October 2005:
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
Business Office
1515 Dexter Ave N
Suite 300
Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 461-3210
Fax: (206) 461-8368
8am-5pm, M-F
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.
Volunteering During the Holiday Season
United
Way of King County’s online database connects agencies with volunteers
year-round. The holiday season is the busiest time of the year. Most agencies
start listing their volunteer opportunities as early as the month of October
and often fill their projects well before the month of December. To start
listing and finding volunteer opportunities, visit their database by clicking
here.
Google Alerts
Track search results and news items, receiving
alerts directly to your inbox. Visit www.google.com/alerts
to get started.
Seattle City Council Candidates Forum on Racial Profiling
and Housing
5:30pm, Mon., Oct. 17
Yesler
Community Center
917 E Yesler Way
Offers a free dinner, interpreters and childcare. No
need to RSVP. Call Joy at (206) 622-4098 for more information.
Teen Link Bus Ads
Thanks to the gracious financial support of The
Mental Wellness Foundation, Teen Link is becoming more visible and mobile.
Keep an eye out for the vibrant and colorful Teen Link Ads
in Metro buses running through downtown Seattle and the southside through
mid-November.
For more information about Teen Link click here.
Coping with the Commute
With the closing of the Seattle bus tunnel, here’s
your opportunity to get personal assistance at one of several Plan Your
Commute stations located throughout downtown Seattle. The sessions are
drop-in, and offer advice from an expert trip planner. They are held Monday
through Friday from 11am-2pm each day. See the schedule here.
Communicating with Health Care Providers
5-8:30pm, Nov. 2
LGBT
Community Center
1115 E Pike St, Seattle
This free workshop for lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender individuals and their caregivers and allies will inspire confidence
and strengthen communication skills. Pre-registration is required. Call
Sally, by Oct. 21, at (206) 727-6260.
Financial Planning for API Women
1-6pm, Wed., Oct. 5
China Harbor Restaurant
2040 Westlake Ave, Seattle
This free afternoon with panels, presentations and
workshops also includes networking opportunities, free appetizers and door
prizes. Space is limited. Call (206) 838-8167 for more information and to
RSVP. This event is organized by U.S.
Department of Labor Women’s Bureau, National
Asian Pacific Center on Aging, among others.
Arts Gumbo
5-7:30pm, Sat., Oct. 15
Rainier Valley Cultural Center; 3515
S Alaska St, Seattle; Tickets at the door: $5 or $3 for students and seniors.
Offers a Pacific Islander cultural performance
followed by a dinner and interactive cultural workshop. The program is
designed for all ages. Call (206) 760-4285
or click here
for more information.
Need a Mediator?
King
County Dispute Resolution Center provides mediation and conflict
resolution services as an alternative method for resolving citizen and
community disputes outside of the court system.
Financial Health
The Experimental
College at the University of Washington offers a variety of affordable
courses dealing with paying for college, correcting credit, investing, etc.
Click here
for more information.
Free ‘Taking Care of Our Children’ Booklet
Child
Care Resources offers a free booklet with a wide variety of resource and
child development information. Click here
for a pdf version in English, Chinese, Spanish, Somali or Amharic.
Global Classroom Youth Summit
3-8pm, Sat., Oct. 8
Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center, 16600 NE 80th St,
Redmond
This free summit organized by World
Affairs Council for middle, high school and college students (also
welcoming teachers and family members) will explore Muslim cultures and
understand the larger context of Islam around the world. Register in advance by
e-mailing globalclassroom@world-affairs.org
with student’s name, school and grade.
New ‘Who Does What’ HIV/AIDS Resource List
Public Health has updated their HIV/AIDS resource
list for Seattle and King County as of September 2005 and is making free
copies available to interested individuals who call the HIV/STD
Hotline at (206) 205-7837.
Hearing Care Assistance for People of Low
Incomes
AUDIENT
– An Alliance for Accessible Hearing Care provides access to hearing care
for persons currently without adequate financial resources. Qualified
patients must have an income at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty
level, or an annual income of $23,500 or less. Amount varies with the number
of family members.
Home Sweet
Home Fair
9:30am-12:30pm
Sat., Oct. 29; Mercer Island Presbyterian Church; 3605 84th Ave SE
Mercer Island
This annual event, featuring keynote
speaker Denise Klein, executive director of Senior Services of Seattle-King
County, offers strategies and resources to help people stay in their homes as
they age. Free parking and refreshments are offered. There is a suggested $5
donation at the door. For more information, call Overlake Hospital Senior
Care at (425) 688-5800.
Facility Spaces
Looking for low cost meeting and
conference sites for rent by non-profit or community groups? Check out Community
Resources Online by selecting Provision of Facilities.
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King County Agencies Respond to Hurricane Katrina
Evacuees
Hannah Newton, Resource Specialist
New Orleans is more than 2,700 miles away from
Seattle, but that’s not too far for the hundreds of Hurricane Katrina
evacuees who are here and are being helped by the local American
Red Cross chapter.
