The Metropolitan King County Council today unanimously approved a motion that calls on the County and human service providers to develop a plan for an accountable and integrated delivery of social safety net services in King County.

“With so many people in need throughout King County, it is critical that we make sure that the human services infrastructure is stable and accessible to everyone,” said Councilmember Julia Patterson, prime sponsor of the motion. “The economy has taken its toll on many communities and it’s time we evaluate the health and human services system as a whole to ensure that support is adequately provided and the system is sufficiently funded.”

The County’s health and human services are supported by federal and state funds and by the citizens of the County through various levies. Because of the different funding streams, service gaps can occur and those in need of services can slip between the cracks.

The vote calls for a plan that specifies the vision and goals of an accountable and integrated health and human services system. The Executive is also required to include options for financing the system in the report.

The motion calls for the panel to describe how such a system would work within the current health and human services framework, strategic investments within the system and how to measure the effectiveness of the system.

Read more about this legislation on the King County Council’s LEGISEARCH system at http://mkcclegisearch.kingcounty.gov and type in “2012-0420”