Resource Talk |
|
|
|
Providing information about changing services and resources in our community |
||
|
Contents:
Each month, Euphorico designates a different organization that is focused on serving the community and donates the proceeds from all First Time Monday and Friday services. Give to the community while giving to yourself or a friend a gift of a $20 haircut or manicure/pedicure at their Aveda branch located on 2nd Avenue.
Breaking the Eastside Myth There are 20,000 people, conservatively, living in poverty on the Eastside. Twenty-seven percent of Bellevue residents over the age of five speak a language other than English at home. -Family Resource Center, The Eastside’s Human Services Campus, Collaborator, Fall and Winter 2004.
Composting Your Holiday Tree See the Seattle Public Utilities website for tips and information on what to do with your holiday tree after the holiday season.
King County Flu Shot Update Public Health - Seattle & King County is expanding the list of at-risk people who should receive a flu shot this year to include, among others, anybody at least 50 years of age and people living with those in high-risk groups. Public Health is also revoking the health order from October that restricts who may receive a flu shot. For more details see the following website.
Subscribe to GrammarNOW! Tip of the week at www.grammarnow.com and/or Word of the Day at www.dictionary.com.
Tech Tip Control+Y is the repeat shortcut. Use it to repeatedly paste, format, type, cut, etc. You can also find it in the menu bar under Edit.
Resource Spotlight Breathe Easy Network, an email air quality forecast service of American Lung Association of Washington, gives residents of the Northwest fast, accurate notification when air quality has deteriorated and may affect health-sensitive people. Air quality is classified according to color, with green as good, yellow as moderate, and orange as unhealthy for health-sensitive individuals. Members of the network receive email messages when air quality is forecast as yellow/moderate or higher on the Air Quality Index for the following two days. To join the Breathe Easy Network send an email to alaw@alaw.org. Type "Air Watch Northwest" in subject line and "subscribe" in the email text.
ACTION Northwest Dinner and Community Forum will take place at 4pm, January 9at the LGBT center on 1115 East Pike Street in Seattle. ACTION (Active Communities Together In One Network) Northwest is a new organization designed to increase solidarity between local social activist groups by providing them with a network of support on their various platforms.
Computer Freezing? If your computer freezes and you don’t want to completely restart your computer, hit CTRL+ALT+Delete. From here you can find your task manager and find out which program is using the most memory. Click on the memory usage (“mem usage”) column header to arrange your running software programs in order of memory usage. The software using the largest memory will appear at the top. Highlight its row and click on the lower button “End Process.”
|
Energy Assistance FundingCarol Bridges, Resource Specialist, Private Practitioners
Tim oversees the state-funded LIHEAP (Low Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program) and local PSE HELP, the energy assistance program funded by Puget Sound Energy, for Washington Region II, which extends from Bellingham to Pierce County. He works collaboratively to coordinate the 3 energy assistance programs in King County (administered by Hopelink, Central Area Motivation Program, and Multi Service Center of South County). He also raises issues on behalf of the region and contributes program design modifications at the state level. His 11 years working with energy assistance programs at Hopelink has led him to Washington State’s Energy Workgroup, which he chairs.
In these roles, he was instrumental in establishing the new county-wide toll-free Heatline. A call to the 866 number gives all of the needed information to a caller seeking energy assistance, including appointments for screening, confirmation of appointment time and place, eligibility information, documentation needed, and follow-up to confirm grant amounts.
Tim is a graduate of the Eastside Leadership Institute, staying on after graduation to contribute to the work of the curriculum committee. In the community, he participates in the Eastside Human Service Forum, a work group to raise awareness for human services on the Eastside. He is a potter, a lover of the outdoors, and an advocate for people in need. •
Cultural Competency and LGBTQI Training at Crisis ClinicJeffrey Markwardt, Resource Specialist
Jacilyn Oseguera, Sexual Minority and Ethnic Minority (Hispanic) Mental Health Specialist, is well known in the community. She has worked as the Executive Director of Seattle LGBT Community Center and currently is working as Project Program Manager for King County while also serving on the board of directors at Crisis Clinic.
Talk of cultural competency often necessitates an understanding of issues related to cultural knowledge, cultural awareness, and cultural sensitivity. Though all LGBTQI individuals experience unacceptance in some form or another, Jaci touched on some specific populations within the alphabet soup of LGBTQI that experience often higher levels of harassment and violence. It is within these less understood subgroups of the LGBTQI population where we must all work toward more effective communication and making the best, most appropriate referrals.
