The programs of the Northshore Family Center are grounded in family support principles and focus on early learning, school readiness and success, after school opportunities for children and youth, parent support and skill-building, and community networks and capacity-building. Elizabeth Thomas, an assistant professor at the University of Washington Bothell and a community psychologist, serves on the center's leadership board and as the UW Bothell liaison to the project. Many of her courses have an integrated service learning component, and many of her students have worked with the NFC over the years—donating 20 hours over one quarter to the center as part of their coursework. Most recently, Dr. Thomas's Fall 2006 Senior Seminar engaged in participatory research to develop program evaluation tools and techniques beneficial in supporting and sustaining three key projects at the NFC: Service Learning Youth, a youth leadership program; the Indoor Play Park; and After School Programs for School-Aged Youth.
