Our Board’s role is to protect Northwest Youth Services’ mission, ensuring service to our clients, our community, and the staff, who are the people who make our impact possible. We are listening and learning from experience and feedback to help repair, strengthen, and chart a path forward for the organization. We take allegations of wrongdoing very seriously and have been conducting an independent investigation into the actions of leadership we expect to have findings from soon.
While the outside investigation is happening, we are focused internally on listening and building more productive alignment between the board and staff, the experts who make our services possible. We have been busy partnering to find gaps in Board engagement and taking ownership to implement Board improvements, as well as seeking places to strengthen the organization as a whole. And as we learn, we are taking steps to build stronger systems, processes, and lines of communication that emphasize accountability and ongoing oversight to prevent harm from reoccurring. We’re restructuring how our Board works in ways that haven’t been fully detailed yet, but which will enable stronger systems of accountability from leadership to our entire community. We’re promoting more direct communication between staff and Board members, and inviting staff to engage with the Board regularly, joining meetings when they have a desire to do so.
We’re determined and working to create an organization where everyone is respected, heard, supported, and empowered to contribute to our mission. This work is just beginning and will be ongoing and iterative long into the future. If you’d like to be a part of shaping the future of Northwest Youth Services, we need our community and the voices of the people who passionately support us now more than ever. Your dedication and engagement are deeply valued, and we thank you for it. Please reach out at any time if you’re interested in learning more about how to contribute to our next steps. We are always grateful to hear from you.
With appreciation,
Michelle, Aaron, Clare, Richard, Kate, and Bill
Contact the Whole Board - Board@nwys.org
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