Drafter
Clerk 04/06/2006
Title
AN ORDINANCE providing direction regarding the expenditure of proceeds from the regional human services levy for veterans and others in need, requiring a service improvement plan for the use of these proceeds, clarifying the roles of and process for appointing the members of the citizens' oversight boards, requiring a report with recommendations regarding the updating of policies, priorities and contracts for human services currently funded with county discretionary funds and requesting the regional policy committee to direct development of a regional human services plan to update previously agreed-upon regional human services definitions and priorities.
Body
PREAMBLE:
While local government plays an important role in addressing the human service needs of residents, it does so as one partner among many. Federal and state programs, volunteers, civic organizations, nonprofit service providers, faith communities, businesses, schools and other organizations all lend financial and other forms of assistance to residents in need in order to help foster healthier and safer communities. Human services are not the responsibility of any one local government entity. Over the years, jurisdictions in King County have built a locally-funded system of human services in partnership with communities and other funding sources to strengthen individuals and families and to improve the viability and livability of communities. Over the past four years, city and county officials throughout King County have researched human service needs, spending priorities and funding opportunities in extensive and cooperative study.
National research and local experience have shown that consumers of mental health, chemical abuse and dependency services benefit most from cost-effective programs intended to promote recovery. Concurrently, this research shows that society benefits most when human service consumers succeed in their recovery, since they require...
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