Introducing the Disability Affinity Group

In response to the need for a space that provides more disability equity for King County employees with disabilities, we're happy to announce the Disability Affinity Group.

Sponsored by Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer Anita Whitfield and Leo Flor, Director of the Department of Community and Human Services, King County’s newest affinity group is designed to be a place for employees with disabilities to:

• Create opportunities for peer-to-peer support and resource sharing
• Advance the inclusion of persons with disabilities at work and in the community
• Address ableism and removing barriers in the workplace
• Address intersectionality with (Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) and other marginalized identities
• Inform policy and other decisions that impact persons with disabilities in King County.

If you are interested in becoming a member, join the kick-off meeting:

• Monday, Oct. 25 at 1 p.m.  Click here to join the meeting.
• Call in (audio only): 425-653-6586, passcode 262 869 441#  

For additional information, please contact Karla Lynch at Karla.Lynch@kingcounty.gov or Lili Stansberry at Lili.Stansberry@kingcounty.gov.

Verify your vaccination status

Employees are encouraged to submit their proof of vaccination status as soon as possible, and not wait until the Oct. 18 deadline. There are a couple of ways to provide proof of vaccination:

• Initiating the COVID-19 Vaccination Declaration process through your NEOGOV Dashboard (click on Dashboard > Forms > COVID-19 Vaccination Declaration) and attaching a copy of an official document (see list below), OR
• Showing one of the following to an HR professional or other designated department representative:
  • your actual vaccination card, or a photo or a copy of it,
  • a copy of your state vaccine record, or
  • a verified medical record.

Click here for more information or contact your HR Manager. 

Superior Court program supports jurors with disabilities

It began with a 2019 court case. A blind juror was selected with a commitment from both sides that their witnesses would be descriptive enough to work with the juror. In this case, the lawyers were enthusiastic to make it work. And according to King County Superior Court Judge David Keenan, a judge has a duty to “figure out a way to make it work.”  But the juror’s ability to hear descriptive evidence wasn’t the only issue.

This issue got Judge Keenan thinking. Working with a team of judges and consultants, they developed a presentation specifically about juries and inclusive justice. Read the full story here. 

2021 Annual Giving Drive is underway

King County Employee Giving Program’s 2021 Annual Giving Drive is underway. Because we’re inspired by the belief that the actions we take today help build a better future for all, this year's theme is Hope - The best time is NOW!

Find out the many ways you can take action in support of the participating nonprofits who are doing great work in our community and around the world.  

Check out the fun and creative ways you can donate, like KCIT's VideoGram campaign and DAJD's Second Annual Halloween Pet Costume Contest. Ask your department ambassador for information. 

Online Nonprofit Expo: Social and Economic Justice

The next session in the series of expos focuses on agencies in the areas of Social and Economic Justice. These organizations are as diverse as the people they support, ranging from Amnesty International to your local YWCA.

• Wednesday, Oct. 13 from 11 a.m. to noon. Register here.

For more information, visit the Employee Giving Program at www.kingcounty.gov/giving. 

KCC 2.15 training: Protecting immigrants, refugees, and limited English speakers

On Feb. 26, 2018, the Metropolitan King County Council adopted ground-breaking immigration legislation designed to protect everyone’s safety and civil rights.

King County Code 2.15 Immigrant, Refugees and Language Access Ordinance (KCC 2.15) prevents the use of County funds and resources on federal immigration enforcement and outlines the steps the County uses to protect immigrants and refugees seeking services from the County, or who are victims or witnesses of crime.

As part of this ordinance, all County employees are required to take a brief training to ensure compliance with the Code. Click here to read more about the ordinance and the training for employees. 

ADA 101: Employment and Public Service

Michelle (Mell) Toy, Interim Director of the Northwest ADA Center (NWADAC), will lead a free one-hour webinar training and live Q&A on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and how it applies to employment and public service.

The training content includes: History and Purpose of the ADA; An Overview of the five ADA Titles; Title I: Employment (Reasonable Accommodations); Title II: State and Local Government (Program Access/Reasonable Modifications);

All King County employees and community associates are welcome to attend. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and Zoom auto transcription services (closed captioning) will be provided. Training documents are available upon registration.

• Wednesday, Oct. 13, from noon to 1 p.m. Register here.

Reasonable Accommodations - Supervisor Nuts and Bolts

As part of the Leading the Way Series, this Supervisor Nuts and Bolts video provides leaders with an understanding of legal protections for employees with disabilities.

By the end of the video, leaders will be able to recognize "notice," know their roles and responsibilities during the Interactive Process, learn about reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities and lastly, where to access further resources and support.

This training is for leaders only. Click here for more information. 

Who should get a COVID-19 vaccine booster?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends booster doses of the Pfizer vaccine for people who have completed two doses of Pfizer at least six months ago and are 65 years or older, residents in long-term care facilities, or 50-64 years old who are at high-risk because of underlying medical conditions. 

People who received the Pfizer vaccine, are age 18-49 years, and are at high-risk because of underlying medical conditions or individuals age 18-64 years and in occupational or institutional settings that put them at high risk for COVID-19, are also recommended to get a Pfizer booster.

All COVID-19 vaccinations are free of charge and all King County vaccination partnership sites are Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible and open to the public.

Click here to read more details and find answers to your questions about the vaccine.

Coffee Connections: A real conversation about nutrition

You are invited to the next Balanced You Coffee Connections on the theme attuned nutrition. We are excited to preview an upcoming program called Liberating Jasper with Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist Amber Lagerwey.

Join a real conversation all about nutrition to learn what attuned eating means, how to freshen up old recipes, how to break free of myths such as “carbs are bad” and much more during this 45-minute conversation.

• Wednesday, Oct. 20 from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. Register here.

Reduce your risk of flu

Every fall, King County’s Balanced You team encourages employees to get their flu shot and this fall, flu shots are more important than ever. Getting the flu shot can reduce your risk of getting the flu, help protect vulnerable populations, and conserve health care resources as we continue to navigate the pandemic. Due to nursing shortages, the onsite flu shot clinic schedule is highly tentative.

We encourage you to visit your local pharmacy or doctor’s office to receive your flu shot. All King County employees and their dependents who are covered by Kaiser or Regence are eligible for free flu shots at healthcare clinics or pharmacies. Visit this blog post for information specific to each insurance plan. Contact BalancedYou@kingcounty.gov with any questions.

King County launches desk reservation system, embracing a hybrid Future of Work

In just a few clicks, King County’s new Indoor Viewer desk reservation system lets employees book cubicle space in the Chinook Building or King Street Center.

Your agency will notify you when they are ready to activate the desk reservation tool for your team, pending further return-to-work guidance from the Executive and your agency’s Future of Work plan. 

Until then, enjoy this sneak peek video and click here to read more.

BI Publisher financial reports are moving Oct. 22

If you are an employee who uses BI Publisher Reports then this is important information.

On Oct. 22, 2021, BI Publisher will move from its own stand-alone URL with a GUEST login to BI Insights as a dashboard.

If you are an employee who already has access to BI Insights you do not need to do anything except login to BI Insights and navigate to the new BI Publisher dashboard. 

If you are an employee who uses BI Publisher and do not have access to BI Insights, you will need to request access as the GUEST login is no longer available, and you must now login with your network ID. To request access submit a Cherwell ticket.

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