An Office of Human Resources was established in 1971 in the Executive Department to develop, implement, and manage social services for low-income and disadvantaged residents of Seattle. In 1973 it was replaced by the Department of Human Resources. DHR administered family and youth services programs, senior citizen services, community service activities, the Seattle Veterans Action Center, and the Comprehensive Residential Weatherization Program. Federal, state, and local grants comprised two-thirds of the department's operating budget. Passage of the 1986 Low Income Housing Levy increased the City's funding and policy role in housing issues. In 1991, the agency name was changed to the Department of Human Services. A year later, the Department of Housing and Human Services was created, incorporating the City housing programs and Community Development Block Grant administration from the recently abolished Department of Community Development. DHHS programs included aging services, family and youth services, housing and community services, human services, and the City's education office. In 1999, the Office of Housing was established as an independent agency and DHHS was reorganized as the Human Services Department.
Upward Bound, a college preparatory program for high school students funded by the U.S. Department of Education, has been a City program since 1977. It is aimed at ethnically diverse, low-income students who may become first-generation college graduates. The goal is to ensure equal educational opportunity by generating in students the knowledge, skills, and motivation necessary to complete postsecondary education. In addition to six weeks of summer school, participants have access to many services and activities during the academic school year, such as tutorial support, personal counseling, and mentoring.
The Upward Bound Records include staff meeting minutes and reports, as well as materials documenting project planning, staff training and education, and cooperation with universities. Budget and grant records are useful in documenting the program and its goals. The series also includes a photo album and photographs from the summer schools
Records are open to the public.
[Item and date], Seattle Human Services Department Upward Bound Records, Record Series 3624-01. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.