Executive Constantine statement on passage of $630 million COVID emergency supplemental budget
The investments in this emergency budget will help every community in King County turn this moment of recovery into an opportunity to make a permanent and positive difference for all people.
Read the Executive's full announcement here.
|
COVID-19 vaccination for children and teens
Everyone age 12 years and older is currently eligible for COVID-19 vaccination. At this time, COVID-19 vaccines are not authorized for children younger than 12 years old. Clinical trials are in process for young children.
COVID-19 vaccine options for teens
- Johnson & Johnson: age 18 years and older
- Moderna: age 18 years and older
- Pfizer: age 12 years and older
When you schedule your appointment, make sure that they offer the vaccine that has been authorized for your age group. Learn more about vaccination for youth at kingcounty.gov/vaccine/youth.
|
Health Hero Spotlight: Debra Baker and the power of Beloved
To close out mental health month, Balanced You spotlights a Health Hero who is helping employees get through this difficult time. Debra Baker is Organizational Development co-lead in the Department of Human Resources. In this spotlight, Debra talks about the powerful notion of considering yourself Beloved and her WON strategy – wonder in now.
Watch the full video here.
|
Local Services employees share their perspectives of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month
In recognition of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, three employees from the Local Services team took the opportunity to share what this month means to them.
To watch these brief videos of Brent Champaco, Edie-Mae Mariano and Jerry Pionk giving their unique perspectives, click here.
Memorial Day Holiday Monday, May 31
King County will observe Memorial Day on Monday, May 31 and government offices will be closed. All offices will be back on their current schedule Tuesday, June 1.
On Memorial Day, most Metro Transit buses will operate on Sunday schedules.
If you have questions about your holiday schedule, please speak to your supervisor. Have a safe, healthy holiday.
|
Memorial Day Event for King County Employee Veterans
The King County Veterans and Military Affinity Group (V-MAG), in collaboration with the Lake Washington Veterans of Foreign Wars in Redmond, invites King County employees who are Veterans or currently serving in the National Guard or Reserve, and up to four family members, to a special Memorial Day event that is being held at the Lake Washington VFW post in Redmond.
The event begins at noon and includes a complimentary lunch, memorial service, trivia challenge, raffle and bounce house for children. Leashed furry family members are welcome in the outdoor field and picnic area. We hope you can join us either virtually or in-person.
- Monday, May 31 from 12-3:30 p.m.
- Click here to register and for more information
|
Cross-posted from Metro Matters
Trailhead Direct – the weekend and holiday transit-to-trails service co-led by King County Metro and King County Parks – will return on Saturday, June 5, offering service to Issaquah Alps and Mount Si.
The 2021 Trailhead Direct season will operate each weekend through Sept. 26, offering service on Independence Day and Labor Day. The new season begins on National Trails Day.
Click here to learn more about this exclusive service.
|
Protecting and restoring Bear Creek watershed
A key segment of the Bear Creek watershed near Redmond – one of the most productive salmon habitats in the Central Puget Sound region – is now permanently protected, the latest progress by the Land Conservation Initiative launched by King County Executive Dow Constantine.
Read the full announcement here.
|
Resources to support mental health and well-being in our community.
Cross-posted from Public Health Insider
If your mental health has taken a hit recently, you aren’t alone. The COVID-19 pandemic has had profound impacts on mental health and emotional well-being. Overall, more adults in our region have reported feeling anxious or depressed since the start of the pandemic. Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities in King County also face ongoing additional threats to their safety, health, and emotional well-being because of racism and inequities.
Mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and well-being. Mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression, are real, common, and treatable.
Click here to find out more ways to help yourself and others.
|
Register now for June retirement classes
It’s never too early to plan for retirement. Check out the educational opportunities below to help you learn about—and prepare for—retirement.
The following classes will be held on Zoom and are provided by your King County Retirement Team. For additional information, visit the King County Retirement page, read the Retirement Guide, or contact Carmen Johnson, retirement navigator.
-
Department of Retirement Systems Pension. Do you want to learn more about your pension through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) and your options as a King County employee? Attend this 90-minute seminar featuring guest speaker Jim Mendoza from DRS, who will discuss your pension and other options at retirement.
