October 2009

The Seattle Human Services Department (HSD), along with many other agencies and individuals in the region, are preparing for two possible emergencies this fall and winter: a spike in H1N1 or swine flu cases and potential flooding in the Green River Valley due to conditions of the Howard Hanson Dam.

H1N1 update
As you may have heard, health experts expect there will be a second wave of the H1N1 flu this fall. Working closely with Public Health - Seattle & King County and a coalition of City departments and community agencies, HSD has been very involved in planning for the upcoming flu season, especially focusing on the vulnerable clients we serve. Discussion has centered on safely providing congregate (group) meals to people without spreading the flu, sheltering homeless people who have the flu, and outlining precautions for case workers visiting clients, among other topics.

The best local source for information about most of these issues and other H1N1 news is the Public Health Web site: www.kingcounty.gov/health/h1n1. The site includes excellent guidance for schools, child care programs, health care providers, community organizations, and human services agencies, including providers of shelters for homeless people. There is also information available in languages other than English.

A reminder that we can all take actions to help prevent the spread of the flu: wash your hands frequently, cover your cough or sneeze, and get vaccinated for both the seasonal flu and the H1N1 flu when it becomes available (certain high-risk groups will have priority for this vaccine; see Web site mentioned above).

Howard Hanson Dam
The Howard Hanson Dam, located on the Green River 62 miles east of Auburn, was damaged by winter floods and is limited in its ability to provide flood control for the Green River Valley until repairs are made. This has increased the risk of flooding in Auburn, Kent, Renton, Tukwila and parts of unincorporated King County during periods of heavy rain this winter. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is investigating the source of the problems and trying to identify solutions, but a long-term fix is still years away. Seattle is participating in the preparedness and planning activities for these areas.

Flooding has the potential to disrupt all major services and activities including water/sewers, electricity, transportation, food delivery, schools, and in-home care services for vulnerable clients..

HSD's Aging and Disability Services' Case Management Program serves about 1,300 people (seniors and persons with disabilities) in or near the anticipated flood area, and our case managers are in the process of alerting clients, distributing safety kits, and developing a plan to communicate with clients if flooding occurs. For more information on the Howard Hanson Dam and potential flooding, please visit www.nws.usace.army.mil/.

With your help we can all be better prepared.

When 83-year-old Jefferson Terrace resident Jackie F. needed adjustments to her dentures earlier this year she was able to find help by visiting the University of Washington's Mobile Dental Clinic temporarily set up in the same building where she lives.

In partnership with the Seattle Human Service Department's Aging and Disability Services (ADS), the clinic operates at Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) sites throughout Seattle. The U.W. School of Dentistry began mobile dental services in 2004 with a grant from state Department of Social and Health Services. The program is aimed at older adults who are unable to access or afford dental care. Fourth-year dental students provide dental services under the supervision of a dentist trained in geriatric dentistry. The clinic operates with a grant from the Seattle-King County Dental Foundation and funds that have been collected from Medicaid to reimburse some of the costs.

In 2009, the clinic received financial support from ADS and the Washington Dental Service Foundation to expand services for low-income elders. The ADS support is in the form of a part-time case manager who recruits elderly residents from 11 SHA apartments for screenings and dental care. This fall more than 70 patients are scheduled to visit the Mobile Dental Clinic at SHA's Beacon Tower for nine weeks beginning the first week of October. For more information about the clinic, please contact Tom Trolio, Seattle Human Services Department – Aging & Disability Services, at tom.trolio@seattle.gov or 206-233-5103.

Patrice contacted the Mayor's Office for Senior Citizens' Utility Assistance Program when her household grew to 19 people - two seniors, eight other adults, and nine minors - following one family member's home foreclosure and another's eviction due to job loss. Program staff qualified the household for ongoing rate discounts with Seattle City Light and Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), and helped Patrice with SPU Emergency Assistance Program and Project Share (City Light emergency payment assistance) referrals.

The ripple effects of the current recession have created unprecedented challenges for individuals and families like Patrice's. Layoffs, mortgage foreclosures and the rising costs of fuel and food have forced many households to seek help with their utility expenses through the Utility Assistance Program in the Mayor's Office for Senior Citizens, a unit of the Seattle Human Services Department.

