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	Feb. 11, 2004 Sims challenges new task force to address regional human services needs in King County King County Executive Ron Sims today announced the formation of a Task Force on Regional Human Services that will examine the current regional health and human services system and provide practical and strategic recommendations for stabilizing, improving and maintaining the regional human services system for the future. “It is critical that our region take steps to ensure the stability of human services in King County,” said Executive Sims. “Regional human services is a shared responsibility – among state, county, local governments and the private sector. We are committed to working with all our partners to find long-term solutions to ensure the future of health and human services for our vulnerable and at-risk communities.” The Task Force on Regional Human Services was created at the request of the King County Alliance for Human Services and is modeled after the Executive’s successful Metropolitan Parks Task Force and the more recent Budget Advisory Task Force that provided recommendations to King County regarding the fiscal challenges faced by the county. The Task Force on Regional Human Services will hold its first meeting on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2004 at the King County International Airport, 7300 Perimeter Road South. Sims has named Bruce Brooks, Executive Vice President, Corporate and Community Affairs, Federal Home Loan Bank and Toshi Moriguchi, Treasurer, Uwajimaya, Inc. as the task force co-chairs. ”I am very pleased and grateful to Bruce Brooks and Toshi Moriguchi for agreeing to serve as co-chairs of this task force, and to each of the member of the task force for sharing their time and expertise” said Sims. “Bruce and Toshi bring extraordinary strengths and years of community involvement and leadership to this body which will be needed to meet the aggressive timeline set for the next six months.” The task force will build upon the work completed in recent years to define and discuss priorities for scarce human service resources, including the adopted King County Framework Policies for Human Services (September 1999) and the more recent work of the King County Regional Policy Committee to explore basic service levels and gaps in services. In the coming months, the task force will explore and define the service gap in more detail, examine the current distribution of regional human services throughout the county, identify financing options and administrative mechanisms and structures for managing the regional human service system. Their report will be submitted to Executive Sims in August 2004. As in previous task forces Sims has convened – the Metropolitan Parks Task Force, the Budget Advisory Task Force and the new Health Care Advisory Task Force – the Task Force on Regional Human Services brings together a diverse mix of individuals from throughout King County to tackle the key issues. Serving on the task force are representatives from business, social services, medicine, foundations, housing, city government and faith communities. Related information: Task Force on Regional Human Services Web site Updated: Feb. 11, 2004 Executive's home Executive's news Executive's site map | E-mail the Executive King County | Executive | News | Services | Comments | Search Links to external sites do not constitute endorsements by King County. By visiting this and other King County web pages, you expressly agree to be bound by terms and conditions of the site. The details.