The Seattle chapter, which serves King and Kitsap
counties, reported serving about 1,000 people through Oct. 3 who are in the
area after fleeing Hurricane Katrina.
“They are here because of family and friends that
are here,” said Mike Eagan, director of communications with the local Red
Cross. “But they are arriving with very little.”
He said the number of evacuees arriving in the area
is actually increasing as they move out of the short-term shelters in the
Gulf states.
Social service agencies across King County are aware
of the additional needs, and some have been designated as lead agencies that
will provide direct services. The overarching agency is the Red Cross. Since
Sept. 1, the number of local volunteers enrolled in the Disaster Services
Human Resources system has gone from 87 to 408, and $260,000 has been
distributed to local evacuees.
Other key agencies named by Eagan are the Salvation
Army, Goodwill,
the Seattle
Urban League and the Community
Service Offices of DSHS. At these agencies, the evacuees can receive food,
clothing, prescriptions, transportation help and assistance with other
emergency needs. The government assistance agencies have expedited the signup
processes for evacuees.
Public Health has also designated two of its health
centers, Renton
and Bothell,
as places where Hurricane Katrina evacuees can go to get medical care. The
Towne and Country Suites motel on Interurban Avenue in Tukwila is hosting
about 25 Hurricane Katrina evacuee families. Room costs are paid by the Red
Cross chapter for one month, with opportunities for extension if needed.
Families have been assisted in registering their children for school at the Tukwila
School District. The Suites do offer cooking facilities, so families are
able to prepare meals there. Towne and Country has collected donations for
items that can be used by the families.
Another place where Hurricane Katrina evacuees can
go to look for a place to stay is the Web site www.hurricanehousing.org
where more than 1,200 people in the Seattle area have listed their homes as
being available for the evacuees. Also, the 24-Hour
Crisis Line at Crisis
Clinic is prepared to talk to evacuees or anyone in crisis due to the
hurricane disasters. Crisis Clinic has compiled a list of therapists who will
provide free or low-cost trauma counseling to hurricane evacuees.
Staff on the Community
Information Line logged 108 disaster-related calls in September. Many
additional calls were made to the 24-Hour Crisis Line. Crisis Clinic
continues to update its Hurricane Katrina resources Web page where people can
go to see a broad range of services for evacuees at http://www.crisisclinic.org/Katrina.html.
•
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Donating in the Wake of Disaster
Mildred Smith, Manager of
Volunteer Services
We have all seen the devastation
of Katrina and now Rita. I am sure we all want to help in some way. There are
many fine organizations soliciting donations to help in the relief efforts.
Many individuals, businesses, corporations and foundations are stepping up to
the plate and giving millions of dollars to help the victims of Katrina and
Rita recover and begin new lives.
Our national response to
Sept. 11 continues to support people in their efforts to heal from the terror
of a human made event. Now we have been called upon to help others who have
lived through the terror of a natural event. Once again private citizens,
businesses, corporations, and foundations of this country are responding to
the needs of our fellow Americans.
Let us not forget what
effect this national outpouring also has on our local services as well. After
Sept. 11 there was little money for local services. People gave all they had
in response to Sept. 11 and as a result many agencies were forced to reduce
or eliminate staff, programs and services.
Foundations and large
businesses that supported local agencies financially or with in-kind gifts
had no more to give either. The resources for local service agencies
diminished, yet the need for them continued to increase.
If you are deciding how
much to contribute and to what agency I always say, “follow your heart
first.” If you are planning to give to the relief efforts of Katrina or Rita
please also consider giving locally. The effects of Katrina and Rita are far
more widespread than the 200-mile wide path of destruction she left behind.
Our help will still be needed to care for our local neighbors as well. •
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Winter Holiday Assistance Program
Information Requested
Jeffrey Markwardt,
Certified Resource Specialist
The holidays are
approaching! For many in our community, holidays bring added emotional and
financial stress. Thousands of King County residents call our Community
Information Line each year for holiday referrals. In 2004, we took more than
2,300 calls for holiday assistance.
We are in the process of
contacting agencies to update our Holiday Resource List. The resources we
list assist individuals and families with low incomes who are looking for
ways to celebrate and prepare for winter holidays such as Ramadan, El
Dia del Muerte, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New
Year’s Eve.
We hope to have our Holiday
Resource List information compiled and accessible by Oct. 20. The resources
will be available to people calling the Community
Information Line or visiting Community Resources Online.
To make sure that your holiday
service is listed, 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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New Multilingual Housing Rights Publications
Available
Roxanne Vierra, Civil Rights Specialist
King
County Office of Civil Rights is offering a published booklet called
“Housing Discrimination and Your Civil Rights–A Fair Housing Guide for
Renters and Home Buyers” which gives an overview of fair housing laws in
Washington state. This free handbook is now available in English, Spanish,
Chinese, Cambodian, Vietnamese and Russian.
