The volunteer organization of Sisters In Common (S.I.C. Inc.) was developed in response to a void in culturally competent intervention services for adolescent females of color, in the Juvenile Justice System. Initially it evolved as a volunteer group of professionally connected women who worked with young women of color. These young people had numerous critical issues, which were not being addressed in “traditional treatment” social service agencies.

These young women were seen as failures for not being successful in meeting court ordered requirements, such as in-patient treatment for substance abuse. The disproportionate rate of failure to complete treatment and other court ordered requirements (such as: anger management, conflict resolution, life skills and basic individual counseling) exposed a need to review and examine why they were not completing classes successfully. In a non-scientific survey of 100 individuals, and overwhelming number of the young women stated the classes/groups/treatment was not meaningful or helping them.

A special report prepared by the Seattle-King County Department of Public Health, cites the highest rate of interpersonal violence, homicide and poverty exist among youth of color in this area. Females were reported as disproportionately affected by interpersonal violence, in that partner or family members killed 49% of female homicide victims.

Alcohol was associated with 43% of homicide and illicit drugs were found in 21% of the victims through blood test.

• Founding and Early Years (1991 – 1995)
  • In 1991, S.I.C. was organized to develop a culturally competent curriculum aimed at addressing destructive thinking, behavior, and lifestyles among young women involved in the Juvenile Justice System.
  • The initial team included Juvenile Probation Counselors, a Supervisor, a Social Service Worker from the City of Seattle, and a Teacher from Seattle Public Schools.
  • That same year, S.I.C. conducted weekly informational-support groups at the Atlantic Street Center, which provided space and support for these efforts.
  • In 1992, the City of Seattle Department of Housing and Human Services applied for a Federal Health & Human Services Adolescent Female Gang Prevention/Intervention Grant, incorporating S.I.C.’s curriculum and activities.
  • S.I.C. received funding through this grant and conducted weekly groups until the grant’s completion in September 1995, while also assisting in developing evaluation instruments to measure program effectiveness.
• Establishment as a Non-Profit and Program Expansion (1993 – 2000)
  • On May 17, 1993, S.I.C. became a non-profit organization and applied for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.
  • King County Department of Youth Services and the City of Seattle encouraged S.I.C. to become a social service agency due to its effectiveness in working with young women of color.
  • Between 1995 and 2000, S.I.C. collaborated with the City of Seattle and the Department of Housing and Human Services to secure a grant through the OJJDP as part of the five-year Seattle SafeFutures consortium aimed at reducing juvenile delinquency.
  • The S.I.C. “Save Our Sisters” Project provided intervention services, including outreach, needs assessment, advocacy, referral, follow-ups, and structured informational groups for adolescent girls referred by the Juvenile Justice System.
• Service Contracts and Growth (2001 – 2014)
  • From 2001 to September 2014, S.I.C. contracted with the State of Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), Division of Children and Family Services, to provide therapeutic and parenting services for children and families.
  • In 2007, S.I.C. contracted with King County Superior Court to provide intensive counseling for juveniles on probation.
  • From 2009 to October 29, 2014, S.I.C. partnered with Atlantic Street Center to provide counseling services for children and families.
  • In 2011, S.I.C. was licensed by DSHS/DBHR to provide community mental health services.
  • In 2013, S.I.C. was approved as a licensed Behavioral Health Agency, certified to provide brief intervention treatment, individual treatment, and case management.
• Expanding Behavioral Health and Community Services (2014 – 2019)
  • From November 30, 2014, to December 31, 2018, S.I.C. was a member of the NAVOS Sub-Contractor Consortium.
  • On May 1, 2018, S.I.C. received an award from King County Best Starts for Kids to provide Family, Friends, and Neighbors (FFN) Child Care Health Consultation services for African American, Eritrean, Ethiopian-Oromo, and Somali FFN child care providers.
  • On July 1, 2018, S.I.C. was licensed by the Department of Health to provide behavioral health services, including counseling and case management.
  • On July 3, 2018, S.I.C. entered into a Project-Specific Agreement (PSA) with King County Accountable Community of Health LLC to help achieve Medicaid Transformation Project milestones.
  • Beginning in August 2018, S.I.C. became an authorized provider in the State of Washington to offer managed health care services (Behavioral Health) to Covered Persons.
  • On September 1, 2018, S.I.C. received another award from King County Best Starts for Kids to provide Kaleidoscope Play & Learn groups for parents and caregivers to support young children’s healthy growth and development while also fostering social networks.
  • On January 2, 2019, S.I.C. completed the Healthier Washington’s Practice Transformation Support Hub program.
  • In August 2019, S.I.C. joined King County HealthierHere’s pool of Community Practice Partners.
