Agency History

Thurston County is an urban/rural area of 224,700 people located in southwestern Washington State. It includes Olympia, the State capital, the small-urban cities of Lacey and Tumwater, and the rural communities of Yelm, Rainier, Tenino, Bucoda and Rochester.

In May 1989 community leaders in Thurston County met with social development researchers from the University of Washington to discuss the growing presence of substance abuse problems in our neighborhoods and schools. They embraced the “Communities That Care” research-based model for developing a comprehensive, community-wide plan to combat the problem. This meeting gave birth to TOGETHER!

Over the succeeding twelve months TOGETHER! grew from a vision to a grass-roots campaign to mobilize the communities of Thurston County in a coordinated effort to prevent youth violence, alcohol, drugs and tobacco use. Fifty-six key community leaders collaborated in program development, all dedicated to the vision of safe and drug free communities for our youth.

TOGETHER! incorporated and was granted Washington State non-profit corporation status in September 1989, and IRS 501(c)(3) determination in June 1990. Grants and service contracts which have funded programs, operations and evaluation have included awards from federal, state and county agencies, local jurisdictions, and private foundations, and support from local businesses and interested individuals.

TOGETHER!'s community mobilizing, coalition building, and prevention programming efforts have been recognized over the years by a variety of organizations, including Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, Governor's Council on Substance Abuse, U.S. Department of Justice/FBI, Community Youth Services, and Thurston County Board of Health.

VISION STATEMENT. All young people in Thurston County communities are supported, healthy, safe and valued.

MISSION STATEMENT. Mobilize the community to increase awareness and to take action to prevent youth violence and alcohol, tobacco and drug use.

Non-Discrimination in Employment

TOGETHER! agrees that it shall not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the grounds of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, or the presence of any disability; provided that the prohibition against discrimination in employment because of disability shall not apply if the particular disability prevents the performance of the essential functions required of the position.

Non-Discrimination in Client Services

TOGETHER! shall not, on the grounds of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, or the presence of any disability:

• Deny an individual any services or other benefits;
• Provide any service(s) or other benefit(s) to an individual which are different, or are provided in a different manner, from those provided to others;
• Subject an individual to segregation or separate treatment in any manner related to his/her receipt of any service(s) or other benefits.

TOGETHER! shall not deny any individual an opportunity to participate in any program or provision of service(s), or afford an opportunity to do so, which is different from that afforded others.

TOGETHER!, in determining (a) the types of services or other benefits to be provided, or (b) the class of individuals to whom, or the situation in which, such services or other benefits will be provided, or (c) the class of individuals to be afforded an opportunity to participate in any service(s) or other benefits, will not utilize criteria or methods of administration which have the effect of subjecting individuals to discrimination because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, creed, marital status, age, Vietnam era or disabled veteran status, or the presence of any disability, or have the effect of defeating or substantially impairing accomplishment of the objectives of any service contract in respect to individuals of a particular race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, creed, marital status, age, Vietnam era or disabled veteran status, or the presence of any disability.

If TOGETHER! authorizes assignment and/or subcontracting, said assignment or subcontract shall include appropriate safeguards against discrimination in client services binding upon each agency or subcontractor. TOGETHER! shall take such action as may be required to ensure full compliance with the provision of this clause, including sanctions for non-compliance.