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November 2005:

· Community Information Line  Ready to Refer Clients to Holiday Resources
· Local and Federal Help Available for Victims of Human Trafficking
· Critical Resource
Updates
· November and December Selected Resources
 

Contact us:

24-Hour Crisis Line
(206) 461-3222
(866) 4CRISIS or
(866) 427-4747
(206) 461-3219 TDD
Available 365 days
a year
Community
Information Line
(206) 461-3200
(800) 621-4636
(206) 461-3610 TDD
Monday-Friday,
8am-6pm
Teen Link
(206) 461-4922
(866) TEENLINK or
(866) 833-6546
(206) 461-3219 TDD
Every evening, 6-10pm
TeenLink@CrisisClinic.org
Business Office
1515 Dexter Ave N
Suite 300
Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 461-3210
Fax: (206) 461-8368
8am-5pm, M-F
Info@CrisisClinic.org
www.CrisisClinic.org
 

Youth Clinic Adds Dental Resources

6-9pm, Nov. 10
6-9pm, Nov. 17
6-9pm, Dec. 1
6-9pm, Dec. 15

The 45th St. Homeless Youth Clinic is adding dental hours on a trial basis and will assess interest in continuing the program. A dental instructor and two to four dental students from UW come in twice a month. They can see up to six youth a night and will be able to do cleanings, cavity fills and the dental basics. The youth do not need to be patients at the medical clinic. They need to be ages 12-23, and currently homeless or formerly homeless in the past year. For questions, call (206) 633-7639.

 

Gay & Lesbian Leadership Conference

Nov. 17-20
Sheraton Seattle Hotel
1400 6th Avenue, Seattle

The annual Gay & Lesbian Leadership Conference offers LGBT leaders a unique opportunity to gather in a peer community and speak out on the challenges they face today. The event provides networking and leadership development and is presented each year by the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute in collaboration with the International Network of Lesbian and Gay Officials. For more information click here.

 

Local United Way Campaign Underway

The United Way of King County has kicked off its fundraising campaign for 2006. Those who can are encouraged to give to the United Way to help others in the community. Money given to the United Way goes to a variety of  local programs including those that focus on early childhood development, ending homelessness and other projects. For details, call (206) 461-GIVE or visit the Web site here.

 

Teen Leadership Weekend Retreat

Nov. 11- Nov. 13
Camp Sealth, Vashon Island

Seattle Parks and Recreation is hosting this free interactive weekend of workshops to teach teens how to structure and maintain a teen advisory council. Topics include project planning, member recruitment and retention, and fundraising techniques. This leadership retreat can be used for service learning hours and is intended for students, ages 13-18, who are actively participating in a teen-driven activist group. Registrations must be submitted by agencies, and registration deadline is Nov. 8. For more information or to register call (206) 684-9273.

 

Aging in Place Resource Fair

10am-3pm, Nov. 12
Seattle Center House

Gather information, speak to professionals and hear from experts on topics related to successfully aging in place. Click here for more information.

 

Medicare Part D Seminar

9:30am-3:30pm, Nov. 16
Lopez Room, Seattle Center

Local mental health officials will explain the specifics of the new Medicare Part D in this upcoming seminar, including costs and requirements. People in the public mental health system who are on both Medicare and Medicaid or the state’s Medically Needy Program through “spend down” will begin receiving their medications through Medicare. Each person must select a prescription drug plan from among several offered. One-on-one assistance in making informed decisions will be available. To RSVP or for more information, call NAMI Greater Seattle at
(206) 783-9264.

 

Hurricane Katrina Resources

Crisis Clinic continues to actively maintain and update information and resources for survivors of Hurricane Katrina and their families and friends. Click here for more information.

 

Women and Multiple Sclerosis Event

6:30-8:30pm, Nov. 21
Shoreline Conference Center’s Ballinger Room
18560 First Ave, NE

Women with MS are invited to a discussion about the issues and concerns specific to women living with MS. Discussion items include diagnosis and prognosis, treatment and therapies, as well as research. To register, contact the Multiple Sclerosis Association of King County at (206) 633-2606. Cost is $10.

 

Local Job Listing Listserv Available

Bellevue Parks and Community Services – Cultural Diversity Program offers a daily e-mail list of employment opportunities, events and announcements in the Puget Sound area.
E-mail the coordinator to subscribe to the list. 

