March 2006:
Contact us:
24-Hour Crisis Line
(206) 461-3222
(866) 4CRISIS or
(866) 427-4747
(206) 461-3219 TDD
24 hours, daily
211/Community
Information Line
(206) 461-3200
(800) 621-4636
(206) 461-3610 TDD
8am-8pm, daily
Teen Link
(206) 461-4922
(866) TEENLINK or
(866) 833-6546
(206) 461-3219 TDD
6-10pm, nightly
Business Office
1515 Dexter Ave N
Suite 300
Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 461-3210
Fax: (206) 461-8368
8am-5pm, M-F
Federal Way Domestic Violence Forum
4-7:30p.m., Monday, March 6
Federal Way City Hall
33325 8th Ave S
Community leaders are hosting a domestic violence forum to get ideas for a
Federal Way response system that will help children exposed to domestic
violence get needed services early. Forum organizers have been reviewing
domestic violence data since 2004 to determine the effectiveness of existing
programs. To RSVP call (425) 226-7768.
HIV/AIDS Education for Health Care Providers Now
Online
Health Information Network provides HIV/AIDS classes to
health care providers that meet state professional licensing requirements. HIN
has recently added an online training option. Users must have a high-speed
Internet connection. For more information visit www.healthinfonetwork.org and
click on the “Training Options” link.
Free Immigration Help
5-8 p.m., March 2
Rainier Community Center
4600 38th Ave. S
Qualified lawyers will be available to answer questions
about immigration status and help with filling out forms. Attendees are asked
to bring all immigration-related paperwork. Child care is available and light
refreshments will be provided. Interpreters will be present for Spanish,
Russian, Korean, Vietnamese and Chinese languages. This service is a joint
project of the Access
to Justice Institute at Seattle University School of Law and the
Washington Young Lawyers Division. For details, call (206) 398-4173.
Shaarei Tikvah: Gates of Hope
2-4 p.m., March 12
Congregation Beth Shalom
6800 35th Ave NE, Seattle
Jewish
Family Service is hosting a Purim celebration for people with
developmental disabilities or mental illness and other members of the
community. For details or to register, call (206) 461-3240 ext. 3165.
Caregiver Conference
Monday, June 5
Tukwila Community Center
12424 42nd Ave S, Tukwila
Learn
practical care giving skills and strategies at this all-day conference.
Topics include stress management, communication with health care providers
and cooperation among family members. Cost for family members is $25 and is
$50 for agency-based caregivers. Space is limited and pre-registration is
required. The event is sponsored by Aging and Disability Services Administration,
ElderHealth Northwest and AARP Washington. For details, call (800) 422-3263.
Learn how to Preserve Local Ethnic History
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Port of Seattle Headquarters
Pier 69, Seattle
Attend a full-day conference on preserving local ethnic
history. The event is presented by the Ethnic
Heritage Council to celebrate its 25th anniversary and is
hosted and co-sponsored by the Port of Seattle and the Museum of History and
Industry. Learn how to document ethnic histories of a family, organization,
business, performing group or neighborhood. Experts will help you with tips
on oral history, organizing your collections of historical material, creating
exhibits, preserving historic sites and finding funding.
Women and Girls HIV Awareness Day
9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Saturday, March 11
$10 in advance,
$12.50 at the door
Scholarships available
First United Methodist Church
of Olympia
1224 Legion Way ES, Olympia,
WA
United
Communities AIDS Network seeks to address the specific HIV/AIDS
prevention needs of women and girls by offering a day of presentations and
workshops, including HIV/AIDS
statistics among women and girls; biological vulnerability to HIV/AIDS;
motherhood and HIV/AIDS; sexually transmitted diseases and infections. Lunch
will be provided for all participants as well as child care for children over
3 years old. All participants must pre-register to attend this event by
March 3rd. For details, call (360) 352-2375.
New Emergency Shelter to Open for Families in
Need
Family
& Adults Service Center will complete the remodeling of its Family Center
this month. Clients previously accessed the Family
Center as a drop-in day
facility, and were bused to a local church for overnight shelter. The
remodeled center will now provide private, dormitory-style overnight rooms
for families and structured living and dining areas. Clients receive comprehensive services including case
management, parenting and nutrition classes, budgeting and legal aid clinics,
mental health services, tutoring, health screenings and child care
assistance. For details, call (206) 441-8439.
