System Support

Vision

A robust, resilient and trusted health and human services system builds on the strengths and is responsive to current and emerging needs of all residents.

Our Priorities

• to expand the cultural competence in individual organizations and within the King County community overall and to increase agency participation in collaborations to assure that vulnerable populations have access to culturally competent services;
• to complete and regularly update disaster preparedness, response and recovery plans among non-profit human service organizations serving vulnerable populations.

Population

While the target is all residents of King County, we are paying particular attention to ensuring that systems meet the needs of vulnerable populations such as:

• physically and cognitively disabled
• blind and deaf persons
• seniors
• limited English or non-English proficient
• children
• homeless and shelter dependent
• the mentally ill
• impoverished

Cultural Competence

Individual nonprofit health and human service-providing organizations – and the health and human services community overall in King County – will use cultural competency best practices such as

• Adopt a defined set of values and principles, and demonstrate behaviors, attitudes, policies and structures that enable organizations to work effectively cross-culturally;
• Establish the capacity to (1) value diversity, (2) conduct self-assessment, (3) manage the dynamics of difference, (4) acquire and institutionalize cultural knowledge and (5) adapt to diversity and the cultural contexts of the communities which the organizations serve; and
• Incorporate the above in all aspects of policy making/governance, administration, practice, and service delivery and systematically involve consumers, key stakeholders and communities in these four functions.

What are King County human services organizations doing to improve cultural competency?

In 2007, we surveyed 183 organizations about how they were incorporating culturally competent tools and practices.

• 76% indicated that all levels of staff participate in cultural competency trainings
• 87% indicated that cultural competency training is ongoing
• 78.6% of organizations regularly conduct assessments and evaluations of client service data to determine cultural competency needs and update strategies
• 52% reported an active process of developing or implementing a cultural competency strategy/plan
• 83% of these organizations reported that staff is representative of the target population/community

Read more about cultural competency

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Disaster Preparedness

The power outages resulting from a major windstorm in December of 2006 in King County provided a test of our region’s emergency response system. We convened a Task Force on Emergency Preparedness after the windstorm to evaluate the December 2006 wind storm response and identify opportunities for improvement in emergency response planning related to protection of vulnerable populations.

The Task Force concluded that the region is not prepared to deal with the impacts on vulnerable and special populations in a major disaster event. The strength of our community response is dependent on the ability of non-profits to continue to endure and serve in a disaster.

The Task Force found that Limited English Speaking, frail elderly, and medically dependent individuals were particularly hard hit by the windstorm and that many traditional means of communicating emergency information are not effective to reach these groups or other vulnerable groups such as those with hearing or sight impairments.

What are King County human service organizations doing to be prepared?

In 2007, we surveyed 183 organizations about their levels of disaster preparedness planning.

• 36.6% had a current organization-wide tested disaster preparedness response and recovery plan in place.
• 51.4% were in the process of developing or implementing a disaster preparedness plan.
• 50.3% were seeking technical assistance and/or resources related to disaster preparedness.

Read the Report on the December 2006 Windstorm from our Task Force on Emergency Preparedness

Information and Referral

Another key resource for ensuring access to services for all residents is the 211 information and referral system. King County 2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember, free phone connection that connects people needing help-or those wanting to help others-with the appropriate resources. As of Feb. 22, 2006, King County 2-1-1 is available seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. During the initial phase of the launch, the 2-1-1 number will be easily available on land lines but it may take time for wireless companies to include it in their system.

Read more about 211 including data on how it is being used

Best Practices

Go to the index to best and promising practices

Resources

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