Connect with Us!
Email: HealthyYouth@mercerisland.gov
Mercer Island Youth & Family Services
2040 84th Ave SE
Mercer Island, WA 98040
Past Issues of the MI Healthy Youth Initiative Newsletter
Meet Our Team
The Healthy Youth Initiative Coalition is supported by Mercer Island Youth & Family Services staff.
Based in Luther Burbank Park on Mercer Island, our team specializes in youth substance use prevention,
mental health promotion and treatment, family support services and youth leadership.
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Derek Franklin, MA, LMFT
YFS Administrator
BA in Psychology from Occidental College and an MA in Counseling Psychology from Antioch University, Seattle. He has spent over 30 years in the community-based mental health, substance abuse prevention and treatment fields and has a passion for promoting community health.
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Michelle Ritter, MEd
Coalition Coordinator
Michelle is an active member of the Mercer Island community and has been involved in a variety of initiatives and programs that support the youth on MI. With a background in higher education administration and event planning, Michelle is energized by connecting people and ideas in an effort to help and support youth and members of our community.
Michelle leads the MI Healthy Youth Coalition and supports the MIHS S.A.F.E. Club, which promotes healthy lifestyle choices by youth.
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Chris Harnish, BA, CDP, CC, CPP
Substance Abuse Specialist
Chris has been employed as a counselor since 1989 and has worked with youth in a variety of settings including both inpatient and outpatient treatment as well as providing school based education, assessment, intervention, referral and support services. He has extensive experience and training in providing individual, group and family counseling aimed at supporting efforts of young people to become or remain drug free.
In addition Chris leads prevention programming at Mercer Island High School and advises the S.A.F.E. Club which promotes healthy lifestyle choices by youth.