 

Pride Foundation Scholarships

The Pride Foundation and the Greater Seattle Business Association are offering scholarships to students who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and straight allies (straight and supportive of LGBT issues) as well as students from LGBT families. The scholarships are for post-secondary education (community college through graduate school) including nontraditional programs, creative study and vocational training. For more information about the program click here. Applications must be postmarked by Jan. 13.

 

Crisis Line Volunteer Helps Katrina Evacuees

Read about Terry Hill’s work with college students displaced by Hurricane Katrina who are now at the University of Washington here. Hill has been a volunteer on Crisis Clinic’s Crisis Line for more than a decade and is the program counseling services coordinator for UW.

 

15th Annual Cultural Crossroads Event

Nov. 11-13
NE 8th & 156th Ave. Bellevue

The Ethnic Heritage Council is presenting its annual celebration of our community’s cultural riches with ethnic music and dance, a cultural bazaar and a parade. The parade will be at 10am on Saturday. Other highlights are the Balkan Cabaret on Friday and the 'Rouge' & Tango Noir Orchestra on Saturday. Admission is free. For details, click here.

 

Did You Know?

Individuals who voluntarily leave work due to domestic violence or stalking may collect Unemployment Insurance benefits. Click here for more information.

 

Caring for those with Multiple Sclerosis

6-8pm, Nov. 15
Salty’s on Alki
1936 Harbor Avenue SW

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society – Greater Washington Chapter is hosting a social for care partners of people with MS in celebration of National Family Caregivers Month. It will be a time to relax, socialize and enjoy delicious food and the spectacular views of the Seattle skyline. Call to sign up by Nov. 8 at
(800) FIGHT MS
(800) (344-4867), ext. 1.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Community Information Line Ready
to Refer Clients to Holiday Resources

Jeffrey Markwardt, Certified Resource Specialist

Those calling Crisis Clinic’s Community Information Line can now be referred to one or more of the 200 programs we have listed for the 2005 winter holiday season such as Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year’s Eve.

In 2004, we took more than 2,300 calls for holiday assistance. We’re expecting and have prepared for an increase in call volume this year.

Holiday resources can also be viewed for free at Community Resources Online. To search for holiday resources, click on the above hyperlink and look for the Winter Holidays topic category. Beneath this category are separate hyperlinks for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Other Winter Holidays (Halloween, Hanukkah, New Years, Kwanzaa, etc.). Click on one of these hyperlinks.

A disclaimer will notify the user that winter holiday information changes quickly. Click on the button to confirm that you have read the disclaimer. On the next screen if  you are searching in Thanksgiving or Christmas, select a subcategory. If you would like to narrow your search to a specific geographical region, check up to four different geographic locations, then click the search button at the bottom of the page.

A preview screen appears with your search results. To get detailed information on a specific resource, click on the service name to see the service screen which lists detailed information on application procedures, eligibility requirements, service description, etc.

To make sure that your holiday service is listed in our Holiday Resource List, call Jeffrey at (206) 461-3210, ext. 678. If you would like to purchase a paper copy of our holiday list for yourself or to distribute to agency clients, please click here for more information. •

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Local and Federal Help Available for Victims of Human Trafficking

Jeffrey Markwardt, Certified Resource Specialist

Human trafficking is an ongoing problem in King County and throughout the U. S. with 17,000 to 25,000 people being illegally trafficked in the U.S. every year.

Traffickers use force, fraud or coercion for the purpose of sexual exploitation or forced labor. Who is being trafficked and who is doing the trafficking might come as a surprise to those in our area not familiar with the issue.

“(A trafficker) could be anybody,” says Judith Panlasigui with Asian and Pacific Women and Family Safety Center. “A trafficker could be this well-known person in the community who also is generously giving back to the community.”

Detective Harvey Sloan with the Seattle Police Department has observed people trafficking and exploiting others not only in their own ethnic group but also within their own families.

Victims of human trafficking could be educated or uneducated, documented or undocumented, citizens or non-citizens, white or persons of color, male or female and young or old.

Human trafficking is a modern-day form of slavery. It is tied with the weapons industry as the second largest criminal industry in the world. It is used as a form of exploitation not only in the sex industry but also in restaurants, hotels, domestic work, construction and agriculture.

