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Residents and workers of King County awarded Executive Award for Community Resilience
The 10th annual King County Executive Award for Community Resilience was presented today to all the residents and workers of King County for their dedication to the community. As King County deals with the twin pandemics of COVID-19 and racial injustice, residents and workers have stepped up to show what true resilience really looks like. From first responders, to healthcare workers, to teachers and daycare workers, to all the King County government employees, individuals have made tremendous sacrifice to keep others safe.
Past recipients have included the Somali Health Board, King County Search and Rescue, and the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe.
King County Metro proposed budget maintains region’s network, looks ahead to future growth
King County Executive Dow Constantine transmitted Metro’s proposed two-year budget to the King County Council on Sept. 22, starting the formal process for funding the operations of the region’s largest public transportation network.
The budget outlines our ongoing commitment to providing reliable bus, water taxi, Access paratransit, and vanpool service – especially to serve riders where needs are greatest.
It shows how Metro plans to continue to respond and adapt to the continued challenges of reduced revenue projections and lower ridership as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more.
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Be cautious: Local and nationwide phishing campaigns on the rise
Sophisticated cybercriminals are using phishing emails to break into computer networks and systems, and these attacks are on the rise both locally and nationally. It is up to all of us to be vigilant when using County email and internet resources.
Never click a link in an email if you have any doubts about its origins. Scammers are experts at tempting people into clicking on fake emails, and have become very sophisticated with their cyber attacks. Read more.
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Supporting others in crisis
“I’ll never forget the day the phone rang. I felt powerless, I felt stuck. I wanted to help but I didn’t know how, who to call, or what to do. I wanted to solve the problem, but I didn’t know the first place to start.”
Being on the receiving end of a phone call or text when someone is experiencing a mental health crisis is difficult. When a loved one is struggling, you want to do everything you can to help them. And sometimes, you don’t know what that is. As a family member or friend, it can be hard to know what to do, how to act, or what to say when someone is in crisis.
As Suicide Prevention Awareness Month comes to a close, Balanced You recognizes that awareness and prevention are ongoing. Visit this Balanced You blogpost for supportive resources and strategies to consider.
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COVID-19 child care support
Do you need help with child care costs? You may qualify for financial assistance to pay for child care if you live or work in King County, fall within income guidelines and your income, work schedule, or access to child care has been negatively impacted by COVID-19 or you are an essential worker.
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Must be under 400% FPL
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Must live or work in King County
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Must be an essential worker or have been impacted by COVID-19
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For children aged 0-12 at licensed child care sites
Learn more about the CARES emergency funding for COVID-19 child care supports program here. Program information is available in 22 languages on our website. Read more.
Mental health resources for employees involved in the COVID-19 response
Employees from departments across King County have been involved in the COVID-19 response for many months now. While emergency response work is rewarding, the long hours, breadth of demands, and exposure to human suffering can adversely affect the most seasoned responder. As we transition our pandemic response into the autumn and prepare to add in both the seasonal flu and the mental health crisis that experts are warning is ahead, there is a likeliness this already difficult work will become more so.
Studies of emergency responders from 9/11 show that those involved in mental health support services, such as one-on-one counseling or support groups, have improved mental health outcomes. During Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month, Balanced You reminds employees involved in the COVID-19 response that we are here for you in providing these types of programs to support you. Please visit this Balanced You blog post for resources to help you attend to your own emotional well-being as you lead King County through the pandemic.
If you find you cannot take the time to attend to your own well-being, please communicate this concern to your HR manager or supervisor. Your well-being is as important as the well-being of the community you serve.
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Roll down your window, roll up your sleeve: Free drive-thru vaccination clinics and more vaccination opportunities
There’s never been a more important time to make sure you and the people you love are protected from disease. Especially as flu season approaches, keeping up to date on vaccinations is one of the best ways you can stay safe, healthy, and far from the hospital during the COVID pandemic. And now you can get vaccinated without having to step out of your car!
Drive-thru vaccination options
The Seattle Visiting Nurse Association (SVNA) is hosting a series of drive-thru flu clinics for community members ages 4+ on various dates and times, and at different locations. All insurances accepted, no cost to uninsured and underinsured community members.
Register and learn more here. Please note: additional clinic date and locations will be added in late September and early October. Read more.
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Free mindfulness workshop for King County Emergency Responders, September 30
Would you like to reduce stress? Mindfulness can help reduce stress at work and at home, bringing peace and allowing you to focus on what matters most. Sign up today for a free, one-hour mindfulness workshop designed specifically for King County employees who are responding to COVID-19.
Mindfulness workshops are brought to you by King County Balanced You in partnership with Mindfulness Northwest. During these live, interactive sessions, participants will review what reactivity and burnout are, the various aspects of mindfulness practice, and the ways mindfulness can help reduce stress and lead to greater resiliency. The workshop includes hands-on learning of several simple but effective mindfulness practices that participants can put to use right away.
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Wednesday, Sept. 30, from 9-10 a.m. Register here for the mindfulness workshop for emergency responders, using registration password ERkingcounty.
Plan, organize and follow through! A parent’s guide to fostering executive functioning skills, webinar, October 6 and multiple dates
Join Balanced You benefits partner, Rethink Benefits, for a free online session to learn how to identify your child’s executive functioning opportunities. This session will help you turn their challenges into strengths by reviewing tips for children of different age groups and abilities. You will learn to boost their confidence and skills in these areas:
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Planning and organization
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Time management
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Paying attention and staying on task
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Independence
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Coping and self-regulation
Registrants who cannot make it will automatically receive an on-demand recording once the webinar is completed. For more information, contact BalancedYou@kingcounty.gov.
Creating Effective Application Materials – online, October 7 and multiple dates
King County Career Support Services staff will provide you with strategies and tips on making your application materials stand out. This training will include:
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Understanding the purpose of the job application, resume, cover letter and supplemental questions and how to make each of them more effective
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Deciding what to include in your resume and the best format to showcase your qualifications
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How to write a cover letter tailored to the specific position
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Identifying and showcasing your accomplishments
Training Spotlight courses from Learning and Development
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Fall classes through North Seattle College, online opportunities – Accounting and QuickBooks; Accounting for Small Business; Understanding Trauma; Leadership and Management series; AWS Academy Cloud Foundations; and more! View all opportunities and register here.
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Facilitating Effective Meetings, 2-day online training – Facilitated by Lenny Borer, this two-day training is $65 and takes place from 8:30am to 12:00pm on Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 6 and 7. Register here.
Tech Tip: Clearing your cache to access the new and improved PeopleSoft
PeopleSoft was upgraded over the weekend. Just a reminder that users may experience PeopleSoft performance issues after this update. The system may be missing homepages, freeze, or show a spinning wheel for an extended period of time. Confirm that you are using a valid web browser, and then follow these instructions to delete temporary internet files (also called cache).
Pet of the Week: Domino
Say hello to Domino, our Pet of the Week! This sweet boy was brought in by a good Samaritan earlier this month. He is an affectionate lovebug who would be thrilled to cuddle up with you at home! Domino is an “Easy Going Green” cat that loves to be petted non-stop. He also enjoys climbing up onto high things to guard the room, but the moment you walk in he will run to you and give you all of his love!
Read more and view all available pets at www.kingcounty.gov/adoptapet. Have you or someone you know adopted a pet from RASKC? Let us know. We’d love to tell your story.
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Featured Job: Community Health Worker PPM III
Salary: $42.76 - $54.20 Hourly
Job Type: Special Duty Assignment or Term Limited Temp (TLT)
Department: DPH - Public Health
Closing: 10/7/2020 11:59 PM Pacific
KC Headlines
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