Note from Our CEO
It’s the 60th anniversary of Innovative Services NW—a diamond anniversary for a gem in Clark County. We are proud to have grown from helping 15 clients to now serving over 2,100 members of our Community in the last year alone!
As we prepare for the next 60 years, our team is thinking about how we can grow to meet the needs of our community, and what services we may expand.
The first step is to explore a needs assessment to determine expansion opportunities for our building, programs, and services. Our leadership team is actively engaged with our Board of Directors to set our path forward for the next 60 years focused on our core purpose of supporting possibilities for everyone.
Innovative Services NW started as a small group of parents determined to help. We continue to rely on your support to help children and adults in our community become more self-reliant. We look forward to serving you for another 60 years and are excited to share our plans to grow and meet our community’s needs!
Thank you,
— Dena
Team Spotlight | Celebrating 19 years with ISNW!
Meet Susan Veneruso, ISNW’s Chief Operating Officer. Susan has worked for ISNW for 19 years and currently helps oversee the Employment Services and Early Learning programs as well as facilities, contracts, and grants reporting. She has lived in Vancouver for more than 27 years and has three grown children and one grandchild. She received a Master’s of Business Administration and a Master’s of Technology Management from Washington State University Vancouver and loves to spend her time reading and exercising her great dane/shepherd mix, Raven.
"I have spoken with so many clients and families over the years about Innovative’s impact on their lives. I’m incredibly grateful to be a part of such a fantastic nonprofit, with passionate staff, that work every day to help better the circumstances of those we serve here in Clark County.”
Innovative News
This holiday season, we truly felt the love of our community. We would like to thank our donors from Dick Hannah Dealerships, Assistance League NW, and Women Who Care SW Washington, with their generosity, we received over $36,000! These donations have a lasting impact on our mission to help children and adults become more self-reliant.
We also partnered with the Fox 12 Oregon Les Schwab Tire Center Toy Drive and collected enough toys to give to over 400 children. We were thrilled to provide them with a holiday gift they deserve. Thank you to all who contributed!
Placement Celebrations
Ethan Blackwelder
Fred Meyer Courtesy Clerk
Ethan is a friendly, outgoing guy who enjoys helping others. His goal was to work in a grocery store so he can get to know his community and be a part of it. Everyone there loves him and tells him they want him to stay. Fred Meyer is currently working on training him to work as a cashier and/or in the produce department.
60 Years Ago...
Our doors opened for the first time but with a different name—Clark County Development Center. We began when a small group of parents established an activity program for their children, including adult children with disabilities. A few years later, in 1965, we transitioned into our nonprofit status with two part-time employees and 15 clients. In the 1960s, children with disabilities did not have the same support or opportunities they do today. These parents wanted a better future for their children. Now we have over 120 employees and counting who served over 2,100 members of our Innovative community in the last year alone. As we celebrate our anniversary, we look forward to sharing more about our history and the stories of the people behind it.
Coming Soon: Early Learning Room
Our Early Learning program is growing! A brand new classroom will be opening soon–providing a safe, caring, and enriching environment to help instill a sense of security in the children we serve. We are excited to share it with you all!
Did You Know?
95% of the children in the Early Learning Program receive financial assistance. The Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) is a free preschool program for eligible children and their families.
Join Our Team!
We are looking for a superstar Physical Therapist to join our ever-expanding pediatric therapy department, providing services to clients in the intensive physical therapy program (birth to 21 years of age) and the pelvic floor health program (5-21 years of age)
Join From Our Board of Directors
Congratulations to former ISNW Board Director Lindsey Salvestrin, named Interim CEO of Columbia Credit Union!
Lindsey served the ISNW Board of Directors for 9 years and held the Board Chair position for 2 of those years. In her tenure, she partnered with our team to host our 50-year gala, assisted in successfully transitioning a new CEO, and provided guidance over technology and operational changes. We are so excited for her in this new position with Columbia Credit Union and wish her all the best of luck! It is well deserved.