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Greetings HSD Community,
As we turn to September, the City of Seattle annually looks to the Mayor’s Office for its presentation of the proposed city budget for the following year. We will have more information on highlights next month, and details on the City Council’s public process for reviewing the budget, as they become available. Meanwhile, September is an active month with meaningful awareness and recognition.
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
We are all increasingly aware of behavioral health issues, and the incidence of suicide, in our communities. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. The theme—“There is hope!”—is important.
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988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a new easy-to-remember number for access to compassionate, accessible care and support for anyone experiencing a mental health crisis.
- You can also find links to hotline numbers and resources to get help for yourself, someone you love, or a client by clicking the Find Help Now button on our website.
Fiestas Patrias and National Hispanic Heritage Month
Celebrate 2022 Sea Mar Fiestas Patrias on Saturday, Sept. 17, and Sunday, Sept. 18, to begin National Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins Sept. 15 every year, commemorating the independence of five countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, all of which declared independence in 1821. The month runs through mid-October. In addition, Mexico, Chile, and Belize celebrate their independence days on September 16, 18, and 21, respectively.
You can find many resources online, including:
Introducing our new Interim Chief Financial Officer
Interim Chief Financial Officer Duduzile “Dee” Dhlamini joins us this week. Dee is a seasoned public sector financial services leader with almost 20 years of experience managing complex initiatives with multiple stakeholders. In 2020 she was asked to step in as the lead financial strategist for Public Health—Seattle & King County’s $300M Covid response funding and was later promoted to Interim CFO. A trusted advisor to executive leadership and stakeholders, Dee has led strategic continuous improvement initiatives to strengthen Public Health’s financial management in a department with a complex $1.1B operating budget and a highly decentralized matrixed administrative structure. She has consistently focused on results by setting performance standards and strengthening financial reporting transparency, internal controls, and transactional efficiencies.
All my best,
Tanya Kim
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Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute turns 50! Join us on Sat, 9/10 (1 – 5 p.m.) as we celebrate the community members & artists that have sustained LHPAI as a center for African-American culture for over 50 years. artbeat.seattle.gov/2022/08/12/lhpai50th #LHPAI50
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Seattle Redistricting 2021-2023
The Seattle Redistricting Commission is working with the public to redraw the boundaries of Seattle's seven City Council Districts. Learn more and review and comment on the draft map posted on August 3rd by visiting the website.
Español // Tiếng Việt // 繁體中文 // Af Soomali // አማርኛ // Tagalog // 한국어
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The City of Seattle strongly encourages all eligible residents and visitors to be vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19.
• Vaccines are free, available, and recommended for everyone 5+
• Booster doses are free, available, and recommended for everyone 12+
• Vaccines are available regardless of immigration status
• Vaccines DO NOT contain: pork products, egg, latex, blood products, or COVID-19 virus cells
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SYEP Applications Open now for Fall!
Foundations and Pathways Program application is open now and will close at 3 PM on Friday, September 23, 2022!
Seattle Youth Employment Program is launching two new year-round series for youth who are interested in work opportunities in the City: Foundations and Pathways.
To be eligible for either program, an applicant must be between the ages of 16 and 24, meet the City of Seattle Residency requirement, and live in a household at or below 80% Area Median Income.
Foundations is designed for youth with limited or no previous job readiness training who want to learn critical job skills and seek mentorship. Get paid to attend trainings while preparing for your first or next job and make new connections along the way!
Pathways is designed for youth who have had previous job training experiences but need intermediate or certified trainings or pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship internship opportunities. Participate in the training and programs needed to gain skills and credentials for specific career tracks, which can lead to professional-level internships!
To learn more about the Seattle Youth Employment Program and how to apply, visit the program website at Seattle.gov/SYEP.
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Need Help with Your Utility Bills?
Seattle City Light (electricity) and Seattle Public Utilities (water/sewer/garbage) offer flexible payment plans with no fees for all customers, and for income-eligible residential customers, they offer significant discounts and emergency assistance.
Contact Seattle City Light and Seattle Public Utilities now to avoid a service disruption when the utilities resume shutoffs for nonpayment this fall. Learn more about setting up a payment plan and accessing financial resources at https://seattle.gov/UtilityBillHelp or by calling (206) 684-3000 (interpretation services available).
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On the Human Interests blog: HSD Announces Funding Awards for Youth Behavioral Health Services
![Photo of smiling Black youth standing in front of a wall painted with rainbow stripes [Photo by Anete Lusina on Pexels]](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/WASEATTLE/2022/08/6346791/4312034/pexels-anete-lusina-5721335_crop.jpg)
Funding of these services was last released in 2016 and only allowed for the provision of evidence-based mental health services. For this RFP, HSD responded to community feedback and expanded the scope to include non-residential behavioral health via clinical, evidence-based treatment methods and/or non-clinical, culturally specific approaches that contribute toward holistic mental and behavioral health and wellness.
