Reminder of Racially Just training for all Executive branch employees
King County has launched a new training, We Are Racially Just: Our King County Values at Work, to help ensure that we all understand what it means to be racially just and what we can do in our own work to advance racial justice at King County.
“Racial justice necessitates breaking with the status quo, disrupting business as usual, and approaching our work differently,” King County Executive Dow Constantine said. “It can be hard work and it can be uncomfortable, but in order to make progress we must lean into one of our pro-equity actions: Get comfortable with discomfort. This training will build our understanding of racial justice and give us tools to help King County become a more anti-racist, pro-equity organization.”
Executive branch employees who are computer users will be required to complete this training by Dec. 31, 2023. Employees who are non-computer users will be required to complete this training by September 2024. Read more.
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Crossposted from the DES Express
That ride-hailing service you take home from a late-night concert or sporting event might be the same one used by human traffickers to transport their victims.
“There’s been a lot of research done with persons with lived experience in trafficking. The majority say they were transported in for-hire transportation,” said Michelle Hoang, Program Analyst for the for-hire and shared transportation team in DES’ Records and Licensing Services (RALS). Read more.
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Thanking the leaders of King County’s Best Starts for Kids
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections
A message from DCHS Director, Leo Flor on the outgoing Best Starts leadership team.
Since King County voters first approved the Best Starts for Kids Levy in 2015, Sheila Ater Capestany (she/her) and Marcy Miller (she/her) have grown a powerful idea into a cutting edge, nation-leading program that makes a meaningful difference in the lives of children, youth and families all around the region. Following a strong first levy, voters renewed Best Starts for Kids in 2021 and the groundbreaking investments in the health and well-being of our youngest residents, from birth to 24-years-old.
What seemed novel to some, was a life-long pursuit for Sheila and Marcy: That governments and communities should want more for our kids than to avoid jail—that we must instead insist on and invest in a future where all our children, youth, and young adults are happy, healthy, safe, and thriving. Sheila and Marcy’s vision for these investments is changing the trajectory for thousands of people in King County. I am grateful to Sheila and Marcy for the way they led the Best Starts team and work. Read more.
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Using sick leave to volunteer helps employees make a difference in our community
“When you ask most people what they want to do when they retire, they will often say two things – travel and volunteer more,” said Junelle Kroontje, Employee Social Impact and Well-being Manager. “During an employee’s work life, making time for volunteering can be difficult. By allowing our employees to use up to three days of sick leave to volunteer at a King County Employee Giving Program nonprofit or at a local school, it frees them up to do it today – instead of waiting for retirement.”
The volunteer program allows all employees covered by the Master Labor Agreement with the King County Coalition of Unions, other collective bargaining units that have ratified this option, and all non-represented employees to use up to three instances of sick leave per year for volunteer service.
“Nonprofits are really excited about this benefit and have some super cool opportunities for our employees to engage in, from long-term board service to helping out at specific events,” said Junelle. Read more.
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Crossposted from DES Express
King County Emergency Management is ramping up preparedness activities throughout September in recognition of National Preparedness Month. Activities include free Disaster Skills Training webinars, Emergency Preparedness Workshops at local senior centers, and preparedness posts on social media.
Everyone is encouraged to get involved and take action. Share a preparedness selfie and tag #KingCountyReady on social media from Sept. 17-23. View the recording from the King County Employee Disaster Skills Training Webinar to learn more about how you can be prepared for emergencies and disasters. Read more.
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Crossposted from Tails from RASKC
Editor’s note: this post is a first-hand account by one of our King County communications staff.
On what is usually a short walk at a neighborhood park on my lunch break recently, I came across an unleashed dog without a human. It was a beautiful dog, perhaps a Golden Retriever/Irish Setter mix.
“Where’s your person?” I asked the dog, while looking around the trail. We were near an off-leash dog park, but in an area that requires a leash. Read more.
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Connecting community to resources at the fourth annual Reconnect to Opportunity High School Resource Fair
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections
Ensuring access to basic needs is one of the straightforward ways we can promote community connection and well-being.
Reconnect to Opportunity (ReOpp) initially launched the High School Resource Fair in the summer of 2020 in response to the emerging needs at the beginning of the pandemic. With the positive community response and generous support of program partners, ReOpp has been able to host the resource event annually.
At the event we work across agencies and community partnerships to hand out school supplies, food bags, and resource information. Last month, we worked with 19 community partners to provide supports to 334 community members, handed out hundreds of pounds of food, and gave away 250 back packs. Read more.
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Upcoming mindfulness classes offered through Balanced You
Balanced You continues to partner with Mindfulness Northwest to offer free mindfulness classes and workshops to King County employees. All classes are held live on Zoom.
Mindfulness is a practice that can help you quiet your mind, find focus, and reduce some of the stress many of us experience. We have classes available for all employees that will teach techniques such as mindful movement, mindful relationships, and more. To read the description of each class, click on the register link below.
- Mindful Parenting: Teach Your Children Well, Sept. 14 from 10 a.m. to noon. Register here.
- Mindful Leadership: Being Present as a Leader, Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. to noon. Register here.
- Responding to Burnout with Mindfulness, Sept. 25 from 3 to 5 p.m. Register here.
Featured Job: Volunteer Coordinator
Salary: $82,430.40 - $104,624.00 Annually
Location: Seattle, WA
Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week
Job Number: 2023JE19846
Department: DAJD-Adult/Juvenile Detention
Division: Juvenile
Opening Date: 9/01/2023
Closing Date: 9/17/2023 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: Q3 : KCJDG-DAJD-Juvenile Detention
The King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention’s (DAJD) Juvenile Division is accepting applications to fill one (1) full-time Volunteer Coordinator position within the Division’s Programs Team. Reporting to the Juvenile Programs Manager, this position coordinates volunteer services including volunteer recruitment and training, program development and implementation, and community liaisons.
Learn more about this position and view all available positions.
King County Headlines
Best Starts for Kids: Seeking new members to serve on the King County Children and Youth Advisory Board
Public Health Insider: How vaping harms students' mental health: Tips for parents and educators
DES Express: DES Director Caroline Whalen retires amidst accolades
DES Express: Electric Vehicle Ride and Drive event coming September 27
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