  • In November 2019, S.I.C. became qualified to provide Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) Infant Mental Health services.
• Medicaid Transformation Project Initiatives (2019 – 2024)
  • 2019
    • Medicaid Transformation Project – System Transformation Work – Tier 1 Partners
      • Purpose: Supported healthcare system transformation, organizational equity, and Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) services.
      • Client Impact: Indirect support through system improvement efforts.
  • 2020
    • Medicaid Transformation Project – Community Navigator Workforce Support
      • Purpose: Assisted individuals in enrolling in public benefits, healthcare, housing, food, and financial aid.
      • Client Impact: Targeted jobless and uninsured individuals during COVID-19.
    • Medicaid Transformation Project – Resiliency Fund – Cohort 1
      • Purpose: Emergency healthcare, food, housing stability, and behavioral health support.
      • Client Impact: Aimed at COVID-19-affected African Americans, Eritrean, Somali, and Ethiopian-Oromo Speaking communities.
    • Medicaid Transformation Project – System Transformation Work – Tier 1 Partners
      • Purpose: Organizational equity training, physical/behavioral health screenings, community-clinical partnership work.
      • Client Impact: System-wide improvements affecting African Americans, Eritrean, Somali, and Ethiopian-Oromo Speaking clients.
  • 2021
    • Medicaid Transformation Project – Community COVID-19 Vaccination
      • Purpose: Supported African Americans, Eritrean, Somali, and Ethiopian-Oromo Speaking equitable vaccine distribution and community-clinical partnerships.
      • Client Impact: Ensure underserved equitable access to vaccines.
    • Medicaid Transformation Project – Access and Engagement Fund
      • Purpose: Employed community-based staff to help BIPOC communities reconnect with healthcare after COVID-19.
      • Client Impact: Focused on pandemic African Americans, Eritrean, Somali, and Ethiopian-Oromo Speaking disengaged populations.
    • Medicaid Transformation Project – System Transformation Work & Peer Learning
      • Purpose: Organizational transformation, staff training, and health equity advancement.
      • Client Impact: Improved African Americans, Eritrean, Somali, and Ethiopian-Oromo Speaking client Health Related Social Needs services through staff training.
    • Uninsured & Underinsured Care Expansion Grant (2021-2024)
      • Funding Source: Washington State Department of Health (DOH) & Health Care Authority (HCA)
      • Period: July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2024
      • Purpose: Expanded healthcare access for uninsured and underinsured individuals (under 200% of the Federal Poverty Level), regardless of immigration status.
      • Scope of Work:
        • Provided primary & preventive care, behavioral health, specialty care, dental, and chronic disease management.
        • Eliminated financial barriers by covering copays, prescriptions, and treatment costs.
        • Conducted multilingual outreach & health navigation for underserved populations.
        • Focused on BIPOC, immigrant, refugee, and rural communities.
      • Client Impact:
        • Improved healthcare access for uninsured individuals.
        • Reduced financial barriers to care.
        • Strengthened healthcare equity through culturally responsive services.
      • Sisters In Common played a key role in ensuring equitable access to essential healthcare services, addressing systemic disparities, and enhancing health outcomes across vulnerable communities.
  • 2022
    • Medicaid Transformation Project – Community Innovation Fund
      • Purpose: Developed innovative healthcare solutions addressing SDoH disparities.
      • Client Impact: Targeted African Americans, Eritrean, Somali, and Ethiopian-Oromo Speaking community-based health improvements.
    • Medicaid Transformation Project – Tier 1 Community Partners
      • Purpose: Healthcare Transformation System Infrastructure support, SDoH services, and traditional medicine distribution.
      • Client Impact: Supported direct healthcare access initiatives.
  • 2023
    • Medicaid Transformation Project – Community Innovations: Scale and Sustain
      • Purpose: Expanded previous community-based healthcare innovations.
      • Client Impact: Targeted African Americans, Eritrean, Somali, and Ethiopian-Oromo Speaking community-based health improvements.
    • Medicaid Transformation Project – Workforce Investments
      • Purpose: Addressed healthcare workforce shortages, diversity, and retention efforts.
      • Client Impact: African Americans, Eritrean, Somali, and Ethiopian-Oromo Speaking patient access to healthcare provider services.
• (2024 – 2026) Sustained Community Impact and Systems IntegrationBuilding on over three decades of culturally rooted service delivery, Sisters In Common (S.I.C.) entered 2024 and 2025 with a focus on sustaining, scaling, and integrating its workforce development, Social Determinants of Health (SDoH), and behavioral health equity initiatives. This period reflects a significant evolution from community-based innovation projects into embedded, systems-level service delivery across King County.During this time, S.I.C. expanded its culturally competent-effective (CCE) model within permanent supportive housing environments, community-based settings, and trusted cultural spaces. Through strategic partnerships and direct service delivery, the organization strengthened its role as a critical bridge between underserved African heritage communities and complex health and social service systems.

