May is Mental Health Month
A message from Whitney Abrams, Chief People Officer
May is Mental Health Month and as we have seen year over year, mental health continues to be a growing concern in our county and communities. More than half of American adults will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime. We are seeing a growing concern over children’s mental health as well. Many of us, including me, have been impacted by mental illness, either personally or with someone we are close to. The last thing I want is for anyone – whether they are colleagues, family, friends, or strangers – to struggle alone and in silence or not know where to turn for help.
If you are concerned about mental health, there are several options available. For support with mental health for you or a loved one, consider reaching out to a mental health professional covered by King County’s insurance benefits, or to one of our King County Employee Assistance Program mental health counselors. Watch the Balanced You blog, Employee News email, Wellness Wednesday, and common areas at worksites for more information this month on programs and resources that promote mental health and emotional well-being.
Share this:
How the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency impacts your employee medical and pharmacy benefits
During the COVID-19 National Emergency and the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, some benefit coverages expanded temporarily to make it easier for employees to receive care. These emergencies officially end on May 11, 2023, and many of the expanded benefits will return to normal coverage levels and regular deductibles, copays, and coinsurance will apply.
Items that will no longer be covered
- Over-the-counter COVID-19 tests will no longer be covered and will be an out-of-pocket expense.
Medical benefits that are going back to “normal”
- COVID-19 PCR lab tests will be covered when ordered by an in-network provider and your medical plan’s normal cost-sharing amounts will apply.
- Treatment for COVID-19: All treatments and prescription drugs for COVID-19 will be subject to your medical plan’s normal cost-sharing amounts (copays or coinsurance) will apply.
- Telehealth for Regence members (KingCare and KingCare Select) will continue to be covered, and normal plan cost-sharing (copays coinsurance) will apply.
Services that will still be covered 100%
- COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, are considered preventive care, and will continue to be covered at 100% if received from an in-network provider.
- Telehealth for Regence members using Doctor on Demand will continue at no charge. Doctor on Demand is available to the Regular and ATU 587 employee benefit groups.
- Telehealth visits for Kaiser members will continue to be free.
More information
For more information about your King County benefits and coverage, contact the Benefits Team at 206-684-1556 or KC Benefits. For Regence BlueShield Customer Service, call 800-376-7926. For Kaiser Permanente Customer Service, call 888-901-4636.
Share this:
May is Bike Everywhere Month
Yes, everywhere and anywhere. To work, grocery shopping, getting kids to school, your pickleball court, places you’ve been meaning to go. Get even farther when you use a bike to get to your bus, train or boat.
Form a team, join a team on LovetoRide
Challenge or cajole your coworkers, neighbors, family members, friends – or yourself. It’s not all hard-core. Earn points for being a new participant, most rides, miles, different kinds of trips, encouraging others, or rides with kids.
King County’s teams have been among the most active in the past. If you form a team of King County employees, please register your workplace as King County Government, choose your department, then make up your team’s name.
Where to start?
Find lots of useful info at Metro’s Celebrate Bike Month page. Look at events and activities on Cascade Bicycle Club’s 2023 Bike Everywhere Month calendar.
Learn more
- Got a bike? Give it the ABC check – air, brakes, crank/chain/cogs, adjust your helmet, then start rolling.
- Need a bike? Talk to the experts at your local bike shop for new or used models, or check for refurbished ones at the Bikery or Bike Works.
- Test ride an e-bike.
- Rent a bike for several hours to days, or pick up a bike share bike like Lime or Veo in Seattle, just download the apps.
- Remind yourself about safety tips.
Grab a ride-buddy to explore, or sign up for classes or rides ranging from casual to challenging this month and year-round. Time to get out there!
Share this:
Join the King County Ragnar Northwest Passage Relay team
Following the success with a King County team in the annual Ragnar Northwest Passage Relay from Blaine to Langley, the team wants to gauge interest in adding a second King County team of runners this year.
The race is July 14-15; a team is 12 runners in two vans, each taking on three legs. There is still time to register another team by the May 11 deadline, so reach out if you’re interested by emailing Seth Watson.
