BERLIN—When Steven Taylor decided to step back a bit from his daily management duties as co-owner of Ayers Creek Adventures to succeed Teresa Fields as executive director of Worcester Youth and Family Services on Jan. 6 he became the second man to hold that post in the organization’s history.
In doing so, Taylor is returning to his professional roots, he said in a Jan. 27 interview, pointing out that he previously served as the first executive director of the Maryland Coastal Bays Association. He said he founded a similar organization designed to improve the quality of natural resources in New Jersey before moving back to his native Eastern Shore and converting his family’s farm into an outdoors recreation site in 2010.
Taylor and his wife have two adult sons, a 22-year old who works in the construction industry in Colorado and a 23-year old who works in the information technology field in Baltimore. He said he was looking forward to helping residents of the local community have happy fulfilling lives. To achieve that they sometimes needed someone to talk and plan their personal goals with, he said.
Taylor said he was anticipating the organization’s leadership will try to expand offered services into the mental health field this year. He said the intention is to apply by March for permission to bring in a licensed psychiatrist, with the authority to prescribe treatment.
He also stated that he would like to increase WYFCS’s community outreach and marketing efforts.
One misconception that Taylor said he would like to dispel was that WYFCS only serves children. “We currently treat all ages,” including providing adult counseling services for marital struggles, financial management, anxiety and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The organization also helps families by providing either direct or referred assistance with heating bills, winter coats, and food.
According to its annual report, in 2013 WYFCS service in the form of ongoing programs included: Lower Shore Court Appointed Special Advocates (66 children), Family Connections (485 clients), Enhanced Families Now (11 families), Strengthening Adolescent Girls with Education and Support (33 girls), Berlin Youth Project (75 local youth), and Counseling Services (462 clients).
Fundraising events, such as the annual Pirate Party, Ocean City Marathon and pancake breakfast, cover half WYFCS’s total annual budget, which he estimated would be $1.2 million for 2014. The organization also regularly applies for grant funding from the state, he said. Since those grants are competitive, they cannot be counted as a reliably stable funding stream. WYFCS also bills insurance companies for certain counseling services, he said.
The towns of Berlin, Ocean City and Pocomoke, and the Worcester County Commissioners are constant and dependable financial supporters, he indicated.
Taylor said he was looking forward to working with the staff of WYFCS, who he called “great listeners.” He has a very calm demeanor himself and described hi new co-workers as receptive, helpful and very professional.
Additional information on the programs provided by Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services is available at the Web site www.gowoyo.org or by calling 410-641-4598 in Berlin or 410-957-6550 in Pocomoke.
In doing so, Taylor is returning to his professional roots, he said in a Jan. 27 interview, pointing out that he previously served as the first executive director of the Maryland Coastal Bays Association. He said he founded a similar organization designed to improve the quality of natural resources in New Jersey before moving back to his native Eastern Shore and converting his family’s farm into an outdoors recreation site in 2010.
Taylor and his wife have two adult sons, a 22-year old who works in the construction industry in Colorado and a 23-year old who works in the information technology field in Baltimore. He said he was looking forward to helping residents of the local community have happy fulfilling lives. To achieve that they sometimes needed someone to talk and plan their personal goals with, he said.
Taylor said he was anticipating the organization’s leadership will try to expand offered services into the mental health field this year. He said the intention is to apply by March for permission to bring in a licensed psychiatrist, with the authority to prescribe treatment.
He also stated that he would like to increase WYFCS’s community outreach and marketing efforts.
One misconception that Taylor said he would like to dispel was that WYFCS only serves children. “We currently treat all ages,” including providing adult counseling services for marital struggles, financial management, anxiety and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The organization also helps families by providing either direct or referred assistance with heating bills, winter coats, and food.
According to its annual report, in 2013 WYFCS service in the form of ongoing programs included: Lower Shore Court Appointed Special Advocates (66 children), Family Connections (485 clients), Enhanced Families Now (11 families), Strengthening Adolescent Girls with Education and Support (33 girls), Berlin Youth Project (75 local youth), and Counseling Services (462 clients).
Fundraising events, such as the annual Pirate Party, Ocean City Marathon and pancake breakfast, cover half WYFCS’s total annual budget, which he estimated would be $1.2 million for 2014. The organization also regularly applies for grant funding from the state, he said. Since those grants are competitive, they cannot be counted as a reliably stable funding stream. WYFCS also bills insurance companies for certain counseling services, he said.
The towns of Berlin, Ocean City and Pocomoke, and the Worcester County Commissioners are constant and dependable financial supporters, he indicated.
Taylor said he was looking forward to working with the staff of WYFCS, who he called “great listeners.” He has a very calm demeanor himself and described hi new co-workers as receptive, helpful and very professional.
Additional information on the programs provided by Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services is available at the Web site www.gowoyo.org or by calling 410-641-4598 in Berlin or 410-957-6550 in Pocomoke.