4th Annual Youthopolis Awards Event
7 p.m., Friday, March 31
Century Ballroom
915 E Pine, Seattle
The Youthopolis Awards
recognizes LGBT youth leaders making a difference in their communities. The mission of Youthopolis is to promote
the well being of our youth through ongoing dialogue, action &
empowerment. Youthopolis Awards is produced by the
MPowerment Project, a youth-run and youth-centric organization, and Lifelong
AIDS Alliance. For details, call (206) 463-1388.
UW Hosts 3rd Annual Social Justice
Forum
4-6 p.m., Tuesday,
March 28
HUB East
Ballroom
The forum will focus on the formation of networks between
students and organizations to create a stronger community focused on social
justice by offering internships, service learning, volunteer opportunities, membership
opportunities, etc. Tables will be available for organizations. The event
also will feature a roundtable discussion of issues that affect students
lives and what can be done to create a different outcome. To RSVP, call (206)
934-9355.
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New Number for Social Services,
2-1-1, Launches Successfully Feb. 22
Kathleen Southwick, Crisis Clinic Executive Director
 2-1-1 is now officially
available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week in King County. Crisis
Clinic started receiving 2-1-1 calls Feb. 22. This was the official launch date
for 12 counties in Washington state -- Whatcom, Skagit, Island, San Juan,
Snohomish, King, Clark, Kittitas, Yakima, Benton, Franklin and Walla Walla
counties. Now more than 3 million Washingtonians, including 1.7 million in
King County, have 2-1-1 service.
In the first five days we
received 1,359 calls through the
2-1-1 routing system; including 111 on Saturday and Sunday, our new days of
service! Our total number of calls has increased by about 20%. Remember you
can still reach us by dialing our existing local and toll free numbers –
(206) 461-3200 or
(800) 621-4636. This is important if you are calling from a cell phone as not
all cell phone companies support the 2-1-1 dialing code yet. TDD callers can
also access the services 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. M-F on the old TDD number, (206)
461-3610, and by using the 711 relay service on the weekends.•
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Understanding
the New Medicare Part D
Dana Delys, Crisis Clinic Disability Specialist
Part D,
the new Medicare prescription program, began offering prescription drug
coverage Jan. 1. Most Medicare enrollees have until May 15 to choose a Part D
prescription drug plan. After May 15,
many people will have to pay a penalty if they wait to enroll.
Decisions
about whether to choose the Medicare prescription drug coverage depend on the
kind of health care coverage enrollees have now. There are a few ways to get
Medicare prescription drug coverage. Enrollees can join a Medicare
prescription drug plan or a Medicare Advantage Plan or other Medicare Health
Plans that offer drug coverage. Many Part D plans are available with varying
monthly premiums and deductibles. Monthly premiums may range from less than
$7 to almost $60. Deductibles may range from $0 to $250 annually for 2006.
Those
who have drug coverage through an employer, union or any other source should
check with their current plan to see if their coverage is considered as good
or better than Part D benefits. Those
who have a plan that is not as good as the Medicare prescription drug plan
may choose to keep their current coverage but will pay a penalty if they join
a Medicare Part D plan after May 15, 2006.
If the
current plan is as good as Part D, the subscriber should request a letter
from their current plan stating this information. Those who have coverage
deemed “as good as” will not pay a penalty if they choose to sign up for Part
D after May 15, 2006. Those who are
entitled to Medicare on Feb. 1, 2006 or later have a seven-month Initial
Enrollment Period to choose a plan with no penalty. This period includes the three months prior to the month they
will become eligible, the month of their eligibility and the three-month
period following the month they became eligible.
Once
enrolled in a Medicare Part D plan, the next opportunity to change plans is
during the open enrollment period of Nov. 15 – Dec. 31 each year. The new plan will begin on Jan. 1 of the
following year.
People
receiving both Medicare and Medicaid, also referred to as “Dual Eligibles,”
were automatically assigned a plan.
Coverage began Jan. 1, 2006 because in most cases Medicaid no longer
covers prescriptions for enrollees who also have Medicare. Dual Eligibles have the option of joining
another plan at any time. The new
coverage will begin the following month.
Low-income
Medicare participants may find the co-pays, premiums and deductibles
associated with Part D financially daunting.