-
Road to Retirement. This 90-minute class is designed for employees who are planning to retire from King County in the next six months. It covers procedures, forms, medical coverage options, and pension plans—so you’ll be on a smooth road toward a happy retirement.
Please note, attendance at retirement classes is strictly voluntary, on your own time, and non-work related.
Deferred Compensation Plan education sessions
The following virtual check-ins and education sessions relating to the Deferred Compensation Plan are provided by T. Rowe Price. For more information, go to the Deferred Compensation Plan web page or contact KC Deferred Comp.
Click the link below to register:
Please note, attendance at retirement classes is strictly voluntary, on your own time, and non-work related.
Training Spotlight:
-
Leader Mindset – Online – Leader Mindset for King County supervisors and managers sets a foundation that leading a team starts with understanding yourself and your responsibility to create a team culture of belonging where all employees can thrive. In this interactive webinar, participants will take part in engaging activities, small group discussions and action planning. This training is free and will be offered on multiple dates with the next session taking place:
-
Staying Steady – Online – When leaders prioritize supporting their and their team’s wellbeing, they add to the creation of a values-based culture where team members have a sense of stability, feel respected and can work more effectively. This training is free and will be offered:
Please visit our King County Eventbrite website and our Learning and Development website for more learning opportunities. For more information, contact the Learning and Development Team at KCTraining@kingcounty.gov or visit Learning and Development at www.kingcounty.gov/learning.
King County Security Tips - Personally Identifiable Information (PII)
What is sensitive information? Sensitive information is privileged information which – if compromised through alteration, corruption, loss, misuse, or unauthorized disclosure – could cause serious harm to an individual or organization. You must always give the highest level of protection to privileged information. Here we discuss Personally Identifiable Information, or PII.
What is Personally Identifiable Information? For the purpose of data protection, PII is defined as: any instance of an individual’s first name (or first initial) plus the last name, and any one of twenty-nine additional confidential items. An example of these twenty-nine additional confidential items include: Social Security number, driver license, credit card number and expiration date, date or place of birth, wage and salary information, vehicle identifiers including license plate numbers, and medical history.
Is it PII? The key to remember is, if the information can be used to uniquely identify a specific individual using non-public information, it’s considered PII and must be protected.
Example: John Smith was born on January 1, 1965. Which listing below would be the example of PII?
-
A) John Smith – DOB 1/1/1965 B) John S. – DOB 1/1/1965 C) John Smith – DOB 1/1/xxxx The answer is A. B and C are not examples of PII on their own.
Employees who do not take care of sensitive information can lead King County into fines, increased operating costs, loss of customer confidence, and even more governmental regulation. Do your part to keep your sensitive information safe at all times.
If you have any questions, please reach out to kcitcsat@kingcounty.gov.
Pet of the Week: Garfield
My name is Garfield and I'm available for adoption. I am a very big boy, weighing in at over 17 pounds!
My personality color is Rambunctious Red. I am a spirited cat with a fun-loving personality! I may be sensitive to handling, so I would do best in a home with a cat-savvy family who knows when to give me some space. Because of my spunky personality, I would do best in a home with older children who know how to respect my space.
You can find out more about me and my other friends on our website at www.kingcounty.gov/adoptapet. Note that RASKC has moved to adoptions by appointment only. If you have more questions, you can contact RASKC via phone at 206-296-7387 (PETS) or email pets@kingcounty.gov.
|
Featured Job: Animal Care Technician
Salary: $20.49 - $25.98 Hourly
Location: Kent, WA
Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week
Department: DES - Executive Services
Job Number: 2021SG13527
Division: RALS - Records & Licensing Services
Closes: June 1
Passionate about pets? Are you an animal whisperer? This role works with animals within various settings where you have the opportunity to provide critical services to 24 cities and unincorporated King County. Make a difference in the lives of our furry friends!
Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
|
King County Headlines
Best Starts for Kids Health Survey: What we learned about parent support of early child development
Safer wet cleaning program piloted in King County to reduce exposure to dangerous chemical going statewide this month
|
