Shoreline's Center for Human Services serves a wide community

By Heather Fritts, Development Director

The Center for Human Services (CHS) has been a strong community resource since 1970. Because CHS believes that the most critical element to strengthen the community is to support the individuals within, through preventive and responsive, culturally competent programs, CHS has been providing services to help children, youth, adults and families develop skills and strengthen personal behaviors over four decades. In turn, many community members have become self reliant and dependently stronger on natural supports, fostering their capacity for growth, which in turn moves them away from their dependability on evaporating community supports.

Photo: Members of Play and Learn Groups enjoy outdoor activities

Focusing on strengths-based, integrated approaches, CHS supports personal success by creating opportunities where individuals and families are empowered to identify and draw upon their personal strengths that foster change. At a time when many organizations are challenged to provide more services with tightening budgets,

Photo: Volunteers reading with Homework Factory Youth

CHS continues to support their neighbors. Individuals and families access CHS services through Family Support Centers located in Shoreline and Bothell, as well youth satellite programs sprinkled throughout the Northshore and Shoreline School Districts. Through these programs CHS encourages positive mental health, prevents and treats addictions, supports youth academic success, assists parents’ engagement in their children’s learning, and strengthens relationships and parenting skills. The result: children, teens and adults are prepared for school, work and for life.

Photo: Youth paint murals on outdoor activity area.

CHS is a licensed mental health center and Washington State certified drug and alcohol outpatient treatment provider for both youth and adults. With an annual budget of just more than four million dollars, approximately ninety skilled staff, and many dedicated volunteers, CHS delivers quality programming to more than 10,000 individuals annually. CHS is actively committed to reaching all people in need of services, in order to create an environment that values and respects diversity. CHS programs are possible through funding from grants, contracts, and individual and business support from the communities they serve.

For more information visit the website or contact the administrative offices at 206-362-7282.

The Center for Human Services is located at 17018 15th Avenue NE, Shoreline, WA 98155.

Photos courtesy CHS