veterans. Established by the people of South King County in 1965, today, we operate comprehensive outpatient clinics in Auburn, Federal Way, Kent and Renton.
Valley Cities Counseling & Consultation – www.valleycities.org – is located at 2704 I St., Auburn.
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For more information or to purchase tickets to Valley Cities’ annual auction and awards dinner, please contact Pam Taylor at 253-205-0604 or ptaylor@valleycities.org.
