Sherwood Community Services

Posted by Gary O'Rielly 
on Feb 24, 2014
 
The new Executive Director of Sherwood Community Services in Lake Stevens is Lance Morehouse who has been on the job for over seven months. Lance comes to Sherwood Community Services with 15 years experience in non-profit management and has been advocating for the needs of children and adults with developmental disabilities. Lance comes to Sherwood Community Services as a father of sons with significant disabilities so his experiences are both personal and professional. Lance has been in Lake Stevens for the past 3 1/2 years when he married a woman from here.
 

His son nearly died of a freak water accident when he broke through some ice at a lake, ended up being brain dead, took him off life support and he lived for another 17 years. He died 7 years ago. His other son is 22, deaf and blind from the swimming accident as well but he loves to shred paper.

Sherwood Community Services was founded in 1957. In 1972 the legislature passed a law requiring public schools to allow children with handicaps and disabilities to attend school. His organization works in a unique way by using the lifespan services from birth to retirement. From birth to age 3, their ExCel program provides evaluation, education and licensed therapy services to families who have concerns about their baby's development. His organization provides innovative ways of personal services like career connection programs working with adult people with disabilities to find work. Part of the funding comes from government contracts. Sherwood Community Services has a budget of $1.5 million dollars serving 550 children and their families.