PORT TOWNSEND — The newly named executive director of Olympic Community Action Programs intends to maintain current services while working to expand its offerings in the future.
Dale Wilson, who is the director of community services at Rural Resources Community Action in Colville, will begin work Sept. 1, which will be the last day for Geoff Crump, who announced his resignation from the post in June.
Crump will become chief operating officer of Hope Line, a community action program in King County that performs many of the same functions as Olympic Community Action Programs, known as OlyCAP.
“I’ll be maintaining the status quo because OlyCAP already has a lot of good programs, but I’ll be looking at areas where we can improve,” said Wilson, 57.
Rural Resources Community Action in Colville, “closely resembles OlyCAP but on a larger scale,” serving communities in northeast Washington state, according to a news release.
During his 30 years with the agency, Wilson was involved in the planning and implementation of national, state and local initiatives for low-income families.
Wilson’s salary at OlyCAP was not disclosed. Crump was earning an annual salary in the mid-$90,000 range, according to Rich Ciccarone, OlyCAP board president.
Wilson said the agency has an opportunity to fill in the gaps in health care services, specifically developing guidance programs for senior citizens who have recently left hospital care.
“A lot of times, they don’t have a medical plan for follow-up care, which can prevent them from going to the hospital again for the same treatment,” he said.
Wilson said he often takes a business approach to directing a nonprofit, putting into place more efficient operations while “looking at the needs that are not being filled and creating a solution for them.”
OlyCAP’s main office is in Port Townsend, with offices in Port Angeles and Forks.
It offers assistance in social service areas including crisis management, food and shelter, rent assistance, health services, child care resources, veterans services and legal aid.
It also administers the Peninsula Daily News’ Peninsula Home Fund, which last year raised a record $271,981.
For more information, go to www.olycap.org.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.