The Mayor's Office for Senior Citizens administers utility assistance for all income-eligible City Light and SPU customers, regardless of age. The office has seen requests for assistance rise more than 70 percent since last year. Staff review an average of 840 new requests each month. Currently 13,275 households benefit from the Utility Discount Program, which reduces the cost of electricity and other utilities by 50 percent, and hundreds of households are supported by emergency payment assistance programs.

For more information about the City of Seattle's utility assistance programs, please call 206-684-0268, e-mail UDP@seattle.gov, or go to www.seattle.gov/seniors on the Web.

Mayor Greg Nickels helped cut the ribbon in September for Food Lifeline's $1.2 million project to upgrade its Seattle warehouse. The City contributed $75,800 to the project for state-of-the-art "pallet racking," and "dock levelers" to help increase the storage capacity and improve the efficiency of loading and unloading pallets of food. The City also provided a total of $690,000 in 2009 to Food Lifeline for distribution of grocery and essential non-grocery items to food banks and meal programs. Link to Seattle Channel coverage of the Sept. 9 news conference at:
www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=1060968.

Food Lifeline is a local hunger relief organization serving nearly 600,000 people through its network of more than 300 member food banks, meal programs and shelters throughout Western Washington.

The Human Services Department's Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) ended another successful season in late August. This year the program served approximately 171,319 breakfasts and lunches to about 5,600 children at 97 sites throughout Seattle and parts of King County. Children ages 1 through 18 participated in this U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded program from June 22 through Aug. 21 at sites that included Seattle Parks playgrounds and community centers, Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCAs and YWCAs. The Children's Alliance and its partners at End Childhood Hunger Washington recently recognized the Summer Food Service Program with a Certificate of Appreciation. In particular, they noted SFSP's commitment and collaboration with community partners.

The Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) uses an outcome-based funding strategy to invest approximately $88 million a year in community-based human service agencies in the region. Our outcomes include helping families avoid homelessness, helping children be ready for school, and helping domestic violence survivors cope with the effects of violence and abuse. HSD's Strategic Investment Plan (SIP) provides high-level policy direction, recommendations, and proposed outcomes for our investments in human services. The department uses the SIP to set investment priorities, guide budget decisions, and select the most effective strategies to meet the department's mission.

In August 2009, HSD Director Alan Painter and Deputy Director Sara Levin presented a status report on the SIP to the City Council's Public Safety, Human Services & Education Committee. The presentation included discussion of the actual outcomes achieved with our 2008 investments, and projected outcomes for 2009. To watch the presentation, go to: www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=2120915. For more information on the SIP and the materials presented to the City Council, go to: www.seattle.gov/humanservices/sip/default.htm. For more information on the Human Services Department's Strategic Investment Plan, contact Beverly Yapp at beverly.yapp@seattle.gov or 206-684-0117.

Mayor Greg Nickels recently helped honor Mary Ellen Stone for her 30 years of services to the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center. Ms. Stone, KCSARC Executive Director, oversees the entire organization of 35 staff. For the last 30 years, she has been a visionary leader in changing the landscape of sexual assault prevention, education, and victim advocacy. Founded in 1976, King County Sexual Assault Resource Center provides services to sexual assault victims and their families and educational and prevention resources to the community at large. Services include a 24-hour resource line, legal advocacy, medical advocacy, education and prevention, parent-child interaction, therapy, and full services in Spanish. The City of Seattle provided $141,000 in 2009 for Sexual Assault 24-hour Crisis Line, and has supported the agency for many years. Congratulations Mary Ellen!

Life Lines is published by the City of Seattle's Human Services Department (HSD). We invest in programs that help people gain independence and success, and work with other City departments to support Mayor Greg Nickels' efforts to build strong families and healthy communities. We welcome your comments. E-mail us: hsdenewsletter@seattle.gov Visit us: www.seattle.gov/humanservices Contact: David Takami, HSD, 206-684-0253 or david.takami@seattle.gov