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E Newsletter- Your Update on What's Happening at the King County Council
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 Reagan Dunn (back row, 3rd from left) with the students and staff of the Tahoma Middle School’s SAIL (Successful Academic Independent Learning) program. Dunn dropped off a retired King County Vanpool van for the program to school to use for the SAIL program
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What a delight it is to be able to help non-profits in Southeast King County. I had the chance to deliver three vans, as part of the 'retired' Metro VanPool program. The vans will be used to transport residents in need to the services they require.
I awarded one van to the Tahoma SAIL program, (pictured above) which serves middle school students with cognitive disabilities. In the classroom, students work on traditional academic subjects in addition to learning key life, social, and communication skills. While some skills can be taught in the classroom, student success depends on being able to practice what they learn in the community. Because of budget restraints, the program has not been able to afford transportation needed for students to go out into the community. The kids were so excited and it was incredibly rewarding for me to donate a van to such a worthy cause.
 Councilmember Reagan Dunn stands with Britt Nelson (left), Director of Plateau Outreach Ministries, and Jim Lunde, Administrator at Mt. Rainier Christian Center. They are joined by representatives of area churches and organizations that partner to put on the winter shelter.
Another van went to a partnership between the Mt. Rainier
Christian Center and Enumclaw's Plateau Outreach Ministries. Each year the two organizations team up with other local groups to
host a winter shelter, which provides hot meals and a place for families and individuals to stay during cold nights in December, January,
and February.
I also had the chance to award a van to YWCA's Passage Point, located outside of Maple Valley. Passage Point helps transitioning families find their footing after a period of life crisis including incarceration. The van will help transport residents to services they need to learn how to live independently and avoid homelessness.
 Council Vice Chair Reagan Dunn hands the key to a ‘retired’ King County Vanpool van to Luckisha Phillips, the Program Manager of YWCA Passage Point. They are joined by Martin Friedman, Associate Director of Passage Point Services, YWCA staff and participants in the Passage Point program.
Substance Abuse Recovery Bill, first of it's kind, becomes Law
Two weeks ago, in a bipartisan vote, the Washington State Legislature voted to override Gov. Jay Inslee’s veto of Senate Bill 6498 which creates a testimonial privilege so addiction recovery program sponsors cannot be called to testify in civil proceedings.
This is an exciting victory for those seeking recovery from substance abuse addiction. I would like to thank Sen. Fain and Rep. Hurst for sponsoring the bill in their respective chambers as well as the rest of the Washington State Legislature for recognizing its importance and seizing the opportunity to become an example for other states across our nation.
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