Derek Franklin begins his first full school year as administrator of the Mercer Island Youth and Family Services (YFS) program with loads of optimism.

One of myriad reasons why he’s feeling strong about YFS’s invaluable role in the community is because it continues offering youth activity scholarships to families in need. It’s been 20-plus years that families have benefited from financial assistance for the scholarships, which focus on students’ childcare and participation in after-school programs and athletic teams. The latter scholarship is new to the program this year with a funding boost from King County.

The scholarships come by way of the YFS Family Assistance Program, which “supports residents during financially unstable times in their lives, helping to assess each situation and lead Islanders to resources that may be helpful,” according to a press release.

With a combined funding stream of about $25,000 from King County, Mercer Island Preschool Association, foundation donors and the city’s general fund, the Family Assistance Program can offer scholarships to approximately 30 families throughout the school year. They also have some flexible funding from the emergency assistance program to add into the mix if needed.

“I think it’s a way to sort of level the playing field if at all possible for some families that are on the lower end of the income scale,” Franklin said. He added that families can apply for scholarships by contacting YFS, which apprises families of the scholarships through YFS Foundation and school PTAs notices.

It’s always a positive endeavor when Franklin and his team work with their clients to help them along the way with the scholarships and other needs.

“If it’s a family, they’ve got childcare, but then maybe they might also qualify for other aspects, like rent assistance or food security programs,” he said.

To confidentially apply for a scholarship, families can contact YFS Family Assistance Coordinator Cheryl Manriquez at cheryl.manriquez@mercerisland.gov.

MORE FROM YFS

With a full lineup of counselors in place — two each at the high school and middle school and one at each of four elementary schools — Franklin said YFS is prepared to perpetuate supporting students.

“There continues to be a youth mental health crisis in the country and on Mercer Island. We continue to focus on that,” said Franklin, who added that YFS brings a solid new clinical supervisor structure to the table and maintains a strong partnership with the school district in serving its students. YFS Foundation members and leaders were scheduled to attend many of the district back-to-school coffees to welcome parents to the 2023-24 school year.

“Our intent again is to make sure parents know that our counselors are available,” said Franklin on the no-fee service. Counselors never stopped serving the city’s youth and remained available for the duration of the pandemic, he added.

He noted that YFS has another one and a half years of federal funding in its coffers for its drug/alcohol prevention programs.

For more information, visit https://www.mercerisland.gov/yfs/page/family-assistance.