Jaci illustrated an example of working with an individual at Seattle LGBT Community Center who identified with both the male and female gender identity and at the same time neither of them. This person preferred other people to use the pronoun “ze” in place of “his” or “her” in references to this person’s person.
People are coming out at a younger age these days. These young people, especially youth of color, are at a higher risk for harassment. Of homeless youth, 30-40% self-identify as LGBTQI. Sexual minorities often grow up with no support and once out, LGBTQ people have to deal with their own internalized homophobia just like anyone else practicing LGBTQI cultural competency in a homophobic and heterosexist society. LGBTQI youth access to a support network that includes mentors, peers, and leisure activities in a safe, supportive environment is critical.
Senior LGBTQI individuals often face harassment and discrimination in nursing homes and retirement communities that haven’t been trained in cultural competency to advocate, care for, and support the specific needs of this group.
Intersexuals (formerly known as hermaphrodites) are persons born with genitals that are not clearly “male” or “female,” or do not look like “typical” genitals. Though intersex is not often a gender identity or sexual orientation issue, people from this group are often included as part of the LGBTQI phrase because they are a sexual minority even though many from this group doesn’t feel part of the LGBTQI community.
Recognizing and respecting different opinions, styles, and experiences is important. One thing that was stressed during the training is that there are always differences between individuals and groups of people and that you don’t have to feel comfortable working with everyone in every situation. Recognizing this is a strength and a step toward cultural competency. • January Events
Notable Resource Changes
Rx Help for Washington program is a website and phone number service for free or discounted brand name prescription drugs. Washington State patients may call (877) 923-6779, provide the brand name of their prescription drug, and receive the names of drug company programs that offer the drug for free or at low cost according to eligibility. This information is also available at the website, www.rxhelpforwa.org.
Rx Washington is a program of Governor Locke's that directs people to go to Canada for drug prescriptions and provides links to Canadian pharmacies. Offers some suggestions for when their use might be appropriate and provides information on the legal status of importing drugs from Canada. Also compares the prices of the most commonly prescribed drugs. Website is www.rx.wa.gov.
Food: 10am-2pm, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; 5-7pm, Thusday. Clients with disabilities: 9:30am-10am, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Clothing: 10am-1:30pm, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Through January 3, 2005, Aloha Inn has a new Holiday Application time and place: Thursdays , 5-7pm, at the YWCA Opportunity Place, 2034 3rd Ave (3rd and Virginia, Seattle). Location is subject to change. ALWAYS have the caller call the Aloha Inn first at (206) 283-6070. Applications are NOT available at the Aloha Inn. Also, after the new year there will be a new and improved twice weekly application schedule.
This agency is now serving hot meals - not sack lunches. The new schedule is only Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at 1pm. Also note: The city is moving their location after January 8th, 2005 to a yet undetermined site.
The Church Council of Greater Seattle is apparently going through some major restructuring and have had to let go of their Emergency Feeding Programs: CHURCH COUNCIL OF GREATER SEATTLE - EMERGENCY FEEDING PROGRAM and CHURCH COUNCIL OF GREATER SEATTLE - EMERGENCY FEEDING PROGRAM (EAST KING) • January/February Resource HighlightsSome of the service pages we update here in the Resource Center specify specific months for events, programs, opportunities, deadlines, and other resources. This column attempts to highlight these available resources that might otherwise go unnoticed in our community information database. Crisis Line volunteers and CIL team members should always make referrals from CRS instead of this newsletter. Additional information in CRS, such as eligibility requirements, program service hours, fees, etc., will assist with making the best referrals possible. -January-
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE - TAX-AIDE Volunteers: Training is held in January, and may be in the form of a 4-5 day class or self-study. Volunteers provide free income tax assistance at numerous locations throughout Washington. Electronic filing is available at some sites. Volunteers receive training on preparing the 1040 series of income tax forms. Training materials are provided by the IRS and a certifying test is required. Individuals are encouraged to volunteer at least two hours per week from February 1 through April 17.
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE TAX INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE Participates in a tax assistance program with United Way of King County (Seattle) (agency #2752), the Casey Family Program (agency #1104), and ACORN (agency #6359). Program runs from around January 18th to April 15th of each year. Program locations are at community agencies and banks in White Center, Bellevue, and SeaTac. Tax-help volunteers generally speak several foreign languages. Call (206) 461-5050 for more information on tax services in different languages. Locations for this program are listed on the website.
SALVATION ARMY - SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT (KENT/AUBURN) Call for appointment. Clients must come in to receive assistance. Offers limited utility assistance for clients with a disconnect notice. Most assistance is available between January and March. Strict criteria for applicants apply. Some funds are available through Puget Sound Energy's Warm Home Fund.
