King County Security Tips – Post-its are not for passwords
Do you keep a login and password written down on a Post-it or piece of paper near your desk? If so, you should get rid of it by following your company’s sensitive document disposal policy. If your company does not have such a policy, you should use a paper shredder to dispose of the Post-it. Do not simply place the Post-it in the trash.
While it may be tough to remember a login and password for all of the sites and portals you belong to, writing the passwords down on a piece of paper, or keeping them in an unsecured document on your computer, is a bad habit to have. This can put you and King County at risk.
Try to use passwords that are easy for you to remember, but hard for others to guess.
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Surface Water Management Fee discount for families with low incomes – Apply by Sept. 15, 2023
If you qualify as a low-income household and live on your own property in unincorporated King County, you may be eligible for a 50 percent discount on the annual surface water management fee on your land parcel(s).
Residents approved for the King County Senior Citizen and People with Disabilities Reduction in Property Taxes are already approved for this discount and do not need to apply.
The open period to apply is every year from Aug. 1 through Sept. 15. Learn more about the fee discount at www.kingcounty.gov/swmfeediscount, call 206-477-4800, or email
wlrdswm@kingcounty.gov. Information about the discount is available online in English, Español | 한국어 | Af-Soomaali | русский | 中文 | Tiếng Việt (Spanish, Korean, Somali, Russian, Chinese and Vietnamese).
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2024 Professional Development Scholarship applications to open Sept. 6
What could up to $3,000 do for your career? The first application period for the 2024 Coalition Labor Agreement Professional Development Scholarship is rapidly approaching, and now is the time to identify training opportunities to help you reach your career goals. In conjunction with the Coalition of Unions, the Professional Development Scholarship Program will be accepting applications Sept. 6 – Oct. 8, 2023, for training that will begin anytime between January – June 2024. The application process is changing so please periodically check the scholarship website and the Employee News for updates on how to apply.
The scholarship is designed to assist King County employees represented by the Coalition with their professional development by providing financial assistance to help obtain training, certificates, degrees, licenses, and certifications related to work performed at King County.
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Now Recruiting 2023 Employee Giving Program Ambassadors
Crossposted from KC Employee Giving
Bring a little inspiration to your day and build connection with your team by signing up to be an Ambassador.
The Employee Giving Program is now recruiting King County Employees to serve as an Ambassadors for this year’s Annual Giving Drive to their work groups/sites.
As an Ambassador, you are the heart and soul of our Employee Giving Program team. We can NOT run this program and support so many great causes without you. Last year that resulted in $2.39 million! You are the key to making sure that every King County employee has the chance to connect to a cause they care about through the program. Read more.
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Providing support for Maui wildfire response
The devastating wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui last week left a trail of destruction and loss of life in their wake. The impact on people, communities, and the environment has been devastating. Rebuilding homes, communities, and lives will take months and years.
Our thoughts are with the families of those who have lost their loved ones, with those who lost their homes, and with the first responders working hard to find those that are still missing.
Employees may be wondering how they can help. This year’s Annual Giving Drive is just weeks away and will provide opportunities for employees to make payroll and time donations, credit card and e-check payments, and host special events to raise funds to support recovery and restoration in Maui.
There are also ways to help now. The Governor of Hawaii has released some tips for Contributing to Wildfire Relief, which includes some recommended nonprofit organizations taking part in the response. Learn more on the Governor’s website.
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Susan McLaughlin selected as New Behavioral Health and Recovery Division Director
The King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) welcomes Susan McLaughlin, Ph.D., as the new Director of the Behavioral Health and Recovery Division (BHRD) effective Sept. 11, 2023.
Dr. Susan McLaughlin is a licensed clinical psychologist with more than 20years of leadership experience in health, behavioral health, and social services as a clinician, researcher, and policy administrator. McLaughlin started her career in youth mental health and later served as the Health and Human Services Administrator at DCHS in BHRD where she led multiple initiatives to improve public policy and programmatic outcomes for individuals with mental health and substance use treatment needs in the region.
Since then, McLaughlin served as the founding Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer at HealthierHere, a nonprofit collaborative dedicated to eliminating health disparities in King County through the Accountable Community of Health (ACH). Most recently, she was the Director of the University of Washington Medicine Behavioral Health Institute (BHI) at Harborview Medical Center, focused on addressing the challenges facing Washington’s behavioral health system through clinical innovation, training and workforce development, and research and evaluation. The BHI also serves as a regional resource for advancing behavioral health outcomes and policy to support sustainable system change. Read more.
