The Network is one of 52 community networks charged by the Washington state legislature with reducing youth violence at the local level. All at the same time, they had to build an infrastructure, develop a long-term strategic plan, and hand out state funds. 

I managed the 20+ member volunteer board through this complex start-up and planning process by: 

• supervising part-time staff 
• developing budgets and funding protocols 
• recruiting and training board members 
• conducting and planning retreats 
• serving on a coalition of King County networks 
• leading the board through the required public hearing process 
• writing the first comprehensive plan

Facilitator, King County Task Force on Children & Families

In 1991, King County Executive Tim Hill formed a bi-partisan Task Force on Children and Families to propose a fundamental restructuring of the county system for delivering children and family services. The 29-member task force consisted of judges, executive directors, legislators, program managers, researchers, educators, and state departmental representatives. 

As the group's facilitator, I was charged with orchestrating and conducting a series of public hearings on specific topics to educate the task force. The result included presentations about health, mental health, legal services, human services, education, government, and services provided by the state of Washington and the city of Seattle. The task force also held a special session on diverse ethnic communities. 

I also supervised the committee work in specific areas, including mental health, legal services, public health, education, family support, and drug and alcohol issues. During the course of two retreats, I assisted the task force in developing a vision, mission statement, principals and goals, and a final list of recommendations.

The task force lead to the creation the King County Children and Family Commission.

References and work samples available upon request.