The mission of Guardians Of the Children (GOC) is to recognize and react to child abuse and educate the public to do the same; to serve as advocates to provide strength and stability to families in crisis; and be an answer to the prayer of an abused child or teen for courage, support and protection.

“Don’t Let Your Silence Drown Out Their Cries”

o the prayer of an abused child or teen for courage, support and protection.

“Don’t Let Your Silence Drown Out Their Cries”

Volunteers of America is a church without walls. Since 1896, we have answered God’s call to transform lives by reaching and uplifting America’s most vulnerable.

Take the Next Step is a grass-roots, faith-based, non-profit organization. Through our Community Resource Center and our many programs we serve homeless and low income residents throughout the Skykomish River Valley in East Snohomish County

Our Mission...is to offer Friendship, Help, and Hope to our neighbors in need...our neighbors of all ages, backgrounds and situations - at risk children, homeless and street involved youth and adults, teen parents, low income and homeless families, veterans, the elderly, and disabled.

Our Vision...is that all Sky Valley residents will have access to the resources, support services, and guidance needed to meet their basic needs and personal goals so they can live life to their fullest potential.

Our Core Values

We model generosity, integrity, respect, honesty, friendship, and healthy relationships.

We value and respect individuals by treating all with dignity and honoring diversity.

We serve all without respect to ethnicity, beliefs, age, disability, gender, or sexual orientation.

We are committed to being a safe place for clients, staff, and volunteers.

We promote well-being, wholeness, and community.

We affirm the need to nourish body, mind, and spirit.

We affirm personal growth and positive change in our clients lives and endeavor to do the same in ourselves and in our organization.

We are committed to client privacy and confidentiality.

We value a strength based approach and our clients’ right to self-motivation.

We are committed to building and maintaining local partnerships with community organizations, churches, businesses, and individuals.

We value openness and collaboration both within the organization and with our partner organizations.

We support, value, and affirm volunteers in the many ways that they serve.

We conduct Take the Next Step business with legal and ethical integrity and accountability.

We are committed to prayer and listening to God for his leading.

We believe in God’s redemptive work in the lives of our clients.

We believe we are the hands and feet of Christ as we serve.

We fulfill our Mission and Vision by respectfully listening to our clients, by helping them assess their needs, and working together to discover their options. Our "What We Do" program pages describe the wide range of assistance the Next Step provides our clients. Today, over 50 churches, businesses, community organizations, and more than 400 volunteers join together to help us bring friendship, help, and hope to our neighbors in need in many ways:

• Kidz Club After School Program

• Student Leaders

• Community Resource Center

• Community Dinners and Life Skills Classes

• Growing Together Young Moms

• Cold Weather Shelter

Our focus at Hands for Peacemaking is to offer opportunities for economic development, improved health conditions, and access to education in order to promote self-sufficiency for the Guatemalan people in the regions we serve.