Traffickers manipulate victims by playing on their fears of being turned over to Immigration Customs and Enforcement, formerly called Immigration and Naturalization Services.  This creates a dependency between the victims and traffickers because few know that there is a process where victims could legally enter and stay in our country.

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act  of 2000 established the “T-Visa” to give victims of human trafficking temporary status in the United States after which they can apply for permanent residence. However, most of the 5,000 available T-Visas go unused.

According to Detective Sloan, most victims of human trafficking don’t want to stay. They want to make money and then go back to their countries of origin and live with their family. This desire for a better living is the primary reason human trafficking exists today. Other countries’ increased poverty, government corruption and lack of employment opportunities create a situation where people are vulnerable to the deceitful promises used by human traffickers. And these deceitful promises used by human traffickers work not only abroad, but also on U.S. citizens who are vulnerable themselves.

Countering the fears that human traffickers instill in their victims is difficult. Once having escaped the physical restraints of guards in front of their living quarters, victims have to deal with the psychological restraints holding them back from escaping their traffickers. Once placed in a safe house, victims of human trafficking sometimes end up running back to their traffickers.

Below are five questions that can help identify victims of human trafficking:

·        What kind of work do you do?

·        Are you paid what you have been promised?

·        Are you forced or coerced to work?

·        Has your passport been taken away from you?

·        Are you being threatened?

The Trafficking Response Team affiliated with Refugee Women’s Alliance is a great state resource for dealing with issues related to victims of human trafficking. They can provide assistance in 20 different languages and are available 9am-5pm, Monday through Friday at (206) 898-4741 and after hours or on weekends at (206) 467-9976.

The Trafficking Information and Referral Hotline is a national toll-free hotline providing assistance 24 hours daily at (888) 373-7888.

For more information about human trafficking visit, www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking.•

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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 following resources.

The Bunkhouse operated by SHARE/WHEEL provides shelter for men and women experiencing homelessness. Shelter is open for day and overnight rest and operates a hygiene center including a kitchen, showers, coin-operated laundry, lockers and a TV room. Weekly house meeting is required, and all residents share in chores. Sobriety on site is required. There is no limit to how long a person can stay.

Catholic Community Services – Family Center – South King is coordinating a new men’s shelter program in Renton called ARISE, which is similar to the HOME program already in Kent. Through the program, Renton area congregations will rotate hosting the shelter on a monthly basis. The shelter opened Nov. 1.

Des Moines Area Food Bank offers additional hours every 3rd Tuesday of the month from 6-8pm, beginning this month. Regular hours are from 9-11:45am Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

El Centro de la Raza’s central office phone number is now (206) 957-4601 and the social services phone number is now (206) 957-4634.

An online database, www.findaride.org, has been created to help people with special needs, case managers and agencies find special needs transportation services in the Central Puget Sound Region. The database provides information on transit agencies; other transportation providers; agencies which help riders pick providers or arrange for rides; agencies which pay for rides; rideshare and vanpool information; home delivery; and programs which lend, rent or purchase vehicles for people with special needs.

King County Winter Response Shelter has opened and will provide 50 severe-weather shelter beds for men this winter at the King County Administration Building. Shelter is open every night with no connection to weather forecast. No meal, hygiene, or daytime storage services are provided. Shelter is open until March 31.

Appointments are now available with LIHEAP for people who need help with their heating bills. Call the toll-free Heat Line at (800) 348-7144, and you will be given an appointment with the agency that serves your ZIP code. Seattle residents should call (866) 223-1068.

Salvation Army – Renton Corps has moved to 206 S Tobin St, Renton, WA 98055.

Seattle Parks and Recreation’s Van Asselt Community Center will be closed for a remodel until approximately September 2006.

The city of Seattle’s Severe Weather Shelters are ready to open when inclement weather hits: (1) Occurrence or prediction of 32 degrees or below; (2) Occurrence or prediction of a high temperature of 35 degrees; or (3) Excessive precipitation - snow or rain. The severe weather shelter at  Frye Hotel has beds for 25 women, and the shelter at the Seattle Municipal Building has 75 co-ed beds.

Applications are no longer being accepted for housing at the Wintonia, run by the Archdiocesan Housing Authority. The waiting list is full.