SEATTLE INDIAN CENTER WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT (WIA)/EMPLOYMENT AND SERVICES Summer Youth Employment Experience: Limited number of work experience positions are available during the summer months to eligible high school students. Interested parties should contact the WIA office in January for further information.
SHARE-WHEEL Operates two self-managed tent cities for homeless single adults and couples. Clients must be sober, abide by tent city rules, agree to work security shifts on site. Couples wanting to stay together must bring their own tent. Clients may be turned away if shelter is full to capacity. Priority is given first to women. Tent City 3: From Nov 29, 2004-Jan 28, 2005: Riverton Park United Methodist Church, Tukwila. Tent City 4: From Nov 23, 2004-Feb, 2005. St. John Vianney Church, Kirkland.
ST. LOUISE CATHOLIC CHURCH You MUST pre-register for this series as space is limited. Please call to register or for more information. This eight week program provides a safe place to deal with the pain of separation or divorce. Topics covered are the process of divorce, self esteem, stress, anger, blame and guilt, loneliness, and pathways to happiness. Call for times. Generally runs 3 times a year in late September-early October, January, and late March-early April.
TALMADGE HAMILTON HOUSE FOR SENIOR CITIZENS TAX INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE Provides tax information and assistance for seniors, 55 years and older. Office: 8am-4:30pm, M-F. Tax services are available January-April 15th of each year.
TUKWILA PARKS AND RECREATION - TUKWILA SENIOR ADULT PROGRAM TAX INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE Tax information and assistance is offered January 1 through April 15th.
WALLINGFORD COMMUNITY SENIOR CENTER Provides income tax assistance. Depends on AARP schedule. Generally, assistance is scheduled between mid-January and April 15th. -February-
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE - TAX-AIDE Volunteers: Training is held in January, and may be in the form of a 4-5 day class or self-study. Volunteers provide free income tax assistance at numerous locations throughout Washington. Electronic filing is available at some sites. Volunteers receive training on preparing the 1040 series of income tax forms. Training materials are provided by the IRS and a certifying test is required. Individuals are encouraged to volunteer at least two hours per week from February 1 through April 17.
KING COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION - ROADS SERVICES DIVISION ROADSIDE VEGETATION CONTROL PROGRAM Sprays areas of unincorporated King county with herbicides from February through September to control vegetation. Provides information about when particular neighborhoods will be sprayed or how to request that a property or neighborhood NOT be sprayed.
KIRKLAND PARKS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES - KIRKLAND COMMUNITY SENIOR CENTER Free legal consultation is available. Assists with wills, power of attorney, estate planning, etc. Income tax assistance is available Feb.1st through April 15th by AARP volunteers. An appointment is required. Call for an appointment. Transportation is provided only by appointment and only for City of Kirkland residents.
MARY BRIDGE CHILDRENS HOSPITAL - BRIDGES - A CENTER FOR GRIEVING CHILDREN Provides support groups for families with children. With others their own age, children express their feelings though discussion and specially designed activities. Simultaneous support groups are offered for the parents. Call for an intake appointment. New families may join ongoing groups in November, February, April, and September. Intakes for individual counseling are always ongoing.
SEATTLE WORKS Exceed: Offers a year-long internship opportunity on the Board of Directors of a local nonprofit. Application cycles are in February and August for EXCEED. Serves anyone in their 20s and 30s.
SENIOR SERVICES OF SEATTLE/KING COUNTY SENIOR INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE Income Tax Assistance: Provides information on locations of tax assistance sites and programs which will send income tax assistance volunteers to the homes of homebound seniors or people with disabilities. Program begins in February.
SENIOR SERVICES OF SEATTLE/KING COUNTY - NORTHSHORE SENIOR CENTER FINANCIAL SERVICES AND LEGAL INFORMATION Provides AARP tax preparation assistance from Feb 1-April 15.
SENIOR SERVICES OF SEATTLE/KING COUNTY - SOUTHEAST SEATTLE SENIOR CENTER TAX INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE Tax information and assistance is available. Project is sponsored by AARP volunteers. By appointment only, on Tu during the months of February-April 15th only.•
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tim Lockwood, Hopelink’s Energy Programs
Manager, brought new clarity to energy assistance funding in King County when
he recently shared his expertise with Crisis Clinic’s Community Information
Line and Resource Center staff.
Staff from the Community
Information Line (CIL) had the opportunity to attend a training last month
that appropriately combined the importance of cultural competency with issues
specific to the LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and
Intersex) population.