Tough Decisions Lie Ahead During This Legislative Session

As the state legislative session opens, Washington State has some tough decisions to make. First on the list are the recommendations of the McCleary decision.

 

In January of 2012, the Washington State Supreme Court upheld the King County Superior Court decision in the caseMcCleary, Venema, and NEWS v. Washington State, concluding the state was failing to meet its constitutional obligation to adequately fund basic education for Washington’s students. In 2009 and 2010, the state legislature passed Substitute House Bill 2261 (ESHB 2261) and Substitute House Bill 2776 (SHB 2776), which include plans to provide all-day Kindergarten classes in public schools and reducing class size for Kindergarten through third grade classes to 17 students per classroom (from an existing average of 25). Additionally, the bill would increase funds for maintenance, supplies and operating costs as well as fully funding transportation for students to and from school.

 

However, because of budget cuts in the 2011-2013 biennium, the court found the state has yet to make measurable progress toward fully funding basic education. The court ruling in the McCleary case requires the Legislature to make the implementation and funding for the reforms laid out in ESHB 2261 their top priority. The anticipated cost of the implementation is more than a billion dollars during the approaching biennium, with additional costs being covered in future years

 

No one would argue that making education a priority is a bad thing. However, if more of the limited budget dollars available are earmarked for education, another area will have less to work with. Many are concerned that the decreased funds will hit human services the hardest.

 

The number of people seeking human services spiked during the recession and is slowly receding. The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services Basic Food program saw a 60 percent jump in 2010 to nearly 158,000 people served in Pierce County alone. Without vital funding from the state, many of these services would not be available.

 

United Way of Pierce County includes advocacy in its work to help sustain Pierce County services. United Way’s community champions have identified key human service issues and will work to educate and inform legislative leaders of the impact cuts to services could have.

 

With so many deserving causes, one thing is certain. The legislature will have several tough decisions to make during this 105-day session.

United Way's Younger Focus

At United Way, we understand that investing in our youth is investing in our future. Introducing a culture of service to younger generations facilitates the growth of community fellowship.

United Way administers two programs that are specifically focused on younger community members.

Youth United offers high school students a chance to build valuable experience working with the community through leadership and volunteer hours. One of the most popular programs offered by Youth United is the Varsity Letter in Community Service. Students who complete 145 hours of community service during the year earn a varsity letter for their high school just like those given to athletes. This program has seen tremendous success as more and more colleges require some volunteerism in their applicants. Even if kids are volunteering because they are told to, they receive a rewarding experience, which can translate into life habits and passions. 

 

Erica McDaniel, a 2012 loaned executive, is an excellent example of Youth United’s Varsity Letter in Community Service program. Fresh off high school graduation last June, Erica has community service experience which not only helps the public but also gives her valuable experience to attract colleges and employers.

Project: U is another United Way program that focuses on young professionals in their 20s and 30s.  The annual Get Involved Gala event raises money for the Community Solutions Fund and is an example of the social events put on by the Project: U team. This year’s event is being held at the Tacoma Art Museum, Saturday, November 10^th from 8 pm to 11 pm. It’s all about breeding community and creating opportunity for the sharing of ideas and networking of motivated individuals.

Involving the youth is an important emphasis in creating an upward trend in community involvement. United Way’s focus on young people is really a reflection of the dedication to long-term, sustainable changes for the future. United Way doesn’t just put band aids on problems, we find the source of issues and create solutions that fundamentally alter systems for the better.

TACID

Timm Dowling

United Way of Pierce County was kind of an abstraction to me when I first heard of it. I knew it was a nonprofit that served the community. That is a simple definition for an organization that is better described like a spider web network for nonprofit agencies in the county. About 808,000 people live in Pierce County. Not all of these people have access to the resources needed for a happy, healthy life. There are hundreds of nonprofits in Pierce County. Not all of these agencies have the means to reach those in need, nor the donors who want to give. United Way is the great connector. Of the 117 programs we currently fund, I’d like to highlight one of my accounts, TACID; the Tacoma Area Coalition of Individuals with Disabilities.

TACID’s mission is “promoting the independence of individuals with disabilities”. “Disability” can refer to physical, cognitive, mental or emotional disadvantages. Their loose definition of disability ensures and promotes the open, friendly atmosphere necessary on the road to happiness and independence.

TACID plays a unique role in the community as a consumer-driven organization.  As an organization formed by people with disabilities for people with disabilities, their model of peer support is unmatched in the community. Peer support is an opportunity for people living with disabilities to help each other - sometimes it can be more effective to solve problems when you can talk with someone who can relate to specific experiences.

TACID's Work and Education Center opened in June of 2011.  The Work and Education Center assists people with disabilities in setting and achieving their goals for employment, volunteerism and education. The building is conveniently located at 6315 South 19^th Street, neighboring Tacoma Community College. Anyone can register for TACID programs and classes. You can find everything from a Brain Injury Support Group to the Acupuncture Therapy program.

Not only does TACID provide direct support in the form of classes, but the caring, accepting culture within the building is what really contributes to the healing and creation of happy, independent community members.

Hello readers! I’m Timm Dowling, a loaned executive for the 2012 campaign season, sponsored by Columbia Bank. I’ll be sharing some of my perspectives on issues in the community for the next couple months.

