 Registration is now open for the first ever Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy (VSHSL) Summit!
The VSHSL Summit will take place over three days, May 10 – 12, 2022. VSHSL-funded partners and the broader human services provider community are invited to attend. The summit will offer an opportunity for community partners to gather together, share experiences, engage in new trainings, and make connections with each other as we continue to grow and serve King County’s communities.
The summit is being held at: The Museum of Flight, 9404 East Marginal Way South Seattle, WA 98108.
The VSHSL Summit will include:
- Exclusive trainings on Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Compassion Fatigue, & Mental Health Literacy
- Interactive workshops from community partners
- Networking fairs featuring human services organizations, serving veterans, seniors, and resilient communities
- Panels and presentations from community partners on issues related to housing, veterans resources, civil legal aid, nonprofit wage and benefits survey, countywide information exchange, embedding equity in management practices, and more!
Register and view an agenda preview here.
 We want to hear from you! This year, the VSHSL is partnering with community groups from across King County to host a series of Community Conversations to receive your input on issues related to the VSHSL as King County begins to plan for renewal.
These conversations are open to all King County residents. Each conversation will focus on a specific community. Community Conversations will be held throughout the spring and summer. We invite you to join all those relevant to your community!
Upcoming conversations:
Wednesday, April 20 from 5:30-7pm on Zoom Hosted by Minority Veterans of America with a focus on community members and organizations that serve veterans, servicemembers, and their families throughout King
Wednesday, April 27, 5:30-7pm on Zoom hosted by AgePRIDE Center with a focus on LGBTQIA+ community members and organizations that serve the LGBTQIA+ community throughout King County.
Tuesday, May 17, 5:30-7pm, in-person with a focus on communities in and around West Seattle, Burien, White Center, Tukwila, and the Duwamish Valley. Location details to come. Meeting will be at Bethaday Community Learning Space with the option for virtual attendance.
Thursday, May 19, 5:30-7pm, in-person hosted by the West Hill Community Association with a focus on communities in and around Skyway, Bryn Mawr, West Hill, and Renton. Location details to come.
Tuesday, May 24, 5:30-7pm, in-person with a focus on communities in and around SeaTac, Tukwila, Normandy Park, and Des Moines. Meeting will be at the King County Veterans Program Tukwila Office with the option for virtual attendance.
Thursday, May 26, 5:30-7pm, in-person with a focus on East King County including communities in and around Skykomish, Carnation, Duvall, Sammamish, and Issaquah. Meeting will be at the Jim Ellis Preston Community Center with the option for virtual attendance.
Click here to register and see the full list of Community Conversations.
The VSHSL team has added more free trainings for VSHSL-funded providers!
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Strategic Planning Office Hours with RHL Consulting and Tu Consulting - June 7, 2-4pm Learn and ask questions about: Setting the foundation and finding your ‘why’ (culture, values, mission, vision, core purpose); Creating a plan to use as a communication and coordination tool; Why process matters; Setting meaningful goals; and creating a 1-page actionable plan.
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Motivational Interviewing Skills in Trauma-Informed Care - June 21, 1-4pm This workshop will review the impact of trauma on our bodies, families and communities and how motivational interviewing can be a useful skill to address its impacts and partner with people in using their own wisdom and strengths to heal.
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De-escalation & Personal Safety through a Trauma-informed Lens: An Introduction - August 24, 1-3pm This workshop addresses the primary Prevention, Engagement, Intervention, and Post-Intervention considerations that are most commonly occurring and related to challenging behavioral situations. Better understand your conscious and unconscious influences during a complex and potentially dangerous situation(s), and learn tips to act thoughtfully, be supportive, and foster safety and de-escalation for all.
More training opportunities are posted here. Learn more and register.
Additional trainings are taking place during the VSHSL Summit on May 10-12. The summit trainings are open to all human service providers. Topics include: mental health literacy, equity and social justice, and trauma and compassion fatigue. Trainings are included with summit registration. Register for the VSHSL summit here.
 The VSHSL Advisory Board recently welcomed four new members! Thank you Asad, Faisal, Gazel, and Natalie for contributing your expertise and support to the VSHSL. The VSHSL Advisory Board advises King County on matters that uniquely affect veterans, seniors and resilient communities.
A little about our new members:
Asad Abdi, a member of the Resilient Communities Committee, is currently employed as a Food Access Manager for African Community Housing & Development. Asad is a multilingual member of the African Diaspora immigrant and refugee community with hands on experience serving vulnerable populations. Asad resides in Council District 8.
Faisal Akhter, a member of the Veteran Committee, is currently an attorney at Microsoft. Faisal served eight years on active duty military service with the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps. He has served in two overseas assignments and at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Today, he continues to serve as a Major in the U.S. Army Reserves. Faisal represents Council District 2.
Gazel Tan, a member of the Seniors Committee, is a member of the Bellevue Network on Aging, Board Vice President of the Chinese Information and Service Center and a certified long-term care ombudsman. Gazel represents Council District 6.
Natalie Reber, a member of the Resilient Communities Committee, is currently employed as the Executive Director for Attain Housing and has spent her career in support of vulnerable populations specializing in supporting individuals and families experience homelessness or transitioning to permanent housing. Natalie resides in Council District 4.
The VSHSL Advisory Board currently has vacancies. Learn more about serving on the board.
 VSHSL’s Older Adults and Health Aging team and City of Seattle’s Aging & Disability Services are hosting an emergency preparedness forum on April 28th from 1:00pm - 3:30pm. The forum is open to senior service providers in Seattle and King County. The forum will include: personal preparedness, organizational preparedness and connections to regional emergency managers, and more! Contact Esther Lee at eslee@kingcounty.gov with questions.
Registration is required. Please register for the forum here.
Age Friendly Renton: Bridging the Isolation Divide, AgeWise King County
In an effort to promote connections and highlight efforts by service providers in the VSHSL and wider King County network, we are sharing the resources below. Please note that the below was not created by, nor does their inclusion constitute endorsement by, the VSHSL or DCHS ASD. If you have a community resource you would like to share for potential inclusion in The Hub, please click here.
Child Care Resources Veteran Student Child Care Subsidy
To learn more and apply.
King County Disability Consortium webinar recordings
Understanding Ableism: part I - X
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