Renton Area Youth and Family Services

History

Founded in 1970, RAYS began as a service of the Renton School District that offered substance abuse and crisis counseling to youth. As RAYS began to focus more on mental health, the organization moved toward a family-focused model, treating the whole family to best meet the needs of children and youth, particularly those young clients dealing with grief, loss, or trauma. RAYS continues to be rooted in the needs of the community and works closely with residents and other agencies to fill the gaps in the social services available for children, youth, and families.

RAYS Clinicians maintain caseloads below industry standards in order to engage in intensive case management. This is a vital activity for RAYS staff as over 90% of our clients are low or very low income and the poverty-related stresses they experience exacerbate the behavioral and emotional issues of the clients.

The mission of RAYS is to provide high-quality, integrated healthcare and prevention services to children, youth, and families to restore hope to a healthier future.

In partnership with our community, we transform the lives of kids and families through comprehensive counseling, training, and support.

Our values, which guide all our work, are:

1) We value access to services. We believe all individuals have a right to high-quality, affordable and accessible behavioral health care.

2) We value advocacy. We believe that disparities in health and opportunity in our community are linked directly to systemic racism and oppression, and we strive to end institutional racism and oppression in our agency and in the settings and communities where we work.

3) We value equity and inclusion. We believe that the families we serve are experts and they deserve a seat at the table alongside other decision makers.

4) We strive to make our agency welcoming to all families, and welcome feedback that holds us accountable to this goals.

5) We value client choice. We are client-centered in everything we do, which means that we meet clients where they are at, begin with their desires, and work not for, but with them every step of the way.

RAYS serves low income, under served children, youth, and families in Renton, Skyway, and Tukwila; 90% of our clients identify as very low or low income. Our clients reflect the diversity of the communities we serve; 30% of our clients are African American, 30% are Hispanic/Latino, 20% are white, 15% identify as multi-ethnic, and 5% are Asian/Pacific Islander. RAYS serves 1,500 children, youth, and family members annually and has a budget of $1.5 million.

RAYS provides the following programs:

1. School and Community-based licensed Mental Health Counseling and Case Management – RAYS counselors work in 14 schools in the Renton and Tukwila School Districts, the RAYS’ Renton Facility, and in two integrated Primary and Behavioral Healthcare Clinics. Clinicians provide individual and family sessions as well as group psycho-educational sessions. RAYS maintains low caseloads so Clinicians are able to provide intensive case management for clients.

2. School and Community-based Alcohol and Drug Services and Case Management – RAYS provides services onsite at Foster High School in Tukwila and at the RAYS facility in Renton. Counselors help students fulfill school requirements to return to school after a drug or alcohol infraction, and offer individual counseling and psycho-educational group sessions as well as family therapy, referrals, and intensive case management.

3. Healthy Start – A best-practice program that supports parents age 13 to 24 with structured home-based services and parenting support groups. The Family Support Specialist provides in-home case management, parenting education, demonstration of age appropriate activities, and infant and child screenings.

4. Infant Mental Health – A clinical program in which parents or caregivers and their child(ren) work with a counselor to increase attachment. Counselors work closely with children and their caregivers to help children overcome their trauma and offer case management and referrals as necessary.

5. The Cynthia A. Green Family Center – Staff at the Family Center provide drop-in case management and referral services; for example, staff help individuals locate services including housing, healthcare, and enrolling for public benefits, as well as creating resumes and completing job applications. The Family Center also offers programs to the community.

• Kinship Support Program – Designed to meet the needs of family members caring for their relative’s children, the Kinship Program serves formal and informal kinship arrangements. Kinship families are able to come to twice-monthly support groups and receive intensive case management and referral services.
• Kaleidoscope Play & Learn Groups – Offered twice weekly, these groups allow children and their caregivers to bond while engaging in age appropriate activities together in a preschool-type setting. Play & Learn Groups offer parents and caregivers opportunities to develop parenting skills and learn about infant and child development.
• RAYS UP – A dropout prevention program for middle and high school students that works to prevent first or subsequent involvement with the juvenile justice system. Youth Life Coaches work with School Guidance Counselors to identify youth with risk factors for dropping out of school and provide youth with school-based individual coaching sessions, group educational sessions, case management, and summer enrichment and recreational opportunities.