City Manager Appoints New YFS Administrator

June 15, 2023 – The City’s Youth and Family Services department (YFS) welcomes a new leader with the appointment of Derek Franklin as Administrator. Franklin, who has been with the department since 2005, was promoted by City Manager Jessi Bon to fill the recently vacated leadership role and will transition from his current position as Clinical Programs Manager over the coming weeks. 

“Derek has served our community and the Youth and Family Services mission with dedication during his tenure at the City,” City Manager Bon, said. “He’s stepping into this position with an incredible wealth of knowledge and a deep understanding of the department, and I am confident that under Derek’s leadership YFS will continue to provide excellent programs and services to Mercer Island.”

Franklin’s career in human services spans 30 years, with 18 of them at the City of Mercer Island working both in clinical and administrative roles. He started as an Individual & Family Therapist before being promoted to the Administrative and Community Services Manager position. For the past five years, he’s served as the Clinical Programs Manager overseeing all of the department’s clinical programming. 

“I’m very excited and honored to continue my work for the Mercer Island community in a new leadership role as the YFS Administrator,” Franklin said. “Throughout my career, I have always had a passion for finding creative ways to support community health and I look forward to meeting today’s challenges, especially in the face of the ongoing youth mental health crisis and pandemic recovery.”

Franklin is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Child Mental Health Specialist, Disability Mental Health Specialist, and a Washington State Approved Clinical Supervisor. He holds a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology and a Bachelors in Psychology.  

The City’s Youth and Family Services department provides a unique array of human services and community support programs to the Island community directly from the City, including community- and school-based counseling, family assistance programs, mobile integrated health, and senior services.

Learn more about Youth and Family Services programs and services on the department’s webpage.