Care & Closure November 2024 Newsletter

King County, Washington sent this bulletin at 11/27/2024 01:41 PM PST
Care and Closure

November 2024 Newsletter

A Message from our Care & Closure Team

Care & Closure is King County’s plan for youth healing, accountability, and community safety. The plan outlines recommendations and next actions to expand community-based alternatives to secure youth detention and close the youth detention center. We share updates and upcoming opportunities to be involved in the project each month. 

Join Us at the Next Advisory Committee Meeting

We have reconvened the Advisory Committee to specifically discuss two Care & Closure recommendations that require more deliberation – the proposed respite and receiving center and short-term respite housing. The Advisory Committee meetings are held on the fourth Monday of each month from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. unless there is a holiday.  

Our next meeting will be held on Monday, December 16. You can find more information on the meetings and the previous meeting notes on the project website. 

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Care & Closure Engage in Community

The Care & Closure team continues to seek opportunities to connect with and learn from community and organizations. In October we gave presentations to CHOOSE 180 and The Mockingbird Society. Both organizations provide services to youth that Care & Closure seeks to emulate as we move forward with our recommendations. We also met with CoLab who has done significant research in areas involving youth and families. Identifying and tapping into our local resources will be key to accomplishing our goal of providing better support for youth impacted by the legal system.  

We also participated in the following events in October and November 2024: 

  • Choose 180 Evening of Choice Celebration in Renton.
  • Autumn Fresh Start P.S. Health and Resource Fair Turkey Giveaway in Skyway. 
  • Progress Pushers Be a Blessing Giveback Event in Federal Way.

We are always seeking to share information about the project with local organizations and community. Reach out to our team to schedule a presentation for your team. And also, please let us know how we can best support the work your organizations are doing for impacted youth and families across King County! 

Quick Links: Recommendations &  Next Actions

Over the past two years, King County Executive Dow Constantine and county departments have been partnering with impacted community members, systems partners, and community organizations to identify better, more effective alternatives to youth when they cause serious harm instead of secure detention.  

In January 2024, Executive Constantine published a report that outlines six recommendations and next actions to implement them, highlights the process of developing the recommendations, and includes the findings from community engagement. Check out the two-page summary and the full report. 

 Care and Closure Two Page Summary

Help Others Get Connected 

Please share this monthly newsletter to anyone you think might be interested in learning about this effort! To stay up to date: 

Do you have any questions or want to get involved in this project? Reach out to us via email! 

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Upcoming Community Events

Win Regardless will be hosting an event on December 31, 2024, for youth ages 12-20 at the Auburn Fieldhouse. This basketball-themed event will have food, games, and resources for youth while providing a safe space for them to bring in the new year. For more information, contact Jeremy Winzer at jeremyw1014@gmail.com or 206-369-7936.                                 

If you would like your community event to be included in the Care & Closure newsletter, please send that information to jmcduffie@kingcounty.gov.

 
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