Human Interests Blog Human Services

Human Interests

Seattle Human Services news and events

Health clinics to offer FREE flu shots

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Public Health – Seattle & King County is offering free flu vaccination clinics to make flu vaccine more widely available to people without health insurance or who are unable to pay. Flu vaccine (shots and nasal spray) is also available at many healthcare provider offices and pharmacies for those who have insurance or are able to pay for vaccination. Health officials say that the flu vaccine offers the single best protection against the flu, and recommend the vaccine for all people 6 months and older, especially for pregnant women and people who have long-term health problems, like diabetes, asthma, and heart or lung problems. Anyone who lives with or cares for an infant younger than 6 months should also get vaccinated to protect the infant from getting flu. For more information, including flu vaccination times and locations, please visit this Web site.

Free health services at July 15 fair

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NEXT 50 HEALTH FAIR
10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday, July 15
KeyArena

Next 50 Health Fair, part of Global Health Month, offers a variety of FREE health services and information. No insurance or appointments are necessary. Area clinics and hospitals will provide the following:  dental services, diabetes and cholesterol screenings, vision and hearing exams, mammograms, blood testing, physical examinations, nutrition and general health information – and more! Learn more at www.seattlecenter.com or call 206 684-7200.

Join Soda Free Sundays!

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Soda Free Sundays, a project of the Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition and partners, is encouraging everyone in King County and beyond to take a break from soda and sugary drinks each Sunday for the next six weeks. This six-week effort kicked off at the Seattle Center on April 26th. It’s not too late to participate.

Sugary drinks are one of the major contributors of obesity today, particularly among kids. In King County, one in five middle and high school youths are overweight or obese, and over half of King County adults are either overweight or obese.

For more information, visit www.sodafreesundays.com.Questions? Contact Jennifer Trott at jen@sodafreesundays.org.

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.

Children urged to live without TV, screens

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Kids across the country will have extra hours to “Live Outside the Box” this week when they turn off the television for National Screen Free Week, April 18-24. Watching television, including movies and video games, takes time away from the physical activity that children need every day to be healthy and happy. For more information, please visit this Web site.

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.

Seattle receives grants to promote active living

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The fight against tobacco use and obesity just got a big boost. The Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) was among the recipients of 51 Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) grants totaling $8.9 million from Public Health – Seattle & King County to fund school districts, community-based organizations, and local governments to improve nutrition and physical activity, and decrease tobacco use. HSD received two awards:  

  • $200,483 to the Aging & Disability Services division to reduce the price of fresh produce for 17 congregate meal sites and one home-delivered meal provider by cooperatively purchasing directly from local farmers.
  • $73,000 to Early Learning and Family Support division to increase availability of healthy foods and children’s physical activity in early learning and afterschool programs serving children ages birth through 12.

For details about this federal stimulus-funded grant program, please see this press release and the CPPW Web site. If you have questions, please contact Jerry DeGrieck, HSD, at jerry.degrieck@seattle.gov or 206-684-0684.

Report shows access to benefits improves child health

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A report by Children’s HealthWatch shows that access to benefits such as nutrition, housing and utility support programs makes a significant difference in a child’s lifelong development and learning.  Compared to children in low-income families receiving no benefits, children in households receiving benefits were more likely to meet the criteria for being a “well” child, less likely to have been hospitalized since birth and less likely to be at risk for developmental delays. See the full report at: http://www.childrenshealthwatch.org/upload/resource/multiplehardships_report_jun10.pdf