To give you a little bit of my background, I graduated from Washington State University (Go Cougs!) in May with a degree in Communication. After graduation, I felt a certain pressure to find a well-paid corporate job. However, I knew I couldn’t fulfill a profession unless I found motivation outside the pay check. While I was researching online, my mother pointed out United Way of Pierce County’s Loaned Executive ad in the newspaper. I felt it was a perfect fit. About a month later, I was in Tacoma learning all about the accomplishments and objectives of United Way of Pierce County.

One of our mantras is “LIVE UNITED”. A concise, inspirational phrase, but what does it really mean? We’ve all seen stories in the news. We’ve all read about tragedies around the world. We’ve heard about the house down the street that burnt down. So what are we supposed to do about it? How do these events affect me? I saw a video on the internet last April that sparked these questions.

When the Kony 2012 video went viral, and millions were moved to spread the message about Joseph Kony and his child soldiers in Africa, I couldn’t help but wonder if it would make a difference. What can I do to really help those children, to help the unfortunate, the poor and the sick? I concluded that I may never go to Africa and rescue those children, but I could make an effort to rescue those in my local community. And maybe there isn’t anything so drastic in my neighborhood, but I believe if I am involved, observant and available, then I am affecting the world positively. If I smile at my neighbor, I am co-creating a world where humans help each other instead of hurt each other.

When I saw all the sustainable improvements United Way was providing, I was encouraged to a point of awe. Here is an entire organization committed to the very same goal that I am. And it’s working!

How can I make a difference? How can I change the world? Here’s some good news, it’s already happening. To “LIVE UNITED” is to understand that we are not alone. We have each other. Whether we realize it or not, our lives are connected. The smallest action can reverberate into the grandest change.

The United Way is a way of life.

Free Clinics

By: Jill Hilton

Health Care has become a popular topic of conversation at local dinner parties, work, and even at the local bar.  It seems as if everyone has an opinion about our health care system and how it should operate. According to CNN 49.9 Million Americans were uninsured in 2010, we can only assume that this number has gone up. Health Care is an important asset; the problem is that many do not have access to health care or are unsure of the free options available or if there are even options available. Health Care is important to the young and the old, without proper treatment an individual could suffer long term effects. Low income families have a hard time deciding what is more important, food or their health. In order to live food is necessary and without good health a person can’t survive. Janet Runbeck of RotaCare said “people need to eat food but they think health care can wait”. This is the battle that they face daily.

In Washington State there are a couple different options available for low income families. The options vary from low to no cost. There are many free clinics all over Washington State, these clinics help with basic needs such as bandaging up wounds or helping with the common cold. In the city of Tacoma there are 3 different clinics: Neighborhood Clinic, RotaCare, and Trinity Free Clinics.  The Trinity and Neighborhood clinics both focus on basic health needs. RotaCare in Tacoma focuses on chronic diseases such as: hyper tension, cholesterol, and diabetes.  This program helps patients manage and get education about their chronic disease.

RotaCare is a fairly new program that opened its doors to the public in September of 2009.  The program is set up to help low incomes families with chronic diseases, the family or individual can be a part of the program for one year. While in the program volunteer doctors and nurses help to give patients the knowledge and supplies they need to help with their disease. This program is a great tool to our community.  

Knowledge is power and by learning about our free clinics it helps me to know what local resources but also see that there is still so much need in our community.

 

Tacoma City Service Budget Cut

By: Jill Hilton

The graph above is from a handout disturbed by the City of Tacoma

In May, the City of Tacoma projected a budget cut of 60 million dollars for the 2013-2014 budget. This budget cut has the potential to directly affect many different Tacoma Human Service agencies and programs. The 2011-2012 General Fund Budget is broken down into seven different sections: Police, Library, Human Rights and Human Services, Fire Fighters, Community and Economic Development, Public Works and Street Support, and Other Services (administration). Each of these sections makes up a percentage of the total budget. Some of the programs and agencies receive a higher percentage because they demand more support, such as Police and Fire.

The city is looking for ways to cut back the budget and have turned to the people to help.  The city has released a survey for residents of the Tacoma area as well as people who work in the area. This survey has the residents name the priorities of the services from 1 to 10. In addition to the surveys the city also held “Community Input Budget Meetings”, at these meetings residents were encouraged to speak about the different concerns and what service they were most passionate about.

Human Services are part of the budget cut that is coming down the pipe. I had the opportunity to speak with Miriam Barnett, CEO of the YWCA of Pierce County. Miriam explained that this budget cut would affect many in relation to human service. For Miriam at the YWCA, she is fighting to help keep her partners safe, each penny helps to keep the programs running at the YWCA. She also informed me that Tacoma has the highest rate for domestic violence in the state. If funding is cut for these amenities many women and children might have to be turned away from the services. The City relies on human services to help with domestic issues and counseling for these families, without these services Police or Fire would have to step up to the plate and take on these extra challenges. The Human Services section is roughly 3% of the total budget, versus police and fire at 61%. A 15% reduction of human services budget is about $1,762,240 and that represents a 0.7% reduction in fire and police combined.  Miriam explained the city service as a human, police/fire department is the body and the library/arts/parks/human services are the heart and soul of the city.  She said “The body is an empty shell without the heart and soul”.  Our cities heart and soul is at stake. Children are already suffering from budget cuts of the arts in the school system, why cut it down outside of school as well?  

Miriam spoke at two of the community meetings and let her opinion be known. Unfortunately the community meetings are over but there is still the survey that can be completed online. Help get the word out about Human services as well as the arts and libraries. This is all a part of our campaign to LIVE UNITED, each opinion helps!

Here is the link to get involved.  https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/B22HH9M