Post Session Update

For an update of what's happened since the design session on June 25-26, 2003 click here.

Synthesis and Summary

Started in 1999, Making Connections is a ten-year investment by the Annie E. Casey Foundation to improve the outcomes for families and children in tough or isolated neighborhoods. The Casey Foundation's research has shown that children do better when their families are strong, and families do better when they live in communities that help them to succeed.

One of these communities is the White Center / Boulevard Park areas of Seattle.

To support and further the Foundation's initiative in White Center / Boulevard Park, a diverse team of community members, agency staff members, and Casey Foundation staff gathered on June 25 and 26, 2003 at Evergreen High School in White Center to design an Integrated Services System in a Collaborative Workshop facilitated by InnovationLabs.

This web site is the documentation of their work.

To the left, the navigation buttons follow the chronological sequence of the two days of activities.

Event Description

The workshop began with a Walk About, during which the participants responded to specific questions about the community and its needs. Following an Introduction to the two-day process, the participants learned about four significant capital development initiatives that are under way in a Trade Show:

The participants then defined their Visions for 2008, explored the needs and desires of agency clients, and applied those visions to the four development projects.

Enlargement or Interactive Map

The second day began with a Conversation about the work that had been done on the previous day, and was followed by a day's work on Making It Real. Among the topics addressed were:

A tremendous amount of valuable work was accomplished on these two days.

A sample of dialog and comments from Participants During the Workshop:

“As a model for coordinating the voice of the people, we looked to the evolution of the coalition for the community school. This started with a coalition of all agencies and people who had an interest in schools with an advisory council to represent the community voice. This is a model that could work in a similar way for the integrated services facility. They would meet periodically to discuss their interests, and their representatives would sit on the overall governance board for planning.”

“We envision two distinct zones on the first floor of the Multi-Service Center: (1) a perimeter zone on three sides of the building with loading dock on the fourth side; this zone will house public and commercial applications with external access. (2) an internal zone will be more directed towards social service areas. Bottom floor at 37,000 sq ft. breaks out into four nice areas. DSHS will bring its regional mail unit and maintenance shop to the first floor. Possible services include a library branch, coffee shop, Internet café, bookstore, financial services, bill paying service, staffing service, child care, family resource center, refugee federation, community college classrooms. If this facility rests in the middle of the community, we want to make it useful to individuals who are not receiving social services.”

“We will implement cross training and cross cultural training for providers. There will be an advocacy body that leads to systems change. There will be action plans for integrated, holistic services and a team approach to case management. We will educate families about the integrated services system, help them develop trust in the system, and engage communities in a design role.”

“I am here because I have children and I have to be accountable. I care about everything that has happened in the last two days and it is critical to the success that will follow. We know what we have to do.”

Our thanks to everyone who participated in the workshop! We look forward to working with members throughout the community to continue our progress!