As with many other towns and cities across the nation, the needs of Shelton’s youth do not receive top priority in Shelton. The city does not have a Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, or Big Brothers–Big Sisters organization here.

A small skateboard park regularly struggles to stay open near a WalMart parking lot, dependent upon private donations. Youth recreation programs, public libraries, and most county and city parks are all struggling with cuts in staffing and funding––or facing closure altogether.

SOCK an exception since 1997

From its downtown Shelton location, SOCK’s youth programs have enabled children and teens to find a connection––as well as a safe place––to channel their energy through sports and recreation activities, and learn ethics and skills that will serve them throughout their lives and careers.

Area families in poverty, stress

Mason County ranks near the bottom of Washington’s 39 counties in terms of per-capita income. In some sections of the county, particularly rural areas where separate families and small communities subsist, conditions of extreme economic deprivation exist.

Struggling families can make poor choices in attempting to solve economic and family problems. Negative family behavior (substance abuse, poor parenting skills, lack of employment) contributes to truancy, delinquency, failing grades, battering, and child abuse.

Youth stats at a glance

According to the Northwest Area Foundation Indicators, Mason County has 16.2% of its youth ages 16-19 currently not attending school and not working. This figure is twice as high as the Washington State average of 8.1%. The poverty rate of youth under 18 is 25% higher in our county than the state average (19% vs. 15%).

Mason County carries a 69% higher dropout rate (9.8% vs. 5.8%) than the state average. Our county’s teens are having babies at a 37% higher rate with juvenile arrests ranking 16% higher than elsewhere in Washington State.

SOCK targets those at highest risk

SOCK targets the young adults connected to Mason County’s struggling families—the special population at highest risk in our county—the teens who are transient, delinquent, truant or high school dropouts.

Utilizing an “All Welcome Here” nonjudgmental approach, SOCK continues to provide the safe, supervised place that Mason County’s at-risk youth need and truly want. The overall goal of SOCK is stated in its name––to Save Our County’s Kids––from a bleak future of unemployment, crime, drug and alcohol abuse, gangs, violence, and other aspects of downward social spiral.