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Lorraine Patterson-Harris appointed County Administrative Officer and Director of Department of Executive Services
Executive Constantine has appointed Lorraine Patterson-Harris County Administrative Officer (CAO) and Director of the Department of Executive Services (DES). Her appointment is subject to Council confirmation.
Lorraine has most recently served as the Chief Administrative Officer for the Department of Natural Resources (DNRP). For the last eight years, she has been a champion for that department, leading continuous improvement work, implementing technology systems, the “Green Where We Work” initiative for DNRP’s post-pandemic operations, and leadership development efforts centered around equity, competencies, and our values.
Her previous leadership roles with King County include the Director of Records and Licensing Services, Deputy Director of the Wastewater Treatment Division, and HR Service Delivery Manager for the Department of Transportation. Before joining King County, Lorraine was the Human Resources Director for the City of Kent. Prior to her public career, she worked as an employment and labor law attorney for a local firm.
Lorraine will succeed Caroline Whalen as DES Director, who is retiring from King County on Sept. 15 after a 29-year County career. Lorraine’s first official day as CAO and Director is Sept. 16. Tom Koney will continue to serve as DES Deputy Director.
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Deputies, on and off-duty, team up to halt Lake Sammamish Fire
Crossposted from the KCSO Newsletter
On the evening of Sunday, Aug. 6, just before 7 p.m., Marine Unit Deputy Matt Martin and Deputy Alex Thomas were making a routine patrol and safety check on Lake Sammamish. During their rounds, they observed a significant plume of smoke forming along the lake’s western shoreline. Sensing a potential danger, Deputies Martin and Thomas went to investigate and located the beginnings of a small brush fire.
Responding promptly, they moored their Marine boat at a dock and immediately acted, utilizing both lake water and their equipment to extinguish the flames. By a fortunate twist of fate, a proactive onlooker from a nearby social event swiftly joined the effort, employing buckets to battle the flames. Coincidentally, this selfless individual happened to be none other than Deputy Connor Paczosa, an off-duty KCSO Deputy who, after a recent viral post, is now fondly known as “the llama guy.”
The combined efforts of this water-wielding trio and several other active bystanders led to the successful containment of the fire before the Bellevue Fire Department arrived. Their collaborative and swift response prevented a potentially hazardous fire from escalating. Great job!
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Excessive heat warning Aug. 14-16
Hotter than normal weather is forecast for our region from Aug. 14-16. Temperatures could reach the low to mid 90’s during the day, and the 60’s to 70’s at night. Here are some tips from Public Health – Seattle & King County to help you manage the heat:
- Check on at-risk friends, family, and neighbors.
- Stay cool.
- Spend time in air-conditioned buildings (such as malls, movie theaters, or libraries) if you can and avoid direct contact with the sun.
- Some cities in King County may offer cooling centers for those who need them.
- Reduce physical activity and move to shaded areas.
- Do outdoor activities in the cooler morning or evening hours.
- Cool your body down quickly by wearing a wet scarf, bandana, or shirt.
- Stay hydrated.
- Drink plenty of water and don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink more.
- Limit or avoid caffeine and alcohol. They can be dehydrating.
- Never leave infants, children, or pets in a parked car, even if the windows are cracked open. It only takes a few minutes for severe medical problems and even death to occur.
- Watch for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Seek medical care immediately if you know someone who experiences symptoms.
Get more tips and advice on these sites:
Public Health – Seattle & King County: Hot weather preparedness
King County Emergency News: It’s a summer heat wave in the NW – what you should know | King County Emergency News (kcemergency.com)
King County Regional Homelessness Authority: Severe Weather Response – KCRHA
King County Water and Land Services: Lake Swimming Beach Bacteria and Temperature
King County Metro: Staying cool and safe on Metro during the heat
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Regional Animal Services partners with Home To Home to help people looking to rehome their pets
Needing to find a new home for a beloved pet is sometimes a difficult reality. While Regional Animal Services of King County strives to ensure surrendered pets have the best possible stay at the Pet Adoption Center, shelters are still a stressful place for animals. That’s why RASKC has partnered with Home To Home, an online interactive pet placement platform, to help people find new homes for their pets.
Home To Home is easy to use. People needing to rehome a pet can visit kingcounty.gov/HomeToHome to register for the service and post a profile of their animal, including pictures and a brief description. Interested adopters can also visit the website to register and search for a new pet. Once a match is made, the current guardian can share information directly with the potential adopter about the pet. Read more.
Employee News 