Each year in September all the Lakeside Directors who run our programs provide a summary report for the previous fiscal year to our Board of Directors. It is a significant part of our year where all of our leadership meet to reflect, assess and celebrate our results and impact for the previous school year. I have found this to be an effective way to help our Board of Directors to hear and be connected to our varied programs and mission directly from those who are working with our students and programs each and every day.
The reports are always compassionate and compelling. We provided education and clinical services to approximately 7,000 students. In our 4 schools, our mobile support program and our in-school counselors there has been a major regional impact that has helped our region maintain stable students who have received help and hope from our programs and staff.
Likewise, Lakeside’s training programs reached thousands of professionals who are also providers to youth and families and are looking to provide their services in a trauma-informed way. We have trained schools, mental health agencies, drug and alcohol programs, behavioral health organizations and healthcare organizations. We have also worked with larger systems of care within state organizations that are regularly utilized by thousands of families for mental health and related support.
There were many significant reports of impact that were extremely heart-felt. Our staff dealt with anything from student suicides and the impact of those tragedies to students, families and communities to many success stories where students achieved significant goals and parents were able to express how miraculous things happened in the lives of their son or daughter.
Whole organizations who were providing specific services affirmed how much our training made a difference in how they provide their services in a trauma-informed way. Schools who have thousands of students made significant changes in how they managed conflict and trauma-induced challenges with their students. Even the world of early childhood received significant training as we helped them take a trauma-informed approach to managing some challenging young children. These stories were authentic, moving and provided an “on the ground” perspective on how meaningful Lakeside’s programs were to those we had been working with to ensure that youth and families get the support they need.
This meeting reflected the mission and values of our staff in how they provide vital care for those in our programs. We are privileged to have staff and leaders who have been deeply committed for decades to our clients to provide them with the best of care. This is not only a reflection of our mission but a reminder to our board and leadership that our impact is vital to our community and our region as we protect, guide and help those in our care to overcome significant obstacles and turn them in to hopeful opportunities to grow and succeed.
Gerry Vassar
President/CEO
