Each year in September, the Board of Directors and program leadership staff meet to review the previous year’s activities of our programs at Lakeside Educational Network. It is a time of reflecting on our outcomes, our impact and our stories of many successes due to the amazing work of our staff within our programs.
We find this annual meeting to be extremely encouraging for both our Board and staff. We take concentrated time to reflect on so much that has happened in our programs and community as we provide educational, clinical and training programs to those within our sphere of influence.
Lakeside’s presence in our region is significant. We manage some of the most difficult situations in seven counties of students and families. We help our school districts support students that they are unable to manage and bring stability to their environment by providing in-school counseling and support.
All in all, the programs of Lakeside Educational Network served over 6,200 students and their families. These are students who could have fallen into the gaps and ended up in places where their behaviors and mental state could have resulted in difficult consequences. Students who do not graduate have a high degree of capacity to end up in places where they are creating chaos within their community. Mental health struggles, criminal behavior, violence and family discord are often the results of students who do not get the help they need to stop the negative momentum of some destructive patterns of behavior.
There were also meaningful stories being told about individual lives who were touched by our staff and programs. Students who were in difficult life circumstances were placed in our care and through the perseverence of our staff, their families and their own hard work, they overcame many life obstacles to find regulation, healing and hope for the future. Whether homeless, depressed, anxious, oppositional or simply just struggling in life, there were stories where our students found a life that is now on a new meaningful trajectory.
Additionally, we discussed the impact of our training to over 4,200 participants in the past year. These were professionals and caregivers who are also committed to dealing with individuals in their care who have had their own trauma and adversity. Our support of them to inform, support and inspire them was another part of Lakeside’s impact to them and the thousands of individuals that they support each and every day.
Lakeside Educational Network’s impact is broad in its scope and positive impact. In spite of an environment with funding reductions, struggles within our systems, less support for the students we serve and significant stress on the entire non-profit community, we were able to rise to meet the needs of thousands. Today in our time together, we could celebrate another year of managing our mission with compassion, professionalism and positive outcomes that will impact those we have touched for the rest of their lives. It is genuinely a reason to celebrate our dedicated work together.
Gerry Vassar
President/CEO
