Kent Youth and Family Services received a $250,000 grant from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to help pay for its After School program for student online learning.
OSPI will distribute $8.1 million in federal emergency funds for COVID-19 relief to 40 community-based organizations across the state, according to a Dec. 1 news release. A total of 191 requests were submitted, totaling more than $40 million in need.
“We are thrilled and honored to have been chosen,” said Lily Stellmon, director of fund development and community relations for Kent Youth and Family Services, in a Dec. 2 email. “The impact that this will allow for us to have on youth in our community is immeasurable, and we are truly grateful for the support.”
Priority was given to applications that included direct service to students – such as support for remote learning, tutoring and social-emotional learning designed to address the unique needs of students in student groups that have historically been furthest from educational justice, according to OSPI.
“Our After School program has been supporting students every day with space, technology, nutrition and caring adult staff to guide students throughout their virtual school day,” Stellmon said.
Since the start of the Kent School District school year, the After School’s facilities have been open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to support student online learning. Kent Youth and Family Services took the initiative to extend its After School program to the entire school day to support students experiencing inadequate access to online learning and other barriers at home, Stellmon said.
“These funds will allow Kent Youth and Family Services to continue and expand these services,” Stellmon said. “Kent Youth and Family Services originally took on this expansion to all-day services without additional funding support due to the critical need in our community. This funding allows for sustainability of that effort.”
The grant award pleased Mike Heinisch, who recently retired after 21 years as executive director of Kent Youth and Family Services. Heinisch announced in February that he would be retiring in the fall.
“I’m particularly delighted with this one, not only for what it means for After School support of kids Kent Youth and Family Services works with in Kent and the overall significance of it to the agency and Kent (one of 40 across the state and only one in Kent), but also because it was probably the last grant application we worked on as a team at Kent Youth and Family Services and submitted before… . I walked out the door,” Heinisch said in a Dec. 2 email.
Although Heinisch retired, he is still working on specific projects for the nonprofit in support of Sue Camou-Arrant, the interim executive director. Camou-Arrant came to Kent Youth and Family Services from Loveall Price & Associates, of Woodinville, which helps local nonprofit organizations move through leadership transition, according to its website. She previously worked nearly 30 years in executive leadership with the YMCA of Greater Seattle before joining Loveall Price & Associates in 2016.
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