“Domestic Violence and Your Housing Rights” is a
brochure about the protections under the fair housing laws for victims of
domestic violence who are experiencing related problems such as eviction
notices, needing to break a lease or difficulty renting housing. This free
brochure is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Cambodian, Vietnamese and
Russian.
These new materials were made possible through a
partnership grant from the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development.
For copies of these publications or to file a
discrimination complaint, contact King
County Office of Civil Rights by calling (206) 296-7592 or (206) 296-7596
(TTY) or online at www.metrokc.gov/dias/ocre/ho.htm.
•
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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.
American Lung Association of Washington provides an
online Flu
Clinic Locator at www.flucliniclocator.org.
By entering your ZIP code, you can find the dates, times, addresses, phone
numbers and maps for the clinics offering flu shots in your area.
Bread
of Life Mission will now provide free shelter for adult males the first
two nights (rather than the first four). Cost is still $5 thereafter.
Burien-Highline Senior
Center’s hot
meal program for older adults has returned to its permanent location at
Burien Community Center at 425 SW 144th St in Burien.
Children’s
Health Program of Washington state DSHS will provide full-scope medical
coverage to non-citizen children similar to Children's Medicaid. The program
is for children who are ineligible for Medicaid due to immigration status
only. Children must be younger than age 18 in families under the Federal
Poverty Level. Must apply Dec. 1-16.
All Jewish Family Services branches and
food banks will be closed to observe holidays on Oct. 4, 5, 13, 18, 19, 25
and 26.
Appointments are now available with PSE Help for
people who are customers of Puget Sound Energy 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.
Safe
Schools Coalition’s intervention team phone number has changed to (888)
99-VOICE and e-mail address has changed to intervention@safeschoolscoalition.org.
Tent
City 3 has moved to Church by the Side of the Road, 3455 S 148th St,
Seattle (near the intersection of 148th St. and Pacific Highway).
It will be there until Dec. 2.
Way
Back Inn has limited their financial assistance to residents of Renton,
Kent or Tukwila.
The Winter
Response Program for Families will start taking names for its limited
number of motel vouchers Friday morning at 8:30am. Screening will be Monday.
Vouchers are for families only. Overflow will be put on a waiting list. Transitional
Assistance Program (TAP) will be doing it until Dec. 31. •
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October and November
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.
October Resource Highlights
Des
Moines Senior Activity Center
The senior center runs a volleyball program from October to May. This program
is open to all older adults who desire to have fun and get in shape.
Open play is Mondays and Wednesdays from 1-3pm at the Des Moines Field House.
Drop-in cost is $2.
Families
for Effective Autism Treatment – FEAT of Washington
Program hosts children with autism and their siblings. Activities are
designed to get children out of the house and facilitate productive social
interaction with other children. Activities are run by trained facilitators
and include fun, social and educational activities geared specifically for
children with autism and their siblings. Provides three hours of quality
respite for parents. The event takes place every second Saturday of the month
from 10am-1pm October through June.
FamilyWorks
Offers one-on-one tutoring and community workshops/programs to help children
build skills and self-esteem. Community members, organizations and volunteers
may conduct workshops and activities relating to careers, dealing with
conflict, cultural diversity, nutrition, gardening, art and music. Tutoring
takes place from 3:30-5:30pm, every Monday. Tutoring/community
workshops/programs take place from 3:30-5:30pm, Wednesday. Programs are
offered during the school year (October through May). Programs start Oct. 12.
Call to register in advance.
GriefWorks
– A Bereavement Resource for Education & Support
Provides one-day retreat opportunities for families with children, ages 6-18,
to participate in memorial activities to grieve a death or loss. The day will
include separate and combined groups for adults, teens and children;
workshops for each group; and rituals for all. Adult groups will focus on
parenting children who are experiencing grief while taking care of their own
grief. Children will participate in memorial art activities and storytelling
and will have mementos to take home. Participants are asked to bring a sack
lunch. Snacks and beverages will be provided. Upcoming dates will be
10am-4pm, Oct. 29 and Dec. 3.
SmileMobile
Mobile dental van offers oral health services for children on a year-round
basis. Basic dental services include examinations, preventive care, fillings,
and minor oral surgery. Van locations vary in Washington state. Will be in
Tukwila Oct. 31-Nov. 4. Accepts medical coupons and offers sliding scale fee
structure with up to 90 percent off the fee.
YWCA
of Seattle/King County Snohomish County – East Cherry
Coordinates an annual higher education fair in October for students to learn
about options for college. Each year features a particular college. Offers free
workshops. The colleges that primarily attend are known as historically black
colleges and universities. This year’s fair will be from noon-4:30pm, Oct. 23
at Seattle Central Community College, 1701 Broadway, Seattle.
November Resource Highlights
Artist
Trust
Awards $10,000 annually to one female visual artist over the age of 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. Spanish is spoken.
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
available socks, hats, gloves, tarps, and hygiene items 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 disconnects. 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. •
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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 Wednesday, October 05, 2005 09:57 AM
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