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Consider Outreach Efforts to Provide Immigrant and Refugee Support Services and Programs with Nominal or Minimal Expenditures. (Mayor Spencer and Vice Mayor Vella)
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COUNCILMEMBER
REFERRAL FORM
Name of Councilmember requesting referral: Mayor Trish Spencer & Vice Mayor Malia Vella
Date of submission to City Clerk (must be submitted 10 working days prior to meeting): Jan. 25, 2017
Meeting date: Feb. 7, 2017
Brief description of the subject to be printed on the agenda, sufficient to inform the Council and public of the nature of the referral:
1. While the Mayor was at the recent U.S. Mayors Conference, Seattle's Mayor shared that they are implementing programs to support and assist immigrant and refugee families. Vice Mayor Malia Vella was also recently in Seattle and had the opportunity to learn of their work.
Four elements of Seattle's plan include:
A. The Family Unity Project: This effort will consist of community education forums conducted in Seattle Public Schools and other venues, where community partners with legal expertise and experience working with immigrant students will offer information on the importance of power of attorney and resources for those in danger of or already in detention. As part of this program, trainings and technical assistance will be provided to Seattle Public Schools teachers, counselors and administrators, and attorneys from the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project will respond to calls from students and parents in danger of being detained.
B. Counseling and Peer Support: Using successful counseling and peer support models, middle and high school youth from immigrant and refugee families, including DACA youth and Muslim students, will have access to a support group facilitated by a counselor from a community-based organization trained on the challenges faced by immigrant communities.
C. January 20 (Inauguration Day) Seattle United for Immigrant and Refugee Families: This event at McCaw Hall will offer an array...
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