October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and an opportunity to think about our relationships and those of our friends and family. Often, survivors of domestic violence turn to friends and family for help first, so it’s crucial that we know what domestic violence is and how to help others. Domestic… [ Keep reading ]
Did you know that the City of Seattle has a blog dedicated just to the city’s homelessness response?
Did you miss last week’s MODVSA-sponsored event, “Engaging African American Males in Ending Gender-Based Violence: Increasing Pathways to Safety, Justice, Reconciliation and Healing” at Seattle City Hall, featuring a panel of speakers including Dr. Oliver Williams, professor at the University of Minnesota with 35 years in the field of domestic violence, and Bettie Williams-Watson, Executive Director of Multi Communities and 33 years in the fields of domestic violence and sexual assault?
The Youth and Family Empowerment (YFE) Division of the City of Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) is seeking applications from consultants interested in developing a public awareness campaign about sugary drinks by supporting two strategies recommended by the Sweetened Beverage Tax Community Advisory Board: Up to $473,046 in 2019 and $236,523 in 2020 of contract funds are available through this RFP. Funding awards will be made for the period of October 15, 2019 to December 31, 2020, for an estimated 15-month contract, or until work is completed.
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.
New student orientations on college campuses are nearly finished as many students across the nation prepare to start their college campus lives. Upward Bound will have 23 graduating seniors this year heading to a wide variety of post-secondary schools in Washington State: including University of Washington, Seattle University, Western State University, Eastern Washington University, Seattle Pacific University, and Bellevue College.
We are excited to co-sponsor an event on September 4, 2019 featuring two incredible experts: Bettie Williams-Watson and Dr. Oliver Williams. They will offer their combined 60+ years of experience and expertise on engaging African American men and boys in ending gender-based violence at the event, co-sponsored by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the Seattle University School of Law. Ms. Williams-Watson and Dr. Williams will speak to the importance of addressing racism, healing trauma that men and boys have themselves experienced, and bringing communities together protect African American women and girls. There are pathways to safety, justice, reconciliation and healing, and the speakers will discuss these issues and help attendees to build upon the expertise that already exists in the community to engage African American men and boys in ending gender-based violence.
The Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) is pleased to announce the results of the 2019 Farm to Preschool and Out-of-School Time Request for Proposals (RFP) that closed on July 1. Applicants were invited to support food procurement, food equity, and connections between Washington State farmers and Seattle public preschools and before and after school programs serving low-income children and families in Seattle. The RFP guides the investment of more than $200,000, including funding from Seattle’s Sweetened Beverage Tax (SBT). HSD received a single application which was reviewed by a committee whose members recommended fully funding the proposal from Farmstand Local Foods, which has a strong background in implementing a food ordering and delivery program that provides affordable, nutritious, and wholesome produce from farm to preschool and OST programs.
The Seattle Youth Employment Program (SYEP), sponsored by the Seattle Human Services Department, announces the launch of a new year-round pre-employment program to support 200 youth and young adults grow as community leaders and prepare for future work and career opportunities. This is an expansion to the current summer-only SYEP internship program. The new model will provide job-readiness skills, career navigation, exploration and skill building through job readiness workshops employer site visits and professional networking opportunities. The skills and knowledge gained in the year-round program, along with SYEP support services, will prepare participants for success in their summer internships. The year-round model will run from October 2019 to August 2020. Beginning in October, participants will attend weekly sessions and participate in team activities, skills workshops, one on one coaching and support services, assessments, and attending career discovery days. Participants will earn a maximum stipend of $250 per module. Those who complete the series will have a guaranteed 150-hour internship that pays $16 per hour in the summer of 2020.
The Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) released Quarter 2 (Q2) performance metrics for the City of Seattle’s Navigation Team, which is comprised outreach workers, field coordinators, and police officers that work to connect people living unsheltered to shelter and support services. The Q2 data shows the team working at a higher capacity, connecting more people to shelter when compared to the first quarter of 2019, and increasing operational capacity to better address unmanaged encampments posing public access, health, and safety concerns. When compared to Quarter 1 (Q1), the Navigation Team saw the following increases in Q2: • 16 percent increase in unique individuals engaged by the Navigation Team; • 10 percent increase in unique individuals referred to shelters; • 47 Navigation Team reserved beds available daily, rising from 17 beds available in Q1 o More beds available in basic shelters, tiny house villages, and enhanced shelters; and • 79 more referrals to enhanced shelter and tiny house villages than in Q1.
