The Metropolitan King County Council on Nov. 18 recognized Youth Eastside Services and the impact it has had on young people not only on the Eastside, but all of King County.

“There is so much to be proud of and, yet, so much to be done in the future. YES continues to grow and reach out to families and their children that are healing,” said Council Vice Chair Jane Hague, sponsor of the recognition. “Please join me in saluting 45 years of making a difference to the families and youth of our Eastside communities.”

Incorporated on Nov. 1, 1968, as a place where young people could “rap” with sympathetic adult volunteers, Youth Eastside Services has grown into an organization that provides a number of programs and services to young people, ranging from mental health counseling to prevention programs and substance abuse treatment. YES services have also expanded to the more modern challenges facing young people, offering programs on sexual abuse, dating violence, gang activity and bullying.

These services reach 4,600 youth in direct treatment programs and are an additional 32,000 in prevention and educational programs.

YES provides these services regardless of the family’s ability to pay through the support of a number of public agencies that include King County and the city of Bellevue, as well as donations and public benefactors.

YES works collaboratively with more than 40 partners, including schools, teen centers, and community centers throughout east King County, and its volunteers log nearly 20,000 annual hours of service.

“YES continues to develop new and critical services to fill gaps for kids and families coping with tremendous challenges,” said YES Executive Director Patti Skelton-McGougan. “We started with the support of the community, and we continue to be able to do what we do because of the county’s and broader community support.”