Nominate team members for 2019 Performance Excellence Awards 

Nominations are now being accepted for the Executive’s second-annual Performance Excellence Awards. The recognition program – the first of its kind at the County – honors employees and workgroups for their exceptional contributions in performance, leadership, and innovation.  

Anyone in the Executive Branch can nominate a team or individual for a Performance Excellence Award until Jan. 10. You’ll find information about the awards here, including nomination categories, criteria, and forms. Read more.

King County Wins I-976 Preliminary Injunction 

Crossposted from Metro Matters 

Over the past few weeks, King County joined with other plaintiffs to challenge Initiative 976, which reduces car tab fees and cuts transportation and transit projects across the state. The county’s lawsuit sought an injunction to halt the immediate and irreparable harms of an initiative that violates the state constitution. Read more. 

Five questions with Jesse Kent, Project/Program Manager III, Department of Local Services  

When did you start in your role with King County, and what is your official title? 

I started at King County in March 2019. I am the Manager for the Service Partnership Program within the Department of Local Services (DLS). The department works to ensure the local service needs of unincorporated communities are met. We have created service partnerships with other King County departments to help determine needs, better coordinate services, and monitor service delivery in the unincorporated areas. These partnerships help to define the relationship, services and processes in unincorporated King County between Local Services and other County agencies. Read more. 

2020 Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, Jan. 16   

Community members and King County employees are invited to join in  honoring our nation’s foremost human rights leader and King County’s namesake, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The theme for the 2020 Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration is “Yes, we are on the move and no wave of racism can stop us. We are on the move now.” They keynote address will be given by john a. powell, Director, Othering & Belonging Institute, University of California, Berkeley. The program also includes music and spoken word.  

Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020,  noon to 1 p.m., Town Hall Seattle, 1119 8th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101  

For more information contact Matías Valenzuela, Director, Office of Equity and Social Justice. 

Are you ready for winter weather? 

Crossposted from King County Emergency News 

Pacific Northwest winters can bring rain, wind and power outages, cold and icy roads, and sometimes, snow flurries or epic snowstorms. Are you ready for whatever Mother Nature has in store? 

Winter weather preparedness includes three simple steps: 

Build a kit. Create an emergency preparedness kit with at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food and water for your home, office and car. Read more. 

Martin Luther King, Jr. calendars arriving at worksites 

The 2020 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. calendars will start arriving at King County distribution points this week through the end of the year. 

Please contact your team’s administrative professionals for information on how you can get one at your worksite. Any additional questions can be asked of Tynishia Walker at 206-263-0534 or TWalker@kingcounty.gov. 

How we use data to combat racial disparities in homeless housing 

Crossposted from Cultivating Connections 

Over the past year, the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) has partnered with C4 Innovations to analyze the racial equity impact of homeless housing prioritization tools used across the country. C4’s report, published in October 2019, found that one of the most commonly used tools – the Vulnerability Index – Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool or VI-SPDAT – results in higher average vulnerability scores for white people compared to people of color. Their conclusions reinforce DCHS evaluators’ ongoing efforts to understand and improve coordinated entry prioritization. Read more. 

Making diversion programs more culturally responsive 

Crossposted from Zero Youth Detention 

Community Accountability Boards (“CABs”) have served as a diversion program – or alternative to the formal court process – for first-time juvenile misdemeanor cases in King County since 1959. CABs are made up of trained community volunteers who hear juvenile cases and devise a tailored plan of accountability for each young person. Read more.  

Pet of the Week: Pepper 

Crossposted from Tails from RASKC 

Put some spice into your life – adopt Pepper, our Pet of the Week! 

This six-year-old female shorthair cat has a “Bashful Blue” personality, meaning she is a gentle and loving cat who likes to take things slow. Pepper may get nervous in new situations, so she is looking for a family who understands that she might need some time to warm up. Once this girl comes out of her shell, she is such a sweetheart! Read more.