The seven-member rating committee supported funding the top eight scoring proposals. All provide services to both BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth via either clinical treatment and/or non-clinical, culturally specific behavioral health approaches:
- Southwest Youth and Family Services
- Southeast Youth and Family Services
- Neighborcare Health
- Therapeutic Health Services
- Northwest Credible Messenger
- Atlantic Street Center
- Boys and Girls Clubs of King County
- WAPI Community Services
Read a longer version of this post featuring additional information about some of the awardees on our blog..
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On AgeWise King County: Mayor’s Council on African American Elders Seeks New Members
Did you know that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, age-adjusted data shows hospitalizations were three times higher among Blacks compared to whites in King County?
Did you know that older Black adults experience elevated rates of chronic disease deaths, including Alzheimer’s and dementia?
Did you know that people of color aged 60 and older face housing cost burdens regardless of their status as renters or homeowners?
One more question: Do you care about the current and future state of older Black adults in our communities? If your answer is yes to any of these questions—especially the last one—what about using your voice on the Mayor’s Council on African American Elders (MCAAE)?!
Read the blog post to learn more about the history and accomplishments of the Council and how you can get involved. You can also visit the newly updated MCAAE webpages on our Human Services Department website at Seattle.gov/MCAAE!
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On Public Health Insider: Back-To-School and Covid-19: What Parents Should Know
It’s that time of year again. As much as we would like to hold on to Seattle summer, with its breezy outdoor fun, fall is almost here. Back-to-school means rain jackets, backpacks and kids spending more time indoors. Like we see almost every year, it’s easy for kids to spread germs like the common cold, influenza and COVID-19, as respiratory viruses are more easily spread indoors.
As parents and loved ones, we want our kids to be safe and happy in school. We can send our kids to school with greater peace of mind knowing that we’re protecting them and others as best we can. This year’s back-to-school COVID-19 prevention guidance can also help to reduce transmission of other common respiratory viruses such as influenza.
Visit the blog to learn a few things you should know about this year’s back-to-school COVID-19 requirements and safety guidance.
2022 Nursing Services RFQ
HSD’s Aging and Disability Services (ADS) division, the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for Seattle-King County, is partnering with entities interested in providing nursing services. This Nursing Services RFQ is focused on responding to referrals within specified timeframes for nursing services that include file reviews, nurse consultant home visits, telephone calls, care coordination, and follow-up.
Applications closed on August 11th and HSD plans to announce awards this month. Click here to visit the RFQ page for more information.
2022 Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Survivor Services RFP
HSD's Mayor’s Office on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (MODVSA) is partnering with agencies interested in providing survivor-centered, gender-based violence victim services for the diverse communities and geographic areas of Seattle.
The purpose of this RFP is to establish a Seattle-based coordinated regional network of services under the umbrella of gender-based violence (GBV) including survivors of domestic violence (DV), sexual assault (SA), and commercial sexual exploitation (CSE).
Applications closed on August 8th and HSD plans to announce awards on September 30, 2022. Click here to visit the RFP page for more information.
2022 Domestic Violence Intervention Program Services RFQ
HSD's MODVSA is also partnering with agencies interested in providing assessment and treatment services for persons with misdemeanor domestic violence charges referred by the Seattle Municipal Court.
Applications closed on August 8th and HSD plans to announce awards on September 30, 2022. Click here to visit the RFP page for more information.
2022 Child Care Facilities RFP
Applications closed on July 19th and HSD expects to notify applicants soon. Click here to visit the RFP page for more information.
2022 Youth and Young Adult Behavioral Health RFP
HSD recently announced the results of this RFP. See the article brief above or read more about it in this blog post.
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 The Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) connects people with resources and solutions during times of need so we can all live, learn, work, and take part in strong, healthy communities.
HSD is one of the largest contributors to Seattle's safety net, investing hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts to more than 200 community-based organizations and programs that support Seattle neighbors and communities each year. About 400 staff further the department’s role as a funder, convener, and direct service provider to achieve positive results. HSD invests in innovative strategies and effective programs and services that promote racial equity, support basic needs in our communities, and foster connection through collaborative approaches to address six key impact areas:
Preparing Youth for Success
Supporting Affordability and Livability
Addressing Homelessness
Promoting Public Health
Supporting Safe Communities and Safe Lives
Promoting Healthy Aging
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