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Youth advocacy center urges expanded therapy access and local forensic services for Lewis County children
Summary
At the Lewis County Board of Commissioners meeting, the Youth Advocacy Center and Monarch Children’s Justice Center described services for abused and exploited children, reported 465 direct clients served in the past year, and asked for continued support to expand trauma therapy and a portable forensic interview unit.
Katrina, representing the Youth Advocacy Center, told the Lewis County Board of Commissioners on July 14 that the program has assisted 173 children and 292 parents or guardians — 465 individuals in total — since last July and asked the county to continue supporting services for children who have experienced abuse, trauma and exploitation.
"Lewis County has consistently demonstrated that commitment through meaningful action and sustained support," Katrina said, thanking the board for maintaining a position focused on children and families. She said staff spend an average of about three hours with each individual, providing advocacy, care coordination and support during investigations and prosecutions.
Courtney, introduced during the presentation as the new director of Monarch Children's Justice Center, said Monarch serves Mason, Thurston and Lewis counties from a center near Lacey and is prioritizing deeper local engagement with Lewis County after regional changes in nearby services. "One of our goals is to really delve into the differences and the priorities that each county holds," Courtney said, describing school-based prevention work and partnerships with prosecutors.
Katrina outlined near-term priorities including expanding access to specialized trauma therapy in Lewis County, reducing barriers for vulnerable youth such as unaccompanied or homeless youth, and purchasing a portable forensic interview unit so staff can meet children and families in remote or nontraditional locations. She noted collaboration with Centralia School District to train over 50 paraeducators and work on an OSPI human-trafficking curriculum.
Courtney said Monarch’s staff plan to devote more time to Mason and Lewis counties following recent service changes at a regional provider and emphasized the role of local relationships in rural communities. "What makes this program successful is our willingness to adapt, innovate, and continually ask how we can better serve children and families," she said.
A commissioner thanked Katrina and YAC staff for the "early intervention" the program provides and recognized the emotional difficulty of the work. Katrina and Courtney answered a few brief questions from commissioners and were excused from the remainder of the meeting.
The presentation did not include a formal request for a specific additional appropriation on the record; the presenters described program priorities and invited further discussion with staff and commissioners about next steps.
