Special to the Reporter

Derek Franklin has been named the new administrator of the city’s Youth and Family Services (YFS) department.

Franklin, who has been with the department since 2005, was promoted by City Manager Jessi Bon on June 15 to fill the recently vacated leadership role and will transition from his current position as clinical programs manager over the coming weeks.

“Derek has served our community and the Youth and Family Services mission with dedication during his tenure at the city,” Bon said. “He’s stepping into this position with an incredible wealth of knowledge and a deep understanding of the department, and I am confident that under Derek’s leadership YFS will continue to provide excellent programs and services to Mercer Island.”

Franklin’s career in human services spans 30 years, with 18 of them at the city of Mercer Island working both in clinical and administrative roles. Franklin is a licensed marriage and family therapist, child mental health specialist, disability mental health specialist, and a Washington state-approved clinical supervisor.

“Throughout my career, I have always had a passion for finding creative ways to support community health and I look forward to meeting today’s challenges, especially in the face of the ongoing youth mental health crisis and pandemic recovery,” said Franklin, who holds a master’s degree in counseling psychology and a bachelor’s in psychology.

For more information on YFS, visit https://www.mercerisland.gov/yfs/custom-contact-page/youth-family-services