   

  A major area of growth included the expansion of S.I.C.’s Community Health Worker (CHW) and peer support workforce. These culturally aligned professionals provided intensive, relationship-based support, including behavioral health engagement, care coordination, and navigation of public systems. This approach ensured that services remained accessible, relevant, and grounded in the lived experiences of the communities served.

  S.I.C. also deepened its behavioral health services through trauma-informed, culturally responsive care that prioritized individualized engagement. Rather than relying on traditional group-based models, services focused on one-on-one interactions addressing immediate and long-term needs, including crisis stabilization, treatment navigation, and recovery support.

  Through its partnership with Solid Ground, S.I.C. expanded its presence within permanent supportive housing, providing peer support and behavioral health navigation services to residents experiencing the intersecting challenges of homelessness, poverty, and mental health conditions. This work included coordination with housing providers, case managers, and behavioral health systems to support housing stability and overall well-being.

  In addition, S.I.C. continued to address critical SDoH needs by supporting individuals and families with access to public benefits, healthcare services, and essential resources. This included intensive navigation of systems such as DSHS, healthcare providers, and other public agencies, helping to reduce barriers and improve access to care.

  S.I.C.’s community-based outreach model remained central to its work. Through its “We Help Each Other” approach, the organization prioritized direct engagement in homes, community gathering spaces, and places of worship. This model reinforced trust and ensured continued connection with individuals and families who have historically been underserved or disconnected from traditional systems of care.

  Targeted initiatives during this period also included culturally responsive services for Black/African American veterans and their families, providing outreach, engagement, and behavioral health support within housing and community settings. These efforts further demonstrated S.I.C.’s ability to adapt its model to meet the specific needs of distinct populations.

  Across 2024 and 2025, S.I.C. strengthened partnerships with housing providers, healthcare organizations, and public systems, positioning the organization as a key partner in advancing integrated, equity-focused care. Our work reflects a continued commitment to long-term transformation, addressing both immediate needs and the systemic inequities impacting the communities we serve and of which we ourselves belong.

Barbara Jean Madison-Butler, January 18, 1948 – April 22, 2003
Founding Member Sisters In Common and

Joann Scott, April 25,1947 – January 15, 2018
Founding Member Sisters In Common