Open Enrollment begins tomorrow

Working to end domestic violence  

By Whitney Abrams, Chief People Officer

This month, we observe Domestic Violence Awareness Month in King County to raise awareness about the prevalence of domestic violence, signs of abuse, and how we can stop it.   

Shockingly, on average, nearly 24 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States – more than 12 million people each year – according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. This can be our family, friends, neighbors, work colleagues, and even ourselves.  

If a person is an abusive relationship, whatever stage, they need to have people they can depend on for support. At King County, we are committed to supporting our colleagues who have experienced domestic violence or who are at risk of experiencing domestic violence and helping them access assistance and resources to stay safe. Read more.

Halloween is a great day to vote

Happy Halloween! It’s a great day to vote! We’re projecting 82% turnout for this Election – that’s more than a million ballots returned! – and we expect to see the majority of ballots returned on Monday, Nov. 4 and Tuesday, Election Day, Nov. 5.

If you need assistance with anything, give King County Elections a call at 206-296-VOTE, or visit a Vote Center this weekend. You’ll find a list of Vote Center locations and hours at kce.wiki/VoteCenter.

Your ballot is too important to leave until the last minute. At King County Elections, we can think of nothing scarier than not making your voice heard.

For more information, visit https://kingcounty.gov/elections.

Tips and resources for coping with election stress 

By Whitney Abrams, Chief People Officer

Tuesday, Nov. 5, is Election Day and many Americans are waiting anxiously for the results. According to a recent survey  by the American Psychological Association (APA), more than two-thirds of U.S. adults say the 2024 U.S. presidential election is a significant source of stress in their life.

This can be a time with a lot of uncertainty, stress, and anxiety and it is important that we take care of our emotional and mental well-being.

King County offers a range of benefits and services that are there for employees and their families. Employees have access to many services through our comprehensive benefits package, including Making Life Easier (username: King County) and the Employee Assistance Program. Both resources are free and confidential. Read more about available resources, policies, and supports.

Healthcare organizations continue commitment to protect patients and healthcare workers with an update to masking guidelines

Crossposted from Public Health Insider

Healthcare systems in the Puget Sound region have updated their joint guidelines for masking in hospitals and outpatient clinics during respiratory illness season. This means local healthcare facilities may require patients, visitors and employees to wear masks when respiratory illnesses such as flu and COVID-19 are circulating widely in the community.

Masking is an effective way to reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses in healthcare settings. These latest guidelines re-affirm the importance of the health and safety of patients and employees, particularly for those who are at high risk of becoming severely ill from COVID-19, influenza (flu) and other respiratory illnesses. Read more.

Celebrating creativity and fun on Halloween with the Annual Giving Drive

It’s finally here—Halloween—the day of fun and imagination that brings people together in celebration. The Annual Giving Drive loves this day because it is a time when creativity takes center stage and everyone—kids and adults alike— can embrace their playful side with costumes, decorations, and more! Halloween offers so many ways to showcase imagination and artistry. We hope everyone has a happy, safe, and creative Halloween!

Here are some fun Halloween themed EGP nonprofits that specialize in the arts and creative spaces. Read more. Pledge or renew here by Nov. 22.

Coming soon: Add pronouns and preferred first name/nickname to PeopleSoft and Microsoft

Starting Nov. 1, employees will be able to add pronouns and preferred first name/nickname in PeopleSoft and Microsoft 365 (including Teams and Outlook), making them visible to other King County employees.

This option advances our We respect all people value and helps us create a more inclusive and affirming workplace for everyone. It also aligns with the County’s Gender Identity in the Workplace policy.

These options will be available for both PeopleSoft and Microsoft 365. Sharing this information with other King County employees is a personal choice and completely optional. Once entered, this information may be subject to public disclosure​ requests. Look for step-by-step information coming Nov. 1!

Kaiser to close three Puget Sound-area medical facilities

Kaiser Permanente Washington recently announced that they will be closing their medical facilities in Ballard, Gig Harbor, and Poulsbo on Dec. 13, 2024.

The Kaiser announcement stated “As the health care market changes rapidly, with increased competition, new technologies, and high consumer expectations, it is critical that we continue to adapt by allocating our people and resources where they provide the greatest value to our patients, members, and customers.”

Members who seek care at the Kaiser medical facilities in Ballard, Gig Harbor, and Poulsbo can follow their clinician to a new location or change clinicians or care locations. In mid-November, Kaiser will notify members about the closures and members will receive information about where their doctors are moving to and a list of clinics nearest them.

• Other Seattle-area locations include Capitol Hill, Northgate, and Rainier medical centers.
• On the Kitsap Peninsula, members can go to the Silverdale or Port Orchard medical centers.
• The Tacoma medical center is also an option for Gig Harbor residents.

There are 22 other Kaiser locations in Western Washington. Go to the Kaiser Permanente SmartCare Connect medical plan page for more information and go to kp.org/wa/find-a-doctor to search for doctors, medical facilities, pharmacies, and hospitals.

For questions about the closures, please contact Kaiser at 888-901-4636 or Kaiser Permanente. You can also contact the Benefits team at 206-684-1556 or KC Benefits if you have questions or need language assistance or disability support services.

Regional Veterans Court recognizes hard work of its participants, Nov. 14

The same week the United States honors veterans on Veterans Day, King County Regional Veterans Court (RVC) will recognize the successes and hard work of RVC program participants.

The annual celebration of RVC program participants, including participants who have successfully completed the program and will graduate from it, will be held Thursday, Nov. 14, at 1:30 p.m. King County employees are invited to attend either in person or via Zoom:

• In-person: King County Courthouse, Courtroom E326
• Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/7597251370 (meeting ID: 759 725 1370)

Operated by King County District Court since 2012, RVC understands that veterans in the justice system may be suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other service-related disabilities. The Court strives to hold people accountable, while rehabilitating them.

“The goal is to identify what the veteran’s needs are, how to best support them, how to guide them – how to walk with them through this system,” says King County District Court Judge Lisa Paglisotti, RVC Presiding Judge.

“We have veterans justice outreach coordinators, who are liaisons making sure our participants are connected to the VA, including if they need any medications prescribed, treatment for mental health or substance use disorders, and to connect them with housing,” adds Kate Tramontana, King County District Court Therapeutic Courts Manager.

Pet of the Week: Seiko

I am a one-year-old, female, brown tabby cat, domestic shorthair, ID #A717034. I can be a bit shy at first, but shelter life is just really new to me.  I may not be the type to approach you first, but if you approach me slowly and give me chin scratches I will happily lean into them. I am a gentle and loving cat who likes to take things slow. Because of my shy nature, I would do best in a calm, quite home without younger children, fast movements and loud noises startle me. When I go to my new home it's important to be patient with me and allow me time to acclimate to my new environment at my own speed. It's best to keep me in a smaller, quiet room with my food, bed and litterbox until I am comfortable and confident enough to start exploring the rest of my home.

As Pet of the Week, my adoption fee has been reduced. You can find out more about me and my other friends on our website at www.kingcounty.gov/adoptapet. If you have more questions, you can contact RASKC via phone at 206-296-7387 (PETS) or email pets@kingcounty.gov.