COVID-19 Child Care Reimbursement Program now available

A new temporary program will provide $500 to $5,000 tax-free to those in the Regular Employee Benefits Group to reimburse them for child care provided during the 2020/2021 school year.

The COVID-19 Child Care Reimbursement Program was created by King County management and unions in the Joint Labor Management Insurance Committee (JLMIC) in response to the overwhelming impacts of COVID-19 on working parents. It is funded with $9M from the Protected Fund Reserve of the JLMIC.

Who can participate?

If you are enrolled in the Regular Employee Benefits Plan, you can be reimbursed for child care expenses provided for children 12 or younger and children 13 or older with documented special needs, such as a diagnosed medical disability or an Individualized Education Program (IEP). This includes your children, stepchildren, foster children, or children for whom you are the legal guardian. Read more.

Archives serving customers while construction progresses

Crossposted from DES Express

A major renovation continues at the Archives Building while some staff work remotely and others provide services from the Graybar Building.

“Most of the exterior work is done,” said archivist Danielle Boucher. The contractor reconfigured the parking and worked on the sprinkler system. They also had to split utilities such as electric and water, because the utilities came through the old Records Building that is being demolished, she explained.

“They’re moving on to the interior of the building, framing walls, surfacing floors and walls, adding new electrical components and a processing room and work station,” Boucher said. Read more.

Substance use and mental health disorder recover resources during the pandemic

The pandemic is creating unique challenges for those faced with substance use and mental health disorders, including those in active recovery. Social isolation can heighten symptoms and cravings. Meanwhile connection – the antidote to isolation and a cornerstone of many recovery programs – has changed in the face of social distancing.

Before coronavirus, rooms and facilities in communities across the globe were filled with groups of people offering each other resources, tips, and stories of strength and hope. Now, those groups have been asked to stop meeting in-person, to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Fortunately, many recovery groups and facilities have quickly and successfully pivoted to the virtual landscape, while others have maintained or expanded the online or phone-based services they already provided.

Recovery can and does happen, even during a pandemic. Balanced You is here to help you understand what online and phone-based resources are available to support you or your loved ones in beginning, returning to, or maintaining recovery. Visit this Balanced You blogpost for more information.

January 20 Coffee Connection Event: Social Distancing Ideas for Kids of All Ages

As part of the Hope and Joy Campaign, the Balanced You team is hosting a series of virtual zoom sessions, called “Coffee Connections”, to provide spaces for employees to connect over fun topics and events. Tomorrow’s Coffee Connection’s theme is “Social Distancing Ideas for Kids of All Ages.” It will be held on January 20, from 10-10:30 a.m. Join us to share the unique ways you help your kids and teenagers stay in touch with friends and family, and to learn new ideas from fellow employees.

Click here to join the Social Distancing Ideas for Kids via Zoom Passcode: 133933

You can check out other upcoming Coffee Connections on the Balanced You Blog here.

On-demand "Mini Move Break" videos now available for employees    

Employees now have access to two new 10-minute on-demand exercise videos. These videos, produced by Balanced You’s partner Vivecorp, can be used by employees anytime and anywhere to move your body and break up your day. Access the videos alone, or consider integrating them into team meetings. Check out the videos here by scrolling down to “Mini Move Break.” For more information, contact BalancedYou@KingCounty.gov.

Expanding vaccination to older adults in King County

Crossposted from the Public Health Insider

Over the past year, the pandemic has hit hard across the globe and resulted in tremendous loss of life and social and economic hardship here in our local region. The COVID-19 vaccines are a light at the end of the tunnel.

The challenge we now face is how to quickly, efficiently and equitably vaccinate as many eligible King County residents as possible. This tremendous effort will require sustained active engagement from public and private sector partners across our region.  The scale and urgency of this effort cannot be understated.

With the Governor’s announcement that the state is opening “Phase 1B1,” more people in our county who have been among the hardest hit now have an opportunity for additional protection. This group includes adults age 65 and over and people age 50 and older who meet certain risk criteria and live in intergenerational households. In King County, this group includes more than 300,000 people.

This is great news – but it is important for everyone to know that due to limited supply of vaccine nationally and locally, not everyone who is now eligible will be able to access a vaccine right away. Access will improve as the supply increases and providers in King County receive more doses. Read more.

Special Online Event for Veteran and Military Employees, January 21, Noon - 1:30 p.m.

King County is hosting a special online event for veteran and military employees on Jan. 21. Employees and family members are invited to join us for one or all of the virtual presentations below. Register here (open only to King County employees and family members).

The event will include three segments:

• Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Award Presentation, featuring King County Executive Dow Constantine
• Veterans Benefits, Resources and Q &A
• Veteran/Military Affinity Group (V-MAG) Mission Statement

Read more and register.

Panel discussion on understanding ableism, Jan. 21

The King County Disability Consortium is hosting an online community discussion on ableism, the intersection of racism and disability, and where there is still work to do.

Understanding Ableism: Nothing About Us, Without Us is an informative panel discussion on how people with disabilities/disabled people define ableism and how it shows up in their own lives.

The panel will also discuss the intersection of disability and other marginalized identities, especially race, other people’s role in combating ableism, how disability justice meshes with other civil rights issues and ways we can all support our collective work.

The online event takes place on Zoom on Thursday, Jan. 21, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and you can register here. Your attendance is voluntary, and employees will not be compensated or receive overtime for participating. ASL and CART are provided. For other accessibility considerations, please email events@disabilitypride.org. (Image: King County Disability Consortium).