Director's Blurb
The month of July brings a new fiscal year, and more importantly a new biennium. It’s the month where you notice an uptick in job postings, contract opportunities, and the implementing of new rules and laws within our branch of government. We are buzzing with the newness of a new (fiscal) year which seems to be more exciting with nice weather and the opportunity of balancing work with that of taking much-needed breaks outside.
As far as our new staffing goes….well, it’s going at a much slower pace than we wanted. But, as they say, good things don’t come easily. The goal is to have positions that pay fairly, reflect the work accurately, and (ultimately) are a good foundation for our future colleagues to hopefully jump into another great position within the state.
We’re thinking big picture here: why not build a pipeline and bring great talent that we know exists in our community? And I’m working toward that. Alas, patience is the name of the game. We’ll keep you updated! And we will certainly be celebrating when the positions are out!
María Sigüenza
Greeting from the Communications hub! In the month of July you will see us focus on the small business sector. We will be sharing information about the resources available for small business, the barriers and concerns small businesses are facing and general data such as number of small businesses, growth rate and more.
Make sure you follow us on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.
SBRR workshops are provided by members of the Washington state Small Business Liaison Team (SBLT). The workshops were started in 2019 by three Washington state agencies, the departments of Employment Security, Revenue, and Labor & Industries.
Our workshops provide helpful information around the regulatory relationship with the government and requirements that businesses can use to save unwarranted penalties, and teach best practices, bottom line cost-saving programs, business solutions, consulting services, and more.
We want business owners/representatives to be equipped with information to help them make the best decisions for the long-term health, vitality, and sustainability of their businesses and employees.
Washington State Department of Health and the Washington State Blood Coalition are urging people to celebrate World Blood Donor Day on June 14 by volunteering to donate blood.
The need for donated blood goes up with the warm weather. As more people travel and spend more time outdoors, they suffer accidents and medical procedures that require transfusions. Blood donations also tend to go down due to work vacations and class breaks at schools and colleges. This combination can lead to critical shortages of life-saving blood, plasma, and other blood products.
“We are heading into a perfect storm if we don’t start building our blood supply now,” said Jennifer Hawkins, Regional Director of Vitalant Northwest.
“We believe the summer months are a perfect time to donate blood and we encourage our citizens to support a true public connection though this universal activity,” said Curt Bailey, President and CEO for BloodworksNW.
Donating blood is easy and donation appointments are convenient for your schedule. Most people in good health who are at least 18 years old and who weigh at least 110 pounds can donate whole blood. In Washington, minors ages 16 and 17 can donate with a signed parental consent form. Depending on the type of donation (blood, plasma, platelets), the appointment should take between one and two hours. Read more.
When ninth grade students pass all their classes, they are four times more likely to graduate from high school within 4 years. Through a federal- and state-funded project, Washington state has been working to increase success rates for ninth grade students, and new data show that these efforts have had an impact.
The Ninth Grade Success Initiative, a partnership between the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and Stand for Children’s Center for High School Success (CHSS), has worked with more than 50 schools across Washington state since 2019.
New data from a forthcoming study show that the schools participating in this initiative from 2019–2022 have seen an increase of 6.69 percentage points in the number of ninth students who passed all their classes, as compared to neighboring schools in the same county. More information.
Informational videos increase awareness of financial aid and education options
Simple, accurate information provided in an engaging way in an educational environment can help improve student understanding and awareness of financial aid and college or training options, according to a new case study from the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC).
WSAC partnered with the North Central Educational Service District (NCESD) to design and develop animated videos about financial aid and postsecondary education opportunities available in Washington State. The videos were shared with students during the regular school day, and students completed surveys to share their feedback.
The surveys indicated positive results:
- Prior to watching the videos, many students could not correctly answer questions about the state’s financial aid programs and postsecondary opportunities; however, there was substantial growth in their knowledge after watching the videos.
- 87 percent of students surveyed indicated that they learned something relevant for their futures from the videos.
- 88 percent of students indicated that they learned something new about the Washington College Grant (WA Grant) program. WA Grant is a flexible option that can be used for many educational pathways beyond high school, including approved apprenticeships, certificate programs, job training or college. More information.
Community Reinvestment Account Plan Development
Consistent with The Washington State Supreme Court’s June 4, 2020 Statement to the Legal Community, OCLA acknowledges that it and its contracted civil legal aid providers operate in a law and justice system historically grounded in racism and that time and again has administered justice differentially depending on the racial identities of those involved. OCLA was an initial subscriber to the Washington Race Equity and Justice Acknowledgments and Commitments. As outlined in its Race Equity and Justice Statement of Purpose, OCLA is committed to being an active partner in carrying out the Washington State judicial branch’s commitment to ensuring equity and justice for people and communities throughout our state. It does this by ensuring contractors are
aligned, in policy and practice, and provide race equity-driven civil legal services for low-income individuals and communities in Washington State, focusing on those most affected by poverty and systemic injustices.
The Community Reinvestment Plan (CRP) was developed in response to legislative directive to develop a range of strategies to redress the harms of the war on drugs and its disproportionate impact on communities of color. The CRP will be underwritten with a 2-year $200,000,000 investment from the Community Reinvestment Fund (CRF) created by the Washington State Legislature in 2022. The Office of Civil Legal Aid (OCLA) has been tasked with administering and overseeing an $8,000,000 investment in civil legal services directed at redressing harms from the
war on drugs.