Share this:
One million trees — and counting!
Cross posted from King County Parks
King County set an ambitious five-year goal in our 2020 Strategic Climate Action Plan to plant, protect, and prepare a combined three million trees by the end of 2025. This effort helps mitigate climate change, improves forest health and salmon habitat, and increases tree canopy.
As of January 2023, over one million trees have been planted, protected, and prepared. This includes:
- Planting more than 200,000 trees
- Protecting 615,000 trees (more than 2,000 acres of forests and natural areas)
- Preparing and restoring 200,000 trees (more than 650 acres of forested areas)
Share this:
New Capitol Hill Health through Housing building announced
King County Executive Dow Constantine and City of Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell announced the operators for the newest Health Through Housing building — a 35-unit building providing permanent supportive housing in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood.
The building will be jointly operated by Lavender Rights Project and Chief Seattle Club and is expected to welcome residents this fall. Read more.
Share this:
Moving forward together: Meet Metro’s Tyler Jenicek
The many years as a skateboarder on an extreme sports touring group helps Tyler Jenicek’s (he/him) ability to serve King County residents with a higher level of mobility needs and supports. “Maybe it starts out a little slow and they’re a little scared. But then something about when they roll off their first curb or they go down their first bank or they drop in for the first time on a halfpipe, it’s like that’s kind of the adrenaline and the excitement that somehow tends to pull people in that you wouldn’t necessarily think it would grab. That’s one cool thing about skateboarding. It’s such a community driven thing.” Read more.
More about the American Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pasifika Affinity Group
The next American Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pasifika (AANHP) virtual gathering will take place on Wednesday, May 10 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. via Teams.
If you are interested in attending this online event or getting connected to the AANHP community at King County, reach out to the co-Chairs, Helen Potter (hpotter@kingcounty.gov) and Guru Dorje (guru.dorje@kingcounty.gov).
Learn more about King County Affinity groups at www.kingcounty.gov/AffinityGroups.
Share this:
KCSO Bomb Disposal Unit participates in community outreach
From the Sheriff’s newsletter
The King County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU) conducts community outreach as an important part of their work. This outreach provides support for Citizen’s Academy courses, educational support for schools, and inspires and uplifts youth programs in the field of robotics.
Last month, Bomb Technicians David Mendez, Jeremy Todd, and JD Williams assisted the Tahoma School District and City of Maple Valley by providing presentations and robot demonstrations.
Deputies Mendez and Todd participated in the Tahoma School District Science Fair at Tahoma High School. The science fair is an annual event with hundreds of participants from many grade levels. BDU robots are always a hit with students and families. This year BDU met with the Bear Metal Robotics Team for Tahoma High School who developed a robot to climb monkey bars.
Deputies Williams and Mendez provided support to Robin Larsen and Micki Christensen who coordinated the Maple Valley Citizen’s Academy. The academy is always a great opportunity to provide attendees with a more in-depth explanation of the BDU’s work, giving a presentation and demonstration of the equipment used to render safe hazardous devices.
Share this:
Earth Day is brighter at Metro this year
Cross-posted from Metro Matters
Metro has undertaken a wide range of actions to meet the challenge of climate change in the Puget Sound region. The most visible investment is seen in the buses as part of the commitment to a zero-emissions fleet — but that is only one part of the many initiatives happening across the agency.
Another example is the recent transition to high-efficient LEDs at all Metro worksites. This undertaking involved the evaluation of over 26,000 bulbs of varying types and the replacement of older and inefficient light fixtures to LEDs. Read more.
Share this:
West Point Treatment Plant laying the foundation for climate change resilience
Cross-posted from Clean Water Stories
Crews are working around the clock to quickly stand up the power system that will provide reliable power to clean wastewater at West Point, the region’s largest treatment plant.
This project will make the treatment system more resilient to climate impacts as the region experiences more frequent, severe storms that can cause momentary voltage sags, and prevent emergency bypasses of wastewater to the Puget Sound. Read more and watch the video.
Employee News 