Helping Hands: Children’s Home Society and Childhaven Merge to Become Akin
Children’s Home Society of Washington (CHSW) has worked to support children and families in need since its founding in 1896. The original goal was to find homes for displaced children rather than have them live in institutions, often through adoption. As the world changed, CHSW adapted to serve the immediate needs of families. During the Great Depression and through World War II, CHSW offered emergency medical care for children. Later, they coordinated counseling services for families and created new programs for children in foster care. Though the services have changed overtime, the ultimate goal has always been to keep families intact, supporting them through whatever trials and barriers they face to find safety and stability.
Here in Southwest Washington, the society’s large historic home on 12th Street was a welcoming place with resources, referrals and classes available for families. Recently relocated to NE St. Johns Road, CHSWW has merged with Seattle-based family services nonprofit Childhaven to “provide deeper, more impactful, high quality and comprehensive support to children and families with a broader continuum of care.” The new organization’s name, Akin, represents the shared goals of both organizations to support the whole family in all aspects of life for continued success.
Though the name is changing, I was assured by Adrienne Mason, regional director for Southwest Washington, that “our commitment to supporting your family will continue, and the staff, programs, services and supports will stay the same. Our programs and services will operate as usual, and we’ll be there for families every step of the way, seeking to strengthen families by partnering with them and offering the tools they need to achieve their goals.” Two main ways Akin supports Clark County families is through concrete goods, such as food and clothing, and programs through two family resource centers in the region including behavioral health services and support groups.
Behavioral health and child and family mental health counseling, in particular, is one of the largest part of Akin’s programming. Previous to the merger, both Childhaven and CHSW providers specialized in mental health for infants and toddlers.
By combining forces, they will be able to increase access to this niche but vital service, including workforce development in the mental health space. “We strive to make mental health care available to youth and families by providing services not only at our offices in Vancouver, Washougal and Battle Ground, but also in schools, at the homes of families and within the community at large,” explains Mason. “Appointments are also available virtually for many services, which has increased access for families with transportation difficulties or other conflicts that make in-person meetings difficult.”
As Akin continues to adapt to the changing needs of today’s families, they rely on the proven model of success of “By and For” programs. These are programs in which those who have walked a particular path teach others how to navigate it. For example, the Parents for Parents program “connects parents who have successfully navigated the child welfare system to parents who have recently become engaged with Child Protective Services” to, when possible, quickly reunite parents with their children. Parent allies serve as mentors helping parents separated from their children to remain hopeful and work toward reunification goals.
Through a pathways model, families can access comprehensive and tailored support to meet their unique needs, aiming to support families more fully on their way to self-sufficiency. Through Akin’s Family Resource Centers, a family navigator who has dealt with job searching and social support systems helps families set goals, find the right resources and stay motivated.
“A mom, new to Vancouver, came to us for help,” shares Alejandra Frausto, new Akin family navigator. “She accessed goods and food from our resource room and in conversations with her, I learned she needed more. We worked together to create a plan to meet her needs. In two weeks, we managed to establish her childcare assistance, apply for food and cash assistance, and get connected with WorkSource. With the support she got from WorkSource to fix her vehicle she ended up obtaining a job at a bank that starts this month!”
Triple Point is another “By and For” group for 2SLGBTQIA+ teens and their families. Supported by a robust team of volunteers, Triple Point meets twice a week to provide a safe space and a sense of belonging. Youth hear about Triple Point through word of mouth, many coming by bus to attend. “A typical afternoon begins with greetings and check-ins. We each share our name, age, mood and identity, and ups and downs for the week,” shares volunteer Heather Moore. “Then we spend time together, making art, chatting and playing games. The kids can search through the gender affirming clothing corner [and] get something to eat.”
Sometimes a group speaker will lead a discussion, but often the youth and volunteers teach each other how to embrace their identity. “Witnessing their resilience and courage in navigating the challenges they face is inspiring,” says longtime volunteer Stella Hope. “Watching them motivate and support one another is extraordinary.” For those interested in helping, Hope says, “Do it! Not only will you be assisting our youth in discovering their unique voices and offering support and insight, but you will also find immense personal rewards in the process.” Moore agrees, saying, “Without volunteers, Triple Point wouldn’t exist, and our youth need it to exist.”
“We want to connect [volunteers] with our work, in ways that are meaningful to you, and welcome your ideas about how you could best support us too,” says Mason, adding that volunteering options are very flexible.
One volunteer group at the Washougal site supports their yearly “Stuff the Bus” event. Typically, it takes the staff a couple months to sort through the food and other donations, taking them away from regular tasks. “We had a group who were happy to come in a do it for us,” shares Mason. “They had it all sorted by date and type of food in two weeks; it was mind blowing.”
A simple way anyone can help is to follow Akin on social media and share their updates with your networks to inspire others to get involved. Also, you can suggest your workplace or social group to do a Kinship Collection drive, collecting diapers, hygiene supplies, laundry soap and other items. Money donations are also accepted through their website.
Akin is on the frontlines of supporting youth and families in need. They seek to address problems before they become a crisis, and they welcome all the help they can get. To learn more about their programs or to reach out, visit Akinfamily.org.
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