Due to the COVID-19 public health emergency and the City of Seattle’s response efforts, the Human Services Department has had to shift some of our previously published investments slated for 2020 and have postponed them to 2021.
The Washington State Department of Health announced several new cases of COVID-19, also known as novel coronavirus, in King and Snohomish Counties. The first case was announced in Seattle on March 1, 2020. You can learn of new developments in the days and weeks ahead by visiting Public Health — Seattle King County and Washington State Department of Health. We are providing information on what the Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) is doing in preparation and in response to COVID-19 in communities across Seattle and King County. If a significant expansion of services is required, the City will also need significant resources from the state and federal government will be necessary to assist our most vulnerable.
For many years, Washington state has provided a property tax reduction to older adults and veterans with disabilities to make it easier for those on fixed incomes to remain in their homes. Unfortunately, due to rapidly rising home values and property taxes, these programs didn’t help enough of our neighbors. That’s why regional leaders and groups like the AARP Washington asked state leaders for help, and in 2019 they responded.
The year has kept the Seattle Human Services Department busy, presenting many challenges, opportunities, and reasons to celebrate! As we enter 2020, lets take a moment and look at 19 highlights from ‘19 that demonstrate the incredible work our teams have accomplished together – and with your partnership – over the last year:
HSD is pleased to issue its 2020 Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) related to the following investments: 1) Older Adult Health Promotion 2) Re-entry/Re-rooting Indigenous Community Healing 3) Food Bank Services: Georgetown, South Park, Delridge Neighborhoods 4) Supporting Youth and Young Adults for Success This notice provides an overview of HSD’s impending funding opportunities for 2020 with a brief description of the service areas, anticipated funding amounts, release dates, and contract start dates. These funding opportunities represent over $4 million in investments in nonprofit services; once finalized, HSD will issue detailed funding opportunities for each investment. The NOFA is available for download now in the Funding Opportunities section of our website at www.seattle.gov/humanservices
The Seattle Human Services Department announced today that its Aging and Disability Services division—which is designated by the State of Washington as the Area Agency on Aging for Seattle-King County—and its Age Friendly Seattle team have been honored with a National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) 2019 Aging Achievement Award in recognition of their efforts to promote accessible events and meetings. Age Friendly Seattle Accessible Events & Meetings was among 48 local aging programs to receive honors at the n4a annual conference, held July 27–31 in New Orleans, and the only one to win in the Community Planning & Livable Communities category. Age Friendly Seattle produced a 40-page Community Guide to Accessible Events & Meetings (a free download) and has coordinated and presented trainings locally and at national conferences. The most recent was a public forum at Seattle City Hall on May 30 called “How to Plan An Accessible Event,” presented by individuals with disabilities (view on The Seattle Channel or YouTube).
Aging and Disability Services—a division of the Seattle Human Services Department—is designated by the state as the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for King County. On Thursday, July 18, director Cathy Knight and ADS Advisory Council vice-chair Dick Woo will share the agency’s draft objectives for 2020–2023 at an Age Friendly Seattle Coffee Hour in downtown Seattle. The draft objectives describe the agency’s response to emerging issues. Date: Thursday, July 18, 2019 Time: 10–11 a.m. Place: Central Building 1st Floor Conference Room, 810 3rd Avenue, Seattle
Join us for coffee and conversation with Andrés Mantilla, Director, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods Thursday, May 16 10:00–11:00 a.m. The Central Building, 810 3rd Avenue 1st Floor Conference Room (between Columbia & Marion in downtown Seattle)
The Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) is pleased to announce the results of the 2019 Older Adult Community Transportation RFP that was issued on January 14. Applicants were invited to submit proposals providing health services transportation and/or food access transportation in King County. Health Services Transportation enables older people to access… [ Keep reading ]
Older Americans Month is an annual event that dates back to 1963, when President John F. Kennedy designated May as Senior Citizens Month. The current name and theme are sanctioned by the Administration for Community Living, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This year’s theme is Connect, Create, Contribute.
We have an Older Americans Month page on the Aging King County website. You’ll see links to logos and social media badges, plus our May calendar of events. Look for information in the May issue of AgeWise King County, too.
