King County recognizes Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin on announcement of his retirement
Cross-posted from Public Health Insider
Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County and a nationally-recognized public health leader and communicable disease expert, has announced his retirement from the county after 30 years of distinguished service.
His retirement will go into effect July 1, 2024. Public Health Director Dr. Faisal Khan is appointing Dr. Mia Shim as Interim Health Officer while a national search is conducted. Read more.
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Employee Engagement Survey postponed in 2024
Actively seeking to learn and understand employees’ experiences and perspectives is central to our We Respect all People value and commitment to building a welcoming, inclusive workplace culture.
Since 2015, our primary tool for organization-wide employee feedback has been the annual Employee Engagement Survey. While this anchor survey has been useful in providing a once-a-year check-in with employees, we have learned that a 70-question annual survey is no longer an industry best practice.
Furthermore, our current survey tool is using a dated technology that is no longer supported by our consultant. We cannot conduct the survey in its current form and have confidence in the integrity of the data we would receive. As a result, we are postponing this year’s Employee Engagement Survey. Read more.
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Cross-posted from Public Health Insider
King County, Auburn Mountainview High School, and Sea Mar Community Health Centers recently celebrated the opening of the first school-based health center located in the Auburn School District.
School-based health centers offer health services to students at their school, usually for no cost and have positive impacts on students’ well-being and school participation. These health centers began in King County in 1989 as a pilot program at Rainier Beach High School and now extend throughout King County, including 36 clinics in elementary, middle, and high schools.
They are operated in partnership between Best Starts for Kids, the City of Seattle, Public Health – Seattle & King County, community partners, and school districts. Read more.
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King County Council hosts Women's History Month discussion March 21
The King County Council will host its annual educational panel discussion for Women’s History Month. This year's theme is Empowering Women who Power the Economy, an event that will dive into the role of women in our economy.
The panelists sharing their experiences this year are:
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Shaunie Wheeler James (she/her), Deputy Executive Secretary-Treasurer, MLK Labor Council
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Lalita Uppala (she/her), Executive Director & Community Program Director, Indian American Community Services
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Ilona Lohrey (she/her), President & CEO, Greater Seattle Business Association
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Sharmila Swenson (she/her), Vice President, Public Affairs & Social Impact, Symetra
The presentation is open to all employees and the public. The first 15 minutes are set aside for a meet and greet, including light snacks.
- Thursday, March 21 from 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
- King County Chinook Building, Rooms 121/123 (401 5th Avenue, Seattle)
- King County TV live stream begins at 11:30 a.m.
This event is co-sponsored by Councilmembers Claudia Balducci, Teresa Mosqueda, Sarah Perry, and the Legislative Branch Equity and Social Justice Team.
For County-sponsored events, employees who are scheduled to work and wish to attend must get the approval of their supervisor. Supervisors are encouraged to permit employees to participate, if possible. For more information, please refer to your supervisor or Human Resources Manager.
KCSO Senior Fire Investigator earns rare triple certification
Cross-posted from the Sheriff's Newsletter
King County Sheriff's Office Senior Fire Investigator Steven Crown recently attended the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI) Certified Fire Investigator Instructor (CFII) training in Tukwila to earn his CFII certification. He now holds all three certifications offered by NAFI – including the Certified Fire & Explosion Investigator (CFEI) and Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator (CVFI).
There are only 120 active members in Washington with at least one of the three certifications. By earning all three, Fire Investigator Crown became only the seventh NAFI investigator in Washington to hold all three certifications concurrently. Of the seven in the state, only three are public safety-based, with both the other fire investigators being fire department-based. This makes KCSO the only law enforcement agency in Washington to have a NAFI triple-certified fire investigator. Congratulations Steven!
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Professional Development Scholarship applications accepted through March 31
The second application period for the 2024 Coalition Labor Agreement Professional Development Scholarship is open and ends on March 31, 2024.
These scholarship opportunities are offered to assist eligible employees with their career development.
This application period is for scholarships to pay for training courses or degree programs that begin in 2024 or have tuition and fees to pay during 2024. Watch this video and learn more.
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Annual Big Backyard fun run registration now open
The Big Backyard 5K & 10K is an annual fun run and family walk celebrating the numerous King County Parks throughout our neighborhoods, cities, and county.
Founded in 2010, proceeds from the Big Backyard event benefit King County Parks support park maintenance and facilities operations and recreational resources to keep our parks running smoothly and open year-round!
Since the event's inception in 2010, more than 13,000 participants have gathered to raise over $80,000 for King County Parks.
King County employees are eligible for a registration discount by using the code: KCP10
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What’s that emoji in my email? New Outlook “reactions” feature
Eagle-eyed Outlook users may have spotted a new feature – reactions. But please be aware, this feature may not behave the way you expect.
When you respond to an email with a reaction (such as a smiley face, thumbs up, etc.), the sender will not get a traditional “reply” to their email; instead, the sender will receive an Outlook Notification that can only be accessed by clicking on the "bell" in the upper right corner of their Outlook window. Read more.
Washington State Spring Fair discounts
King County employees and their families can take advantage of discounted tickets for the Washington State Spring Fair.
This annual event features all the usual carnival favorites like great entertainment, yummy food, wild rides, adorable animals, and more. The Fair will take place April 11-14 and April 18-21 in Puyallup.
Click here for more information and discounted tickets, or go to TheFair.com/corporate and use access code: king24.
See all available discounts on the Employee Discount webpage.
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Training Spotlight:
ERSJ Fundamentals: A Journey Through Socialization – Join us in this engaging workshop where we will explore the complex nature of socialization and its impact on our views, beliefs, and behaviors and gain deep understanding of how systemic biases are embedded in our society. We will explore strategies for building inclusive communities where all individuals, regardless of their background, can thrive. Together, we aim to empower participants to take meaningful actions that drive social change and promote justice in their own spheres of influence.
Leader Mindset – Online – This workshop 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.
Please visit our King County Eventbrite website, our Learning and Development website, and our Career Support Services 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.
Pet of the Week: King
Hi, my name is King and I'm available for adoption! I'm a seven-year-old male German Shepherd weighing in at a healthy 93 pounds. I'm a little bit shy, but also smart, outgoing, loving, and playful. I would do best in a calm, quite home with older children.
You can find out more about me and my other friends on our website at www.kingcounty.gov/adoptapet. If you have questions, you can contact RASKC via phone at 206-296-7387 (PETS) or email pets@kingcounty.gov.
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Featured Job: Cook/Baker I - Correctional Facility
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King County Headlines
Public Health insider: How healthy is King County? Continuing COVID-19 impacts and areas to watch
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