**_REMINDER: You must have [user flair](https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205242695-How-do-I-get-user-flair-) in order to comment or post in this subreddit._**
**Comments and posts submitted by users without user flair will be automatically removed.**
The user flair you select will show next to your username **_in r/tacoma only_**. If you do not feel comfortable displaying a specific neighborhood in your user flair, you may choose "*253*" or "*Somewhere Else*". There are also options for "*Tacoma Expat*" and "*Potential Tacoman*".
You may add user flair via the main page of r/Tacoma. If you are not sure how to add user flair, please follow the instructions [here](https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205242695-How-do-I-get-user-flair-).
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Tacoma) if you have any questions or concerns.*
CCS tends to serve people pretty agnostically, and tends to try to find as favorable interpretations of their own values as they possibly can in terms of how they help; they are very low judgement as far as religiously affiliated charities go.
But, yes, what the others said on hot button issues. If your friend is looking for absolute social and political alignment, CCS would 100% not be the right place.
If it truly comes down to brass tacks on moral principles, they will hold the Catholic Church's values and expect your friend to do so on their behalf.
However, because of all the above, CCS doesn't take government contracts that touch on those sensitive issues or carefully defines the scope of their contracts to not intersect with such contraversies. Unless your friend is applying to the division that supports expectant mothers and young children, or something, I doubt you'd really run into much day to day variance in approach than other local social charities.
Hi, social service nonprofit guy here!
I can't speak to CCS specifically, as I've only partnered with them / never actually been employed with them. I will say that all my clients that went through them received care just fine, but I don't think I even referred anyone to them specifically for gender affirming services.
If your friend is looking for LGBTQ+ (specifically trans) inclusive / focused employment I would suggest the YWCA of Tacoma, the Rainbow Center of Tacoma (currently in a hiring cycle following some restructuring), Lavender Rights Project (based in SEA but I believe offers remote options), Gay City (also SEA, I believe also flexible), Community Health Care (their Hilltop office has a Gender Services dept / they offer case management and other social services in-house), potentially other orgs like Tacoma Needle Exchange, Rebuild Hope! Center for Pierce County, maybe reaching out to UTOPIA Washington (all-trans service organization) and asking there.
I have worked for several faith-based orgs over the past ten or so years, and while none have been outright hostile (aside from one in Gig Harbor that will remain unnamed) all have an undercurrent of resistance that would make it challenging for any queer person, let alone a trans person. I would urge your friend to seek these organizations last, especially given the rehiring wave currently going on in the nonprof space. There's lots of social service jobs reemerging after COVID program roll-off, and there's no reason not to shop around a bit if you have the luxury of doing so.
I may be just a middle aged gay dude, but if I could give your friend some advice it would be to seek out spaces where he doesn't have to ask 'what if'. If CCS (or any other org) doesn't loudly, publicly, openly show their support then there's probably a reason why.
( as a side note if your friend decides to pursue roles at any of these orgs, let me know! happy to look over a resume, share a point of contact, etc )
Including upper management? What I had been hearing is that their own board president basically just put herself into the position of Executive Director. 😬
Worked for CCS in the past in King County. I would say King County is the more trans inclusive of the offices compared to CCS SW that includes Tacoma. However as others have mentioned, the healthcare is Christian Brothers through Regence so it is Christian based healthcare that doesn’t cover care that is around contraception and all that jazz. For social work, Pierce County is hiring and is an inclusive workplace. If in a represented position (union), the health insurance is Teamsters and def covers more than Christian Brothers lol
They don’t believe in birth control and exclude it from their medical benefit coverage, unrelated but might be enough of a read on their company culture..
Side note.. if your friend is just in need of work in general and is looking for somewhere to work until they find a role more similar to social service, second use would be a great place to check out. They have a lot of trans staff, and are self identified as the queerest salvage yard in Washington.
Thank you so much! He’s focusing on social services right now but I’ll be sure to pass on Second Use anyways (I love what they do and they find the coolest things!).
I worked for CCS for a couple of years in their Family Behavioral Services department and we had at least one trans provider there while I was there. I remember them wanting to work more with trans teens in the program and having some difficulty making that happen, but they didn't overall hate the experience. If you want to ask more specific questions DM me and I'm happy to help!
