Washington Initiative for Boys and Men
Advocating for improved outcomes for boys, men, and communities
Posts about issues that apply to Washington state as a whole or issues that are within Washington but outside the Seattle area:
This is a guest-written piece by William Singer, Ph.D., a Bellevue-based counselor and guardian ad litem who has been court-appointed to help families through conflict for nearly fifty years.
In his recently-published book Notes on Being a Man, Professor Scott Galloway says: “The data around boys and young men is overwhelming. Seldom in recent memory has there been a cohort that’s fallen further, faster.” (p. 2) People fall where they’re unsupported. Society’s relative lack of generosity toward boys and men might be a factor contributing to their fall.
The director of the Seattle Theatre Group speaks about rituals with his kids, brotherly love, how drums helped control his epilepsy, and how his dad exemplified the Jewish concept of tikkun olam.
A team of people created a draft of a screening tool designed to surface issues that dads in Washington are facing that otherwise might go unsurfaced. This questionnaire, to be administered for example at a doctor appointment, is designed for men to be able to receive helpful feedback and guidance toward resources.
Representative April Berg’s House Bill 2401 failed to pass the House of Representatives by the February 17 cutoff. The bill passed the State Government & Tribal Relations Committee by a 5 to 2 vote on January 30, and it passed the Appropriations Committee 22 to 8 on February 9. But it didn’t make it to the House floor for a vote in time.
After making a few changes yesterday to House Bill 2401, the House Appropriations Committee passed the bill by a 22 to 8 vote, bringing a Washington Boys & Men Commission a step closer to reality. Watch the 9-minute video.
The legislation to create a Washington Boys & Men Commission passed the House Committee on State Government and Tribal Relations by a 5 to 2 vote on Friday, January 30. Watch the 2-minute video.