Drafter
Clerk 05/12/2021
Title
A RESOLUTION recognizing June 4 as Regional Community Safety and Wellbeing Day in King County, as part of national Gun Violence Awareness Day.
Body
WHEREAS, on September 21, 2017, the King County Board of Health adopted Resolution 17-09 calling on lawmakers to take meaningful action to address firearm tragedy, and
WHEREAS, on June 18, 2020, the King County Board of Health adopted Resolution 20-08 declaring racism a public health crisis and committing to work to advance a public-health approach in addressing institutional and systemic racism, and
WHEREAS, Resolution 20-08 committed to being responsive to communities and residents impacted by racism, especially Black and Indigenous communities, and
WHEREAS, like COVID-19, youth and young adult gun violence is a fatal epidemic, and
WHEREAS, gun violence in our neighborhoods, cities and county impacts public health and public safety and deserves to be addressed through a robust public-health approach that enlists multisector supports, broad investments and lasting commitment; and
WHEREAS, according to the 2019 Public Health Report on Gun Violence Among Youth and Young Adults, firearms are the leading cause of suicide and homicide deaths among youth and young adults in King County, and
WHEREAS, through the end of September 2020, King County had already seen more homicides than in all 12 months of 2019; and
WHEREAS, according to King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office data, 74 percent of the 256 shooting victims in the first three quarters of 2020 were people of color and 46 percent were under 25, and
WHEREAS, Public Health - Seattle & King County ("PHSKC") is working to develop and implement local strategies to reduce firearm-related homicide and violence, and ensure all young people are healthy, hopeful, safe and thriving, and
WHEREAS, PHSKC's Zero Youth Detention team ("ZYD") is implementing that work by taking a regional approach to community safety and wellbeing, aligning services and coordinating efforts to support and provide resources for communities impacted most by violence and racial disparities in King County, and
WHEREAS, in collaboration with over twenty city and county departments and partners, ZYD is working to develop and implement a cocreated Community Safety and Well-Being Plan, and
WHEREAS, in addition to long-term needs, ZYD is addressing the immediate need for a responsive "Go First" strategy to address the current increased gun violence, and
WHEREAS, community organizations are leading this work to provide violence interruption through intervention, prevention and restoration under the name King County Peace Keepers Collective, which includes Community Passageways, Black Women’s Coalition, Choose 180, Freedom Project, Alive & Free, Renegades for Life and Progress Pushers, and
WHEREAS, June 4 is National Gun Violence Awareness Day, and here in King County, ZYD and community partners are using that day to launch their "go first" strategy, a rigorous intervention for those directly involved in gun violence, secondary prevention for younger siblings and follow-up care and support for family restoration and healing;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Health of King County:
A. The Board declares June 4 as Regional Community Safety and Wellbeing Day in King County, as part of national Gun Violence Awareness Day.
B. The Board supports Public Health - Seattle & King County's Zero Youth Detention team's work to create a Community Safety and Well-being Plan and will consider joining the Regional Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan Leadership Advisory Group.
C. The Board members commit to raise awareness and share information about the Regional Community Safety and Wellbeing Day in King County and the public-
health approach to prevent and reduce youth gun violence and create conditions that allow young people to be healthy, hopeful, safe and thriving.