JACKSON HOLE, WYO – The Teton Youth and Family Services’ Board of Directors announced today the retirement of longtime Executive Director, Bruce Burkland. Burkland will finish his work as ED at the end of 2018.
“Bruce has been a pillar of our community. Because of Bruce’s leadership thousands of children and families have received needed services and support in times of greatest need,” stated April Norton, TYFS board chair. “The amount of gratitude and respect we have for Bruce’s 40-year dedication to TYFS is immeasurable. Children and families in crisis have a safe place to heal as a result of his years of service to Teton Youth and Family Services and our community.”
Under Burkland’s leadership the organization has grown to serve more than 600 individual children and family members each year, helping them find their way to more productive lives.
“I have been extremely privileged to have spent the vast majority of my professional life working with staff that are wonderful people and great friends, doing work that is challenging and has continually enriched my life,” Burkland said.
Burkland began working for Teton Youth and Family Services in 1979. Over his tenure, TYFS expanded services to children and families through several programs, including the Van Vleck House (a group home and crisis shelter providing treatment programs for local youth), the Hirschfield Center for Children (a child advocacy center providing therapeutic and forensic services for children and families at risk of abuse or neglect), and Red Top Meadows (a residential treatment facility focused on serving adolescent males).
Teton Youth and Family Services is a not-for-profit agency, established in 1977, that partners with local law enforcement, Teton County School District, Teton County, the Town of Jackson, the Wyoming Department of Family Services, and other health and human service agencies to provide preventative, emergency, short-term, and long-term care for children and families in need.
“By providing a full continuum of care—from prevention programs like the Jackson Hole Leadership Summer Program to intensive therapeutic care at Red Top Meadows, TYFS is at the heart of the community and the families that live here,” Norton said. “It is because of Bruce and his staff, that we enjoy the existence of this essential institution. We are confident that during this time of change the staff and Board will be able to provide a seamless transition in order to ensure continued delivery of critical services to youth and families.”
The TYFS Board plans to immediately recruit locally for its next Executive Director. Those interested in the Executive Director position may contact Ruth Ann Petroff via email.
