YES Names Laura Hitchcock CEO
Youth Eastside Services Names Laura Hitchcock CEO
Hitchcock, a seasoned public health and youth advocate, assumes the permanent role following a successful five-month tenure as Youth Eastside Services’ interim leader
BELLEVUE, Wash., May 7, 2026 – Youth Eastside Services (YES), the leading behavioral health services provider for youth and their families in East King County, today announced the appointment of Laura Hitchcock as the organization’s Chief Executive Officer. The appointment follows Hitchcock’s impactful leadership as Interim CEO over the past five months.
The formal announcement was shared on Thursday during the organization’s annual Invest in Youth Breakfast.
“Laura’s nonprofit leadership expertise in public health and youth advocacy, paired with her vision for growing access to youth mental health support, make her an exemplary choice for our next leader,” said Jennifer Ivan, President of Youth Eastside Services’ Board of Trustees. “We are enthusiastic about partnering with Laura to advance our community work, at a time when support for youth mental health is more critical than ever before.”
Washington state faces a severe shortage of specialized mental health providers. While recent statewide data show that youth mental health is gradually improving, in King County, many youth still report experiencing anxiety and depression, and nearly one in ten young people have seriously considered suicide. YES aims to address these gaps by advocating for stronger mental health support systems, destigmatizing conversations on mental health, and expanding consistent, accessible care options for all youth.
At today’s breakfast, Hitchcock announced plans for YES to expand its school-based services, with a strong partnership in all three Eastside school districts, including adding 10 positions in the Issaquah School District for the upcoming school year. In addition to school-based services, YES provides evidence-based counseling approaches, groups, and youth development in 13 languages, reflecting the diversity of needs in the community.
Hitchcock brings more than 30 years of experience championing community-based causes. Her extensive career in health and youth advocacy includes roles as CEO of the Washington State Public Health Association and Director of Public Policy & Community Relations for United Way of King County, where she focused on advocacy for early learning programs and investments. She has also held key leadership roles at the League of Education Voters, the Early Learning Action Alliance, the City of Seattle, and Public Health – Seattle & King County, where she led multi-agency response to cannabis legalization including impacts on youth and gun violence prevention strategies.
“I am deeply honored to lead YES into its next chapter. I’ve seen firsthand how essential it is for families to have access to the right support at the right time and recognize YES for being that essential connector,” said Laura Hitchcock, CEO, Youth Eastside Services. “My passion lies in building a stronger mental health support system where we can speak openly about challenges and ensure every young person has a safe space to turn to.”
While Hitchcock formally joined YES in December 2025, her connection to the organization extends to 2019, when she co-facilitated “Brave Commitments,” a coalition of youth-focused human services providers in King County that included YES. A co-founder of two nonprofits dedicated to providing legal services to underserved communities, Hitchcock has long been an advocate for inclusion and belonging as fundamental pillars of community well-being.
“As the daughter of a middle school counselor and teacher, and a parent myself, I understand how vital it is for children and youth to have access to mental health treatment and support,” said Hitchcock. “Our family, like many others, has not been spared the trauma of mental health challenges. I am dedicated to de-stigmatizing these conversations and ensuring that other families have a better, more accessible pathway to healing than the ones that currently exist.”
Hitchcock is a graduate of Seattle’s Garfield High School, Pomona College, and the University of Oregon School of Law. Outside of her professional work, she is an avid traveler and outdoor enthusiast.
About Youth Eastside Services (YES)
Youth Eastside Services (YES) is the leading behavioral health service provider for children and youth, ages birth to 22, and their families in East King County. Since 1968, YES has been a lifeline for the community, providing prevention, diagnosis, and treatment for mental health and substance use disorders, life stressors, and crises. Using an integrated care model, YES offers services at its offices in Bellevue, Redmond, and Kirkland, as well as in over 50 schools and community centers. YES is committed to ensuring that every youth has access to high-quality care, regardless of their family’s ability to pay, through a sliding-fee scale that goes down to zero.
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