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Human Interests

Seattle Human Services news and events

New health center for immigrant/refugee students

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The City of Seattle announced on April 15 that International Community Health Services has been selected to be the lead agency in developing and operating the City’s newest school-based health center at the Secondary Bilingual Orientation Center, a school for 6th to 12th grade immigrant and refugee students. Funding for the clinic was recommended by Mayor Mike McGinn using money from the City’s Families and Education Levy approved by voters in 2004. In December 2010, the City Council voted unanimously to allocate funds to operate the health center through the duration of the current Levy.

Last month, the City Council unanimously approved an ordinance to ask voters to renew and enhance the Levy as recommended by a 24-member citizen advisory committee. A renewal of the Levy will provide ongoing support to the Secondary Bilingual Orientation Center’s school-based health center. For more information, please see this news release.

HSD to reorganize to better meet needs of community

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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.

New Seattle Foundation Web Site – the Giving Center

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The Seattle Foundation, one of the nation’s largest community foundations, recently launched a new Web site, the Giving Center.   The site provides information for prospective donors on 675 nonprofits doing a wide range of work. Financial and evaluation information is included for each organization described. Launch of the site was covered in the Seattle Times and New York Times.

Summer meals program opens June 28

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Beginning on June 28 thousands of Seattle children ages 1 through 18 will enjoy free breakfasts and lunches this summer through the Seattle Human Services Department’s Summer Food Service Program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded program, also known as “Summer Sack Lunch,” is open to children at qualifying sites. From June 28 through Aug. 27, the meals will be served at approximately 100 sites across the city. These include designated community centers, Seattle park playgrounds, Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCAs and YWCAs, and other community sites throughout Seattle and parts of King County. For more information see this news release.

Seattle Times op-ed on prostitution ‘johns’

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Pimps and the youth they abuse are well-known elements of juvenile prostitution. In their guest column for the Seattle Times, Terri Kimball with the Seattle Human Services Department and King County  Senior Dep. Prosecutor Sean P. O’Donnell note a new Washington law that cracks down on the overlooked role of “Johns” involved in the commercial sex abuse of minors.

2009 Annual Report

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The Seattle Human Services Department has published (online) its 2009 Annual Report. The report provides a snapshot summary of the department’s accomplishments and outcomes in 2009 in data, photographs, and inspiring stories of people who have turned their lives around with the help of City-funded programs.