Human Interests » Domestic Violence

A needed response…to potential sexual assault

davidt — Mon, 06 May 2013 21:06:55 +0000

Here’s a short but powerful video, “A Needed Response,” to potential sexual assault. Please share!

Sexual Assault Awareness Month: Resources

davidt — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 22:54:03 +0000

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Here are some links to national and local organizations with information about the month and this important topic.

National Sexual Violence Resource Center

Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs

King County Sexual Assault Resource Center

Here are some general links for good information regarding sexual assault and child sexual abuse:

Understanding Sexual Assault from the Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs

About Sexual Violence from the National Online Resource Center on Violence Against Women

The Realities of Sexual Violence from the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape

Information from the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network

Stopping the Sexual Abuse of Children from Stop It Now

Mayor’s Proposed Budget preserves human services

davidt — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 18:19:13 +0000

Mayor Mike McGinn presented his Proposed 2013-2014 Budget to the City Council on September 24^th. The budget preserves direct human services and adds funding for inflation increases for agencies, child care assistance, homeless families, domestic violence prevention, a pilot program to help young adults of color find career path jobs. For details about the budget and a link to the Mayor’s budget speech click here.

The City Council will hold two public hearings on the Proposed Budget, one on October 4th at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, and one on October 25^th, same time and location. The Council will review the Human Services Department’s budget on October 2^nd beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Financial education classes for DV victims

davidt — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 22:59:41 +0000

The YWCA is sponsoring free 10-week classes of English and Spanish-language financial education classes for victims of domestic violence from September 5th through November 7th 2012 in a confidential location in South King County. Both classes will be every Wednesday afternoon from 12:00-3:00 p.m. For more information, please call 206-250-9956 or see this flier in English, or this flier in Spanish.

HSD co-sponsors DV forum Sept. 6-7

davidt — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 19:42:04 +0000

Lawyers, judges, law enforcement, social workers, victim advocates, scholars and experts from around the country will explore the complex problem of domestic violence and potential solutions at “Intersections, Insights & Interventions: Fourth Annual Domestic Violence Symposium,” at Seattle University School of Law on Sept. 6 and 7. For more information see this Web site.

HSD to receive $920K to prevent violence against women

davidt — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 22:48:57 +0000

The City of Seattle’s Human Services Department has been awarded a two-year continuation grant from the federal Office of Violence Against Women in the amount of $920,523 for to develop and strengthen responses to violence against women. The Grants to Encourage Arrests Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders (Arrest) Program encourages communities to treat domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking as serious crimes by strengthening the criminal justice response to these crimes and promoting a coordinated community response. Victim safety and offender accountability are the center piece of projects funded by this grant program.

The award will fund the continuation and expansion of the following regional activities:

Collaboration with Consejo Counseling and Referral Services, Domestic Abuse Women’s Network, Eastside Domestic Violence Program, New Beginnings, and the YWCA in South King County to implement a project to provide access and advocacy for DV victims with limited English proficiency
Community-based DV advocate co-located with Seattle Police and City Attorney
Coordination through co-location of a felony prosecutor
Developing a tool to identify, track more accurately, and better organize work involving high risk domestic violence cases

Proposals sought for domestic violence prevention training

davidt — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 20:16:56 +0000

The Seattle Human Services Department and the King County Housing Authority have announced the opportunity to submit a proposal describing a domestic violence training program designed for housing providers and landlords. The goal of this training program is to ensure safety and improve housing access for victims of domestic violence and their children; and expand their access to existing subsidized or private market housing inventory. A single award of a maximum of $25,000 is available through this Request for Qualifications. The application deadline is Sept. 6, 2011. For more information, please this Web site or contact Tan Mei Teo, Seattle Human Services Department, at tan-mei.teo@seattle.gov or 206-386-1036.

Mayor takes stand against underage sex trafficking

davidt — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 23:38:20 +0000

Mayor Mike McGinn today called on Village Voice Media to meet with him and the Seattle Police Department to discuss strengthening their policies against underage sex trafficking in their print and online advertisements. “This is a serious and disturbing issue. We’ve received a growing number of reports that Backpage.com is being used to exploit children,” said Mayor Mike McGinn. “It’s just wrong. We’re asking them and other sites to meet with us to find ways to protect children from exploitation and help keep our communities safe.” The Seattle Police Department has identified the use of the adult services section of Backpage.com as a contributor to the problem of child exploitation. Specifically, they are an “accelerant” of underage sex trafficking. The problem exists in both the print and online version of the Backpage.com service. Underage sex trafficking is a growing problem in Seattle and around the country. A 2008 report from the City of Seattle’s Human Services Department estimated 300-500 children under the age of 18 are being exploited for commercial sex in Seattle and King County. Children as young as twelve have been exploited and runaways are particularly vulnerable. The report noted that the internet has been increasingly used for sexual exploitation. For the full text of the news release click here.

HSD to reorganize to better meet needs of community

davidt — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 00:08:15 +0000

Beginning on March 1, 2011, the Seattle Human Services Department will realign its operations to better meet the needs of constituents and the community. The work of former divisions including Youth Development & Achievement, Early Learning & Family Support, and Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Prevention will be restructured to become two divisions: the Community Support & Self-Sufficiency Division and Youth & Family Empowerment Division. The Community Support & Self-Sufficiency Division will encompass all of HSD’s programs that assist individuals and families as they work toward self-sufficiency. The Youth & Family Empowerment Division will take a more holistic approach to providing services from early childhood to young adulthood, including paths to post-secondary training – college, vocational training, apprenticeships into skilled trades, or other employment. For more details about these and other changes please read this special edition of Life Lines newsletter.

Seattle PostGlobe series on prostituted teens

davidt — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 17:09:57 +0000

Seattle PostGlobe reporter Eric Ruthford recently reserached, wrote and posted a remarkable series of articles on the issue of prostituted youth in Seattle.

For a link to the first article, please click here. This piece has links to all the other articles in the series. For more information on Seattle’s response to this growing concern, please visit this Web site.