An inability to fill critical positions at Washington's community health centers could make accessing health care increasingly difficult for many of the state's most vulnerable residents.
The news comes from the results of the first Community Health Center Work Force Survey.
The project was a joint venture of the Washington Association of Community and Migrant Health Centers and the Health Work Force Institute, a program affiliated with the Washington State Hospital Association.
"With one in 10 Washington residents receiving care at a community health center, it is vital that the clinics themselves are healthy," said Jaime Garcia, executive director of the Health Work Force Institute.
 The 2006-2007 survey results show that community health centers are facing increasing skilled labor shortages across a variety of health care positions. At the same time, the demand for health center services continues to grow as the number of people who are underserved in Washington increases. A few major findings of the survey include:
The staff nurse vacancy rate for CHCs has increased about 40 percent between 2004 and 2007.
In comparison to hospitals, CHCs face a tougher recruiting environment for primary care practitioners, with vacancy rates generally higher than those found in hospitals. ...

While many industries are laying off employees or cutting back expansion, the Washington State Patrol is becoming increasingly desperate to attract new employees.
With a combination of targeted media advertising and decentralized testing, the agency is looking to replenish and diversify its ranks. ...

The summer is going to be jam-packed with fun activities for the children and adults involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound programs.
The group has more than a dozen events planned in the King County area for their "Bigs" (volunteer adult mentors) and "Littles" (mentored children) over the next three months. ...

Thirty students and their parents from St. Joseph Catholic Church in Seattle will join forces with King County Elections this August to serve as poll workers to raise money for Hurricane Katrina relief.
The group is one of several already signed up for the recently launched Partnership in Democracy program that partners local businesses, non-profit organizations, and college and high school students in delivering democracy to voters at the polls on Tuesday, Aug. 19.
 Organizers say the program goes beyond simply recruiting individuals. Rather, it targets groups with an interest in promoting team building, civic pride and an opportunity to fundraise or earn community service hours. ...

Seattle Parks and Recreation and partners are sponsoring 11 glorious evenings of free outdoor dancing during July and August in Freeway and Westlake parks.
 Each evening will feature one hour of instruction from 6 to 7 p.m., and two hours of dancing, from 7 to 9 p.m. on a spacious portable dance floor.
"Dancing Till Dusk" in Freeway Park made its debut last summer, and this year's program is expanded to seven Thursdays, from July 17 to Aug. 28. ...

What's happening for you in Seattle this week? Read here a day-by-day diary of free community events to fill your spare time. For a full calendar please click on "Read the complete article" below.

What's happening for you in Portland this week? Read here a day-by-day diary of free community events to fill your spare time. For a full calendar please click on "Read the complete article" below.

Forty years after its debut on Portland's airwaves, KBOO Community radio has announced it is requiring all its programmers to re-apply for their shows.
Further, station management and volunteer leadership say significant changes are in the wings for the funky nonprofit station's schedule.
While the station's most recent Membership Drive made its modest goal last spring, it fell about $30,000 short in the 2007 spring and fall drives – a major shift from past years. ...

The Oregon League of Minority Voters is launching a campaign to combat some of the root causes of poverty. Undertaking a task that took the full weight and power of the federal government in 1964, Promise King, executive director of the OLMV, said he's going to take the fight to all the "corridors of power."
The basic tenets of the program plan to attack the root forces of poverty from two areas – provide workforce training and addressing disparities in health care.
"The systems today are not inherently strong enough to solve the poverty issues we have today," King told The Skanner. "It's diminishing people's hope to rise above their conditions."...

On Aug. 7, 2008, Sisters of the Road will hold a truth commission on the effects of the Sit-Lie Law on Portland's homeless community.  It will be held at Sisters at 133 NW 6th Ave at 5:30 p.m.
According to data submitted to the City by the Portland Police Bureau, the Sit-Lie Law has been enforced almost exclusively against homeless people.
"Enforcement of the Sit-Lie Law is not only inhumane and immoral, it's unconstitutional; the constitution says laws cannot be enforced against any one class of people ...