Executive Zahilay Announces $900,000 Investment to Strengthen Health and Wellbeing for Immigrant and Refugee Communities in South King County 

Community partners arm in arm at a celebration.

Executive Girmay Zahilay announced that King County is investing $900,000 as part of a new public-private partnership to support the health and wellbeing of immigrant and refugee communities impacted by federal immigration enforcement activities in South King County. Two Best Starts for Kids initiatives based in Public Health – Seattle & King County will be leading the partnership at the county: Communities of Opportunity (COO) and the Community Well-Being Initiative (CWI). They are partnering with the Renton Regional Community Foundation (RRCF) and  Sheng-Yen Lu Foundation to invest in immigrant and refugee communities in south King County.

Read More

New “public charge” rule threatens the health of our communities

Statue of Liberty with a gray sky

Update 2-3-20: The federal Department of Homeland Security says it will begin applying the new rule starting 2-24-20 A new immigration rule that Public Health–Seattle & King County (PHSKC) Director Patty Hayes calls “inhumane” will be going into effect soon, because of a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court. The rule would penalize some immigrants […]

Read More

Protecting immigrant families is a public health priority — read King County’s official comment letter

The chilling effects are already harming people in King County. A federal proposal to re-define who is eligible to immigrate to the United States is impacting health and nutrition for thousands of families. In response, King County is filing comments with the federal government. The comment letter quoted below is signed by King County Executive Dow […]

Read More

Why Public Health sees a community threat in proposal about immigration

Public Health Director Patty Hayes with other community leaders at a news conference held at International Community Health Services in Seattle on Sept. 25, 2018

The new proposal to amend the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s “public charge” test is a threat to the public’s health. “This is inhumane, and it would undermine efforts to improve the overall health of King County—and impact generations to come,” said Patty Hayes, director of Public Health—Seattle & King County, in a news release […]

Read More

Public Health encourages immigrant clients to access services without fear

(información en español) All people should feel safe when they get health services. Unfortunately, recent federal immigration proposals have made people in immigrant communities feel more fear and stress. Some families feel they must choose between two risks. Should they avoid a clinic and possibly risk their health? Or should they risk an encounter with […]

Read More