FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Helping families and individuals achieve well-being and feel empowered to
promote justice and build safe, caring communities.
Client Story
Homelessness and illness can devastate any family. LCSNW's Four Community Resource Centers guide the way to stability.
The Rodríguez* family of five arrived at the Everett Community Resource Center after experiencing homelessness and living in an emergency shelter. Having immigrated from Mexico and speaking only Spanish, the family faced difficult odds, including a father with a serious illness. They faced overwhelming barriers to accessing services, navigating complex systems, and finding stability in the north Puget Sound region.
They were quickly connected with LCSNW Housing Navigator Melanie Curtis, while Program Coordinator Yolanda Estrella Gonzalez stepped in to address immediate needs. Through coordinated, wraparound support, the family accessed essential resources including the Community Closet, food and personal hygiene items, and a referral for medical care. Yolanda also connected them with an immigration attorney and supported the family in accessing resources to start a small cleaning business.
Within weeks, the Rodríguez family was referred to a housing program and, with continued advocacy, secured a permanent home. Move-in costs and past-due utilities were covered. Soon after, the family entered their own apartment for the first time -- no longer in crisis, finally at home.
What made this journey especially meaningful was the trust that grew along the way. Through Yolanda’s culturally responsive approach and ability to communicate in Spanish, the father felt safe enough to share a hard truth: He had been diagnosed with a terminal illness. With support from our team, he received humanitarian health assistance that allowed him to begin critical medical care. His greatest concern was his family’s future.
In a letter of gratitude, the family shared: “Yolanda has always treated us with great kindness and respect, and she has always looked for every possible way to find resources to help our family.”
Because of coordinated efforts from the LCSNW team, the Rodríguez family now has the stability of a home and the reassurance that they are not alone.
*Rodríguez is an assumed family name
12,755
COMMUNITY RESOURCE
CENTER CLIENT
VISITS
8,451
HOUSEHOLDS SERVED WITH DIAPER & FOOD DISTRIBUTION
CRCs are located in Everett, Angle Lake (SeaTac), Port Angeles, and Bremerton.
Staff Profile
Shawna Canage
For more than three years, Shawna has brought compassion, lived experience, and deep commitment to her role as Parent Education Supervisor and Group Facilitator in Yamhill County, Oregon. Every day, she supports caregivers as they build stronger parenting skills, confidence, and hope, often during some of the hardest moments of their lives.
Shawna’s work is grounded in empathy and connection. A parent herself, she reminds caregivers, “You’re not alone. You’re not broken. Change is always possible.”
These affirming words reflect the core mission at A Family Place relief nursery: walking alongside families as they heal from trauma and grow stronger together.
One family’s journey captures the impact of this work. New to Yamhill County and facing the trauma of having their children removed from the home, the parents first met Shawna through a parenting group. Trust came slowly, but their dedication never wavered. Over time, the mother returned again and again; she joined classes, connected with other parents, and accessed vital resources such as counseling and the diaper bank.
Months later, the moment they had dared to hope for arrived: Their children were coming home. The judge praised the mom’s determination and hard work.
“We shrieked in joy together and hugged,” Shawna recalled. “I was beyond happy for her.”
Today, the family remains connected to A Family Place, strengthened by the support that helped reunite them.
Stories like this show what’s possible when families are met with compassion, education, and unwavering belief—changing lives, one family at a time.
164
PARENT EDUCATION CLASS GRADUATES
26
PARENT
GROUPS
3,309
DIAPER BANK VISITS
200,000+
DIAPERS DISTRIBUTED
Parent Education programs and services are centered in Yamhill County, Oregon.
By the Numbers
148
Military EFMP Respite Program Clients
(Greater Puget Sound, Spokane)
27,502
Hours of Military EFMP Respite Care Provided
(Greater Puget Sound, Spokane)