Social Security Administration offers a program called Extra
Help to assist with these costs.
People who think they may qualify for this program can apply by
calling (800) 772-1213. Social
Security will mail out an application or, upon request, will provide a
representative to help complete the application. People can also apply for Extra Help online at www.socialsecurity.gov or by
visiting their local Social
Security Office.
There
are many ways to choose a prescription drug plan. Medicare offers an online tool to help enrollees choose between
plans at www.medicare.gov. Callers can also obtain this information
by calling 1-800-MEDICARE, but should be aware that Medicare staff is not
permitted to advise callers which plan to choose. For those requiring extra assistance in choosing the best plan
to meet their needs, SHIBA
(Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors) is available to help. SHIBA operates a free helpline staffed by
volunteer counselors to help in making this difficult decision. SHIBA can be reached via phone at (800)
562-6900 or on the web at www.insurance.wa.gov.
Prior
to accessing any of these resources, it is a good idea to have the following
information:
- The names of all drugs taken
- The actual cost of these drugs (not just the co pay)
- The dosages (strengths) of these medications
- How often these medications are taken (how many pills at a
time/how many times per day)
- Name of preferred pharmacy
The above information will dictate which programs are
best suited to the individual who is seeking coverage. Contact information
for these resources can also be accessed on Crisis Clinic’s Community Resources Online
(CRO) or by calling the
2-1-1/Community Information Line. •
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Where To Go for Tax Assistance
Hannah Newton, Resource Specialist
For most people, preparing their taxes is a difficult,
time-consuming process. But for others, particularly older adults and people
of other nationalities, the task can seem impossible.
Fortunately free tax help is available for those who need
it most. Agencies across King County are ready to help with tax filing as the
April 15 deadline looms. The following are a list of major tax preparation
services in King County and how to contact them:
One of the largest free tax preparation services is
United Way’s Earned
Income Tax Credit Campaign geared toward low-income people and people who
don’t speak English as their first language. This service is offered at sites
across King County. Many of the sites have multi-lingual staff. Staff will
file clients’ taxes electronically. To find out more, call (206) 315-8722.
Senior
Services of Seattle/King County provides information on locations of tax
assistance sites and programs which will send income tax assistance
volunteers to homebound older adults or people with disabilities. For more
information call (206) 448-3110.
The Seattle
chapter of the AARP also provides free income tax assistance. The service
is available to people of all ages who are middle- and low- income with
special attention to those who are age 60 and older. IRS trained and
certified volunteers prepare tax returns and answer tax questions. Limited
assistance is available to homebound taxpayers. For details call (888)
227-7669.
Other agencies in the county also offer tax preparation
assistance on a smaller scale. For a more complete list of tax services, go
to Community
Resources Online and search using “taxes” as a keyword.•
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Critical Resource Updates
Compiled by Crisis Clinic’s Resource Center
It is always recommended to check Community Resources Online
for additional information and for the most current information updates of
the following resources.
Archdiocesan
Housing Authority - Wintonia is accepting applications to get on the wait
list for its housing program for chronic alcoholics. The wait would be
between five and six months. Residents must be at or below 30% of median
income and be willing to work towards recovery.
Capitol
Hill Community Resource Center now provides free doctor services by
appointment for treatment of non-emergency medical problems. A doctor will be
available to write prescriptions. Call the agency between 1-4pm, Tu or Th to
set up an appointment. Appointments will be made between 6-8pm, Tu.
Downtown
Emergency Service Center – 1811 Eastlake Project has opened and is
accepting applications for its permanent,
supportive, subsidized housing for 75 homeless adults with chronic alcohol
addiction. Each resident unit is a studio or semi-private apartment. Tenants
generally come from an established outreach list from agencies that come in
contact with this population.
Family
Services – Transitional Assistance has changed its phone number to (206)
902-4271.
Immanuel
Community Services now provides a free community lunch to anyone in need
at noon on the last Sunday of the month.
King
County Bar Association’s Housing Justice Project now has evening hours for its free legal counseling and
information service for tenants in the process of being evicted. Clinic is
from 4-6 p.m., Mondays, at the King County Courthouse in Seattle.
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March and April
Selected Resources
Compiled by Crisis Clinic’s Resource Center
This column highlights available timely
resources in the community information database that might otherwise go
unnoticed by our users. It is always recommended to check Community Resources Online
for additional information and for the most current information concerning
the following resources.