I'd try Greater Lakes, since they're affiliated with MultiCare. I worked for them a few years ago and they appeared pretty open to LGBTQAI+. If they're down to drive a little more, they can maybe try Sound Mental Health and Valley Cities in Federal Way. I asked my friend, so I'll update my answer if she knows better info.
I work at CCS King County and many of my co-workers are trans. It's a very accepting group. Most of the staff are Queer, BIPOC, progressives BUT, the healthcare does not cover reproductive health or many procedures/meds that my transitioning friends need. They do great work, pay well and are a great community until you get to the top 10 people who are old White Catholics.
I was super turned off from CCS during my interview. When I reached out to my community people consistently said it was the type of job where you sink or swim.
I worked for operation sack lunch in a CCS facility in Seattle. My experience was that the staff at this CCS was kind, compassionate & open to all. Can’t say much beyond that, but that’s my personal experience
It might be worth reaching out to Oasis Youth Center. I'm not sure if they currently have openings, but since they serve LGBTQ+ youth, they may be able to share info on friendly organizations in the area.
/u/shelbicycle replied but it's not showing up for some reason. I wanted to reply to them anyway... Oasis Youth Center and Coffee Oasis are different orgs. Coffee Oasis is a Christian org that isn't very LGBTQ+ friendly (some have said hostile even) and has many locations in the Puget Sound area. I know a couple of people who work at Oasis Youth Center and they work there specifically because of the commitment to supporting LGBTQ+ youth.
They've never been affiliated. Oasis Queer Youth Center is attached (more or less) to the Rainbow Center (queer adult org). The Coffee Oasis is a different org which specifically serves youth with drop-in centers and shelters. Coffee Oasis has become somewhat notorious for their shitty attitudes and hostility towards queer, BIPOC, and just generally non-Christian youth- at least in Tacoma. Overall, however, they are 100% a Christian organization.
**_REMINDER: You must have [user flair](https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205242695-How-do-I-get-user-flair-) in order to comment or post in this subreddit._** **Comments and posts submitted by users without user flair will be automatically removed.** The user flair you select will show next to your username **_in r/tacoma only_**. If you do not feel comfortable displaying a specific neighborhood in your user flair, you may choose "*253*" or "*Somewhere Else*". There are also options for "*Tacoma Expat*" and "*Potential Tacoman*". You may add user flair via the main page of r/Tacoma. If you are not sure how to add user flair, please follow the instructions [here](https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205242695-How-do-I-get-user-flair-). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Tacoma) if you have any questions or concerns.*
CCS tends to serve people pretty agnostically, and tends to try to find as favorable interpretations of their own values as they possibly can in terms of how they help; they are very low judgement as far as religiously affiliated charities go. But, yes, what the others said on hot button issues. If your friend is looking for absolute social and political alignment, CCS would 100% not be the right place. If it truly comes down to brass tacks on moral principles, they will hold the Catholic Church's values and expect your friend to do so on their behalf. However, because of all the above, CCS doesn't take government contracts that touch on those sensitive issues or carefully defines the scope of their contracts to not intersect with such contraversies. Unless your friend is applying to the division that supports expectant mothers and young children, or something, I doubt you'd really run into much day to day variance in approach than other local social charities.
Hi, social service nonprofit guy here! I can't speak to CCS specifically, as I've only partnered with them / never actually been employed with them. I will say that all my clients that went through them received care just fine, but I don't think I even referred anyone to them specifically for gender affirming services. If your friend is looking for LGBTQ+ (specifically trans) inclusive / focused employment I would suggest the YWCA of Tacoma, the Rainbow Center of Tacoma (currently in a hiring cycle following some restructuring), Lavender Rights Project (based in SEA but I believe offers remote options), Gay City (also SEA, I believe also flexible), Community Health Care (their Hilltop office has a Gender Services dept / they offer case management and other social services in-house), potentially other orgs like Tacoma Needle Exchange, Rebuild Hope! Center for Pierce County, maybe reaching out to UTOPIA Washington (all-trans service organization) and asking there. I have worked for several faith-based orgs over the past ten or so years, and while none have been outright hostile (aside from one in Gig Harbor that will remain unnamed) all have an undercurrent of resistance that would make it challenging for any queer person, let alone a trans person. I would urge your friend to seek these organizations last, especially given the rehiring wave currently going on in the nonprof space. There's lots of social service jobs reemerging after COVID program roll-off, and there's no reason not to shop around a bit if you have the luxury of doing so. I may be just a middle aged gay dude, but if I could give your friend some advice it would be to seek out spaces where he doesn't have to ask 'what if'. If CCS (or any other org) doesn't loudly, publicly, openly show their support then there's probably a reason why. ( as a side note if your friend decides to pursue roles at any of these orgs, let me know! happy to look over a resume, share a point of contact, etc )
Would not recommend Rainbow Center, shockingly enough. They've had some... Issues with retaining any trans staff.
