Coping with Violence and Conflict in our Community*

The recent violence in our nation and in our communities can take an emotional toll and affect our well-being.  We all cope with tragedy differently depending on our involvement, the nature of the incident, our backgrounds or affiliations with affected groups.  It also depends on what other stressors are happening in our lives. 

Here are some tips to help manage and take care of your well-being:

• Accept that the reactions you are experiencing are normal.
• Reach out to your support system.
• Exercise, eat balanced meals, go outside, keep hydrated and take deep breaths.
• Give yourself permission to say "no."
• Keep you exposure to media reduced in the morning and avoid watching close to bedtime.
•  Take a break from social media when you need to.

Additional resources:

Media Exposure to Violence:  5 Tips To Help Children

How to Talk to Children About Difficult News and Tragedies

WATCH:  TedX: Beyond the Cliff; Laura Van Dernoot Lipsky; self care and the cumulative toll of trauma.

*Special thanks to King County Making Life Easier for this content and resources.

Reunification Day Celebration

On June 24, 2016, King County Superior Court Presiding Judge Susan Craighead welcomed families formerly involved in dependency cases and in family treatment court to the downtown courthouse in Seattle to celebrate reunifying with their children and having their legal cases dismissed.  If you weren't able to attend, WATCH VIDEO:  2016 Family Reunification Ceremony.

CASA Corner: Helpful tips from one of your peers

How to Set up a Professional Window Visit at King County Adult Detention Center

 A CASA might initially think that there is not much a parent can do to address parental deficiencies or access services while they are incarcerated.  However, system wide reforms are making visitation and services easier for incarcerated parents.  By visiting a parent at the jail, a CASA will develop a relationship, discuss their child's needs, and include the parent in case planning decisions. Watch this video about a parent who reunified with her daughter on a case where the CASA visited her in jail:    CASA: A Voice for Children

Have a parent currently incarcerated in King County jail?  CASAs can set up a "professional window visit" with an inmate by emailing Karen Pohio, the Community Programs Manager for the Department of Adult & Juvenile Detention for the King County Correctional Facility.  (Karen.Pohio@kingcounty.gov)  Include the following information in your email request: 

• Your full legal name;
• Indicate your role as CASA in a dependency involving the inmate;
• Inmate full legal name and any aliases;
• Inmate BA# or booking number (if you have it);
• Desired date and time of visit (cannot be between 2-3pm or 5-6pm).

Within 72 hours, Ms. Pohio will reply via email with a confirmation of your visit and two attachments:  a list of visitation rules and a "memo" to the corrections facility staff about your visit.

If Ms. Pohio is on leave, you can contact Nancy Garcia, Project Program Manager III at Nancy-DAJD.Garcia@kingcounty.gov

Once you get your email confirmation:

1.  Print out the memo and bring it with you;

2.  Read the visit rules;

3.  Leave your phone in your car or at home (no phones are allowed in the facility);

4.  Bring quarters in case you need to put any belongings in a locker at the entrance of facility;

5.  Go to King County Adult Detention Center, 500 5th Avenue and proceed through security;

6.  At the door, they will direct you to the visit window;

7.  At the visit window, turn over your printed memo and driver's license.  They will give you a Visitor's Pass and direct you to the proper floor;

8.  When you get to the floor, press the intercom to let officers know you are there to see an inmate;

9.  The officer will notify you over the intercom which visiting booth to wait in and your inmate will be brought out.

For more information on visiting incarcerated parents in Washington State, see:  Visitation Guide.

Collection of Articles on Race-Related Violence

Below are links to various articles and other readings linked to recent events in our nation:

President Obama’s Speech at the Dallas Memorial Service

I’ve been stopped 8 times by Seattle police. Not because I’m a bad driver – Ron Sims on KUOW

Divided by Race, United by Pain – from the New York Times

Addressing Distrust between Cops and Communities of Color – from the Atlantic

Justice Department Reaches Deal with Mississippi County on Prison Reform – from the New York Times

“Do Not Resist” and the Crisis of Police Militarization – from the New Yorker