March Resource Highlights
City
of Seattle – Human Services Department
Provides subsidized jobs to economically disadvantaged youth in order for
them to develop positive work habits and gain job skills. Work
placement is in public and private non-profit agencies. Consists of
half a day of remedial academic work and half a day of work experience for
youth in jeopardy of dropping out of school. Also provides full-day
work experience. Youth can work up to 30 hours/week at minimum
wage. Program begins in late June and runs for 7 weeks. Applications
available after the 2nd week in March at Seattle Parks and Recreation
community centers, Seattle Neighborhood Service Centers, a variety of social
service agencies throughout Seattle and the SYEP program office.
Humane
Society for Seattle/King County
Spring Animal Care workshops are held March through May.
Master
Builders Care Foundation
“Rampathon” weekend event coordinates volunteers who build wheelchair access
ramps for low-income homeowners with long-term physical needs. Call for an
application. Applications are due every year in March.
Overlake
Service League
Camp, summer school, and tutoring scholarships are available for children in
low-income families and for children with disabilities in the Bellevue School
District. Must apply starting in March for camp and summer school. Apply for
tutoring assistance year-round.
Special
Olympics – Washington
Athletes with disabilities are invited to participate in this year’s
Winter Games, with events including basketball, downhill skiing, Nordic
skiing, figure skating and speed ice-skating. This year the games will
be held March 3-5 in Wenatchee.
University
of Washington – Women’s Center
Awards an annual nursing scholarship for $250 to financially needy nursing
students in western Washington. Interested nursing students may call the Women’s
Center after March 15 for an application. Submit completed applications by
June 1. Scholarships are awarded in the fall.
April Resource
Highlights
Artist
Trust
Applications are now available for the 2006 Artist Trust/Washington State
Arts Commission Fellowship. Unrestricted $6,000 awards will be granted to
practicing artists of exceptional talent in the areas of dance, design,
theater and visual art. Grantees are required to participate in a
community-based “Meet the Artist” event developed with a sponsor in a town or
city not his or her own. To apply,
send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Artist Trust to receive an application,
walk in, or check the Web site. Deadline is June 2006.
Mary
Bridge Children’s Hospital – Bridges – A Center for Grieving Children
Four times annually, new families may join ongoing support groups for parents
and for children, ages 4-18, who are coping with the death or chronic illness
of a parent or sibling. To join in
April, call for an intake appointment.
PlantAmnesty
On April 12th, Washington State Arbor Day, about twenty
certified arborists will volunteer their time to prune majestic old trees in
the King County area. Trees can be on public or private property. To nominate
a worthy tree(s), or to find out when and where an event is taking place,
contact PlantAmnesty and request a nomination form for Arbor Day Tree
Prune.
Rebuilding
Together Seattle
Volunteers provide free home repair assistance to low-income homeowners in
the city of Seattle who are unable to perform the work themselves due to
physical or financial limitations. Local businesses provide material
donations, financial support and majority of volunteers. Annual Spring
Rebuilding Day will be April 29th; call or apply online now to
receive or donate service.
Virginia
Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center
On April 1st, the Center will be conducting its annual Ears,
Hearing and Beyond conference.
The event will take place at the Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall
at Benaroya Hall (200 University Street, Seattle), from 9am to 3:30pm. The
conference is free and open to the public, and will provide information about
the ear, how to prevent hearing loss, coping strategies for hearing loss and
new research developments. •
Return to the top
“Resource Talk,” Crisis
Clinic’s free monthly e-newsletter, provides critical resource changes,
community events, feature articles on important health and human service
topics and updates to the annual publication of the Where to Turn Plus
directory. Click here
to subscribe or unsubscribe to Resource Talk. You may view past issues of
Resource Talk by clicking here.
Crisis Clinic offers a
variety of products to help connect people with critical resources.
Information about purchasing Crisis Clinic’s Where to Turn
Directories, Where to Turn CD-ROMs, customized reports, customized
mailing labels and holiday lists can be found online by clicking here.
Crisis Clinic
respects the privacy
of our Web site users.
For business
purposes, please e-mail us at ResourceCenter@CrisisClinic.org or call us at (206) 461-3210.
www.CrisisClinic.org
This Newsletter was last updated on Thursday, March 02, 2006 10:29 AM
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