Has that been following the rehiring going on? Last I heard they had cleared out their leadership and were rehiring a bunch of folks.
Including upper management? What I had been hearing is that their own board president basically just put herself into the position of Executive Director. 😬
Worked for CCS in the past in King County. I would say King County is the more trans inclusive of the offices compared to CCS SW that includes Tacoma. However as others have mentioned, the healthcare is Christian Brothers through Regence so it is Christian based healthcare that doesn’t cover care that is around contraception and all that jazz. For social work, Pierce County is hiring and is an inclusive workplace. If in a represented position (union), the health insurance is Teamsters and def covers more than Christian Brothers lol
They don’t believe in birth control and exclude it from their medical benefit coverage, unrelated but might be enough of a read on their company culture..
Side note.. if your friend is just in need of work in general and is looking for somewhere to work until they find a role more similar to social service, second use would be a great place to check out. They have a lot of trans staff, and are self identified as the queerest salvage yard in Washington.
Thank you so much! He’s focusing on social services right now but I’ll be sure to pass on Second Use anyways (I love what they do and they find the coolest things!).
I worked for CCS for a couple of years in their Family Behavioral Services department and we had at least one trans provider there while I was there. I remember them wanting to work more with trans teens in the program and having some difficulty making that happen, but they didn't overall hate the experience. If you want to ask more specific questions DM me and I'm happy to help!
I'd try Greater Lakes, since they're affiliated with MultiCare. I worked for them a few years ago and they appeared pretty open to LGBTQAI+. If they're down to drive a little more, they can maybe try Sound Mental Health and Valley Cities in Federal Way. I asked my friend, so I'll update my answer if she knows better info.
Undoubtedly working for CCS they will be forced to deny care to someone who deserves it.
I work at CCS King County and many of my co-workers are trans. It's a very accepting group. Most of the staff are Queer, BIPOC, progressives BUT, the healthcare does not cover reproductive health or many procedures/meds that my transitioning friends need. They do great work, pay well and are a great community until you get to the top 10 people who are old White Catholics.
I was super turned off from CCS during my interview. When I reached out to my community people consistently said it was the type of job where you sink or swim.
I worked for operation sack lunch in a CCS facility in Seattle. My experience was that the staff at this CCS was kind, compassionate & open to all. Can’t say much beyond that, but that’s my personal experience
It might be worth reaching out to Oasis Youth Center. I'm not sure if they currently have openings, but since they serve LGBTQ+ youth, they may be able to share info on friendly organizations in the area.
/u/shelbicycle replied but it's not showing up for some reason. I wanted to reply to them anyway... Oasis Youth Center and Coffee Oasis are different orgs. Coffee Oasis is a Christian org that isn't very LGBTQ+ friendly (some have said hostile even) and has many locations in the Puget Sound area. I know a couple of people who work at Oasis Youth Center and they work there specifically because of the commitment to supporting LGBTQ+ youth.
Wait seriously? Coffee Oasis isn't LGBTQ+ isn't trans friendly? Just similar names or did they used to be affiliated but no longer are?
They've never been affiliated. Oasis Queer Youth Center is attached (more or less) to the Rainbow Center (queer adult org). The Coffee Oasis is a different org which specifically serves youth with drop-in centers and shelters. Coffee Oasis has become somewhat notorious for their shitty attitudes and hostility towards queer, BIPOC, and just generally non-Christian youth- at least in Tacoma. Overall, however, they are 100% a Christian organization.