About Our Agency

A Message from the Executive Director

For almost 30 years Auburn Youth Resources (AYR) has provided vital services to at risk children and young people in the South King County region. These children are the most vulnerable segment of our society, and AYR is dedicated to helping them.

I'm frequently asked who these children are, and I respond by describing who they are not. They are not the student leaders or athletes we all admire, they are not young people who are singled out for accomplishment in our newspapers or other media, and they are not academically gifted students moving on to higher education and successful careers.

They are kids struggling with very difficult, sometimes violent, home situations. They are homeless children who need a roof over their heads and food to eat, and they are children who may have major difficulties in school. They are often victims of circumstances beyond their control. Frequently, they are referred from the court system or from a school counselor in an effort to help them deal with very difficult issues.

The staff at AYR is dedicated to helping these children. Staff members are youth counselors in our residential programs, they are group leaders in drug and alcohol or anger management programs in local schools, they are therapists involved in counseling kids dealing with major problems, and they are all dedicated to providing a high level of support to AYR. Our staff is often involved in seemingly impossible situations and circumstances. I am in awe of their dedication and commitment to helping these youth.

Our Board of Directors is composed of community leaders dedicated to providing leadership in this vital area. They are local business leaders, school officials, law enforcement and legal professionals who are dedicated to helping children. Their oversight and direction provide the leadership that is vital to our ability to provide services now and well into the future.

The need for the services AYR provides may never end. The South King County region has experienced substantial growth that is expected to continue. The increase in single-parent families, a lack of affordable child care programs and facilities, drug use by large numbers of adults and youth, and a media that frequently sends inappropriate messages to our children also contribute to increasing demand.

We sincerely appreciate your interest in Auburn Youth Resources and we invite your support in our ongoing efforts to helping at-risk youth in our area.

James F. Blanchard
Executive Director