The Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) is pleased to announce the results of the 2019 YFE Safety: Addressing Impacts of the Criminal Legal System Request for Proposals (RFP) that closed on June 13. Applicants were invited to provide systems navigation and address trauma for 18 to 24-year-old people harmed by the criminal legal system in Seattle. The RFP guides the investment of more than $4 million in HSD General Fund dollars for the January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 contract period.
HSD received 24 eligible applications from organizations reviewed by a committee whose members represented and worked with the focus and priority populations of this RFP. Reviewers also had content expertise addressing the impacts of the criminal legal system in the City of Seattle, King County, and Washington State. Raters were age, gender, and ethnically diverse and represented multiple cultures and communities: Black, African American, Native, Black/Mexican, Black (mixed), Brown (mix), South Asian, Asian/Filipino, Asian, African American/Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, Hispanic/Latino, LGBTQ, bilingual, and white.
HSD and the review committee recommended funding 14 proposals from the following applicants:
- African American Leadership Forum
- CHOOSE 180
- Community Passageways
- Consejo Counseling and Referral Service
- Freedom Project
- POCAAN
- Progress Pushers
- Public Defender Association
- ROOTS Young Adult Shelter
- Somali Family Safety Task Force
- Southwest Youth and Family Services
- Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle
- Walk Away City Collaborative
- YMCA of Greater Seattle – Accelerator
The funding will support a number of activities such as healing and accountability circles for incarcerated men and trans women; leadership training for community leaders directly impacted by systems of violence; training on nonviolent communication, mindfulness, and racial equity; peer support programs and family-integrated transitions; peacemaking circles; and felony diversion for a diverse range of communities in Seattle.