60 Years of Hope and Healing

Sixty years ago, we at Valley Cities were founded on a bold and enduring belief: that every person regardless of background, circumstance, or struggle deserves access to compassionate, high-quality behavioral health care. What began in 1965 as a small, community-driven mental health effort has grown into a vital and innovative force for hope, healing, and equity across King County.

As we celebrate 60 Years of Hope, Healing, and Brighter Futures, we honor our past not with nostalgia, but with purpose. Our legacy is strong—but our work is far from finished. The challenges facing our communities continue to intensify: youth in crisis, persistent disparities in access and outcomes, and a behavioral health workforce pushed to its limits. Still, we remain steadfast.

What defines Valley Cities is not only what we accomplish, but how we accomplish it. Staff with heart, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to community. We are building new models of care, strengthening and supporting our workforce, elevating lived experience, and extending our reach through mobile and community-based services.

This anniversary is more than a milestone; it is a call to action. A call to keep building. To keep believing. To meet today’s needs, and tomorrow’s, with boldness, compassion, and resolve.

To our staff, partners, clients, and supporters, thank you. You have shaped who we are and continue to do so. Together, we will continue creating a future where hope is abundant, healing is accessible, and brighter futures are not the exception, but the rule.

Meet Kyle K

Sober and thriving since 2017.

Kyle began his recovery journey on January 8, 2017, after years of addiction, repeated jail time, and failed attempts at sobriety. When he was court-ordered to Valley Cities, he didn’t expect much — but what he found changed his life. Through the support of dedicated counselors like Denise Ranyneri, Kyle experienced genuine care, encouragement, and a program that gave him hope for a life he thought was out of reach.

Today, Kyle has over eight years clean and sober. He hasn’t returned to jail, works a strong recovery program, and has become a leader in the recovery community. He’s managed sober living homes, chaired countless meetings, and now serves in a leadership role at his recovery group. Professionally, he’s a proud union construction worker who has remained with the same company for seven years. Personally, he embraces being a son, brother, partner, and father, all of which began at Valley Cities. See Kyle’s full testimonial on the Valley Cities Recovery Stories page!