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November and December
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.

November Resource Highlights

Artist Trust
Awards $10,000 annually to one female visual artist older than age 60. The money is unrestricted. Artists must be nominated by individuals other than themselves. Applications are available in November. To receive an application, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Artist Trust, walk in or visit the Web site. Nomination forms are accepted each year in January.

Catholic Community Services – Family Center – South King
During severe weather, provides motel vouchers for homeless seniors, individuals with disabilities and families in Kent. Program operates from Nov. 1 to March 31. Language interpreters are available if prior notice is given.

Central Area Motivation Program
Offers limited emergency cold-weather motel vouchers during winter months (November-March).

Federal Way Community Caregiving Network
Serves hot meals for anyone in need. From November to April, may have socks, hats, gloves, tarps and hygiene items available for dinner guests; supply fluctuates and is subject to donations received.

Rebuilding Together Eastside
Recipients will have a one-day, home repair project completed by volunteers. Services include interior and exterior painting, carpentry, minor plumbing repairs, electrical work, accessibility modifications, yard work, etc. Call for an application. Applications are due by Nov. 30 of each year and final selection of houses will be announced by Jan. 30 of each year. Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission – Consumer Affairs
Begins its moratorium on utility disconnection. Under state law, utilities supplying electricity or natural gas for home heating cannot discontinue service for low-income households between Nov. 15 and March 15 for reasons of nonpayment, provided the customer complies with the provisions of the law. If the customer does not comply with the provisions, the company can disconnect the electricity and refuse to reconnect until the entire balance owed to the utility is paid.

 

December Resource Highlights
Artist Trust
Provides support for artist-generated projects through Grants for Artist Projects (GAP) which can include the development, completion or presentation of new work. Awards are up to $1,400 annually. Applications for GAP are available in December.

Seattle Vocational Institute
Kwanzaa Festival 2005 will create a holiday marketplace for sharing collective resources and creating financial empowerment by featuring business retail vendors, food vendors and exhibit floor entertainment. Hourly educational seminars offer information on housing resources, credit repair, energy assistance and legal and employment clinics from various agencies. Festival takes place 6-9pm, Friday, Dec. 9; Noon-7pm, Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 10-11, 2005. Visit http://sviweb.sccd.ctc.edu/kwanzaa/index.htm for more information.

Southeast Effective Development
Offers a Northwest Native Holiday Bazaar with crafts, food and cultural entertainment including films and dances from 10am-5pm, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2005.

Friends of Francois
Provides a New Year's meal outdoors for anyone in need from 1-3pm, on New Year's Day, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006, as well as Thanksgiving and Christmas meals.

GriefWorks – A Bereavement Resource for Education and Support
Hosts two monthly open community meetings to discuss topics of grief and loss. Topics change each month. See Web site at http://www.griefworks.org for details. 10:30am-noon, Monday, Dec. 12 - Grief and Surviving the Holidays. 7:00-8:30pm, Thursday, Dec. 22 - Grief and Surviving the Holidays

City of Seattle – Human Services Department – Mayor’s Office for Senior Citizens
Organizes a free holiday ball for seniors at Seattle City Hall from noon-3:30pm, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2005. Must RSVP. Main entrance is on 5th Avenue. Includes a light lunch.

SEAFAIR – Christmas Cruise
Coordinates an annual cruise for individuals with developmental disabilities from 3:30-5:30pm, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2005. Call by Monday, Nov. 21, 2005 to register. This cruise is a holiday boat parade on Lake Washington and Lake Union. Local yacht clubs and independent boat owners donate time, boats, and crew. Boats are launched from various locations. Boats cruise parallel to the 520 bridge and then return to their respective loading locations in Lake Union and Lake Washington. The boat parade can be viewed from West Montlake Park and along the Montlake Cut.

Seattle International Church
Gives out more than 10,000 toys. There will be a drawing for about 60 girls and boys bicycles. Every child must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to receive a toy. A short Christmas program geared toward the kids will be held at 10:30am and 6pm, Sunday, December 18, 2005. Gifts will be given at the end or the beginning of the program. Mass attendance is not required.

Many more holiday programs in our community can be found by searching our Winter Holidays topic category at Community Resources Online.

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“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 Tuesday, November 01, 2005 10:55 AM