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Human Services Department Considers Changes To Domestic Violence Program

The new director of the Human Services Department in Seattle has suggested several large changes that would affect the city’s already-successful domestic violence program. While some believe that these changes will streamline the department and help with collaboration, others believe that the changes are not needed and could give domestic violence less attention than needed.

The new director, Dannette Smith, was put into place to save money in the department and “make taxpayer dollars go farther.” Smith formally ran a human services department on the country level in a different state. Her idea for Seattle’s department is to eliminate the position of director of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention and place the entire division within another more general division of social services.

Many government officials worry that these large changes will take emphasis away from the domestic violence program. Smith says that the reorganization is a good way to save money and help the budget without actually cutting any domestic violence services.

Smith has been asked by the Seattle City Council to explain her reasons for reorganization and how the changes will not affect a program that is one of the best in the nation, according to social services advocates. She will also discuss how she believes this reorganization will result in a more holistic approach that will aid collaboration while also saving the city money.

King County fields more than 32,000 calls related domestic violence, spousal abuse, and protection orders each year.

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