Deadline for Submission of Proposals and Project Start Date to be considered, proposals must be submitted on or before July 15, 2023. Selection will occur and the approved project notified by August 7, 2023.
Proposals shall be submitted electronically to:
Office of Civil Legal Aid: ocla@ocla.wa.gov
Questions related to this Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) may be sent to: ocla@ocla.wa.gov.
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EPA Invites Youth to Serve on Agency's First-Ever National Environmental Youth Advisory Council
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the formal establishment of the agency’s first-ever National Environmental Youth Advisory Council (NEYAC). The NEYAC will provide independent advice and recommendations to Administrator Michael S. Regan on how to increase EPA’s efforts to address a range of environmental issues as they relate to youth communities. The NEYAC will provide a critical perspective on how the impacts of climate change and other environmental harms affect youth communities. The Administrator announced his intent to launch the youth council last June at the Austrian World Summit.
EPA is soliciting applications for youth to fill 16 vacancies on the NEYAC. Selected applicants will contribute to a balance of perspectives, backgrounds, and experience of the council and will be appointed by the Administrator. As a first-of-its-kind committee, all members of NEYAC will be between the ages of 16 and 29.
As part of the agency’s commitment to centering environmental justice communities, at least 50% of the overall membership of NEYAC will come from, reside primarily in, and/or do most of their work in disadvantaged communities as defined by the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) as part of Justice40.
Visit the EPA NEYAC webpage for more information on the council and to apply.
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July Is Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, Also Known As BIPOC Mental Health Month
The theme of Mental Health America’s 2023 BIPOC Mental Health campaign is Culture, Community, & Connection. Our lives are deeply intertwined with our environments, and these surroundings impact our mental health and overall wellness. Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) populations are faced with disproportionate amounts of historical trauma and displacement that can challenge their ability to thrive in their environments. However, culture, community, and connection are pillars that support and uplift BIPOC individuals in the face of oppression and systemic racism. Learn more in these resources about how BIPOC communities have thrived. More Information.
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Updated heat protections for outdoor workers go into effect July 17, 2023
As hotter, drier weather sets in, farmworkers, construction workers, and other outdoor workers will be better protected from heatstroke and other hot-weather hazards because of updated workplace heat rules that take effect in mid-July. Washington is one of only a few states with heat protections for outdoor workers, having first put rules in place in 2008. This week, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) filed a formal update to those rules, expanding existing requirements to keep workers safe. “Excessive heat is a real concern when it comes to worker safety. Heat-related illness can strike quickly, and in some cases, be deadly,” said L&I Director Joel Sacks. “Our climate is changing, and these updates to our state heat rules are a major step forward in protecting workers.” More Information.
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OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today Puget Sound summer crab-fishing seasons will get underway July 1 in many marine areas.
“The summer seasons being announced today are very similar to what was announced for summer 2022," said Don Velasquez, WDFW crustacean biologist. "Some areas with continued low abundance of Dungeness crab will see limited seasons or remain closed this year to continue to promote Dungeness population recovery.”
Crabbing will be closed on the July 4 holiday (summer seasons typically are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays). Extreme low tides during opening week will also pose a challenge for people launching boats at some sites. Recreational crabbers should target the portion of the day with the least tide exchange and make sure their crab pots are properly weighted down during these extreme low tides to avoid traps moving and becoming lost. Crabbers can find helpful information on how to properly weight crab pots, by going to the Northwest Straits Commission webpage.
Crabbers are also reminded to avoid deploying crab pots and gear in ferry lanes. Crab pots and gear in ferry lanes have caused serious damage to ferry boats in the past.
To view this summer’s crab seasons are scheduled click the link below.
Ecology and the Port of Olympia are amending a legal agreement that requires the port to clean up contamination in sediment — the mud, sand, and silt under the waters of Budd Inlet.
The sediment was likely contaminated by businesses that operated on the Olympia waterfront from the 1920s to 1980s, including sawmills, a plywood manufacturer, and a veneer factory. These kinds of lumber facilities often burned salt-laden wood, which is a source of dioxins. There was also a wood treatment facility on the shore that used pentachlorophenol. Dioxins are also an impurity in pentachlorophenol. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) could have come from many sources, including these lumber industries. Read more.
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Plan your next adventure along the Willapa Hills Trail and explore the brand-new multi-use Littell Bridge near the Adna Trailhead.
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks) is pleased to announce the completion of the Littell Bridge. The new bridge gives trail-goers a safe crossing over State Route 6 (SR 6) as they explore the long-distance trail on foot, bike or horseback.
The community is invited to come out and celebrate during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 23. Then, get out and enjoy the beauty of the Willapa Hills Trail with Lewis County Community Trails at its annual Ride the Willapa event on June 24.
The new bridge was built through a collaborative process between Parks and the local community to address safety concerns at the intersection of the trail and SR 6. The old intersection required users to navigate a crossing that was at the same grade as the highway in an area with limited sight distance. Now, trail-goers have an overpass, so they don’t have to pause their journey to look for traffic. Read more.
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