Celebrating you and your work during Public Service Recognition Week
Dear fellow King County employee,
This week we celebrate your work and the work of every public servant in King County during Public Service Recognition Week, May 7 – 13, 2023.
Your work for the people of King County matters tremendously. Public service creates positive change in our communities, even when it’s behind-the-scenes. The work you do makes a difference in the lives of so many of our residents.
Public service is as wide-ranging and varied as the places we’re from and the paths we’ve traveled. But we are all united by a desire to make this place better, for those of us who are here today and those who will follow. Public service gives us that opportunity.
Every week I meet employees from across our vast, complex organization, and their dedication and commitment to our customers is a constant inspiration to me. The diversity of perspectives, experiences, and skills that you bring to your work enables us to tackle the challenges facing our community and deliver the critical services – day in and day out – that so many people count on.
We face more challenges ahead, but they won’t stop us from pushing forward with our priorities, guided as always by our values and True North: Making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive.
You chose a public service career because you believe in making this a better, fairer, and more welcoming place. I am grateful for your choice and grateful that you chose King County.
Sincerely,
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New PeopleSoft for Managers and Supervisors Course in NEOGOV Learn
The PeopleSoft for Managers and Supervisors on-demand course is now available on NEOGOV Learn. This course introduces managers and supervisors to the Manager Self Service module in PeopleSoft. With your NEOGOV account, you can take this course anytime and anywhere.
In this course, you will learn how King County managers and supervisors use Manager Self Service. This learning experience covers four main modules:
- Basic PeopleSoft navigation
- Commonly used Manager Self Service tiles
- The time approval process (complete with an interactive software simulation)
- Helpful tips and resources
For managers, supervisors, or those aspiring to the role, this course can be found here. Enroll now. For questions, please email BRCTraining@kingcounty.gov.
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Free crisis hotline available
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
988 offers 24/7 access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing mental health-related distress including thoughts of suicide, mental health or substance use crisis, any other kind of emotional distress. Non-English Speakers can call 988 and simply say the name of your preferred language to be connected to an interpreter. People who are hearing impaired can use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988.
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Mental health screening
May is Mental Health Month and it’s a good time to learn about some of the tools, programs, and resources available to support you or your loved ones.
One of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition is to take a mental health screening. Go to Mental Health America for a free screening.
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Grab the hiking boots, leave the car! Trailhead Direct returns May 13
King County’s Trailhead Direct, the weekends and holidays transit-to-trails service, will begin its fifth season on Saturday, May 13, and run through Labor Day, Monday, September 4. Metro and King County Parks, with the support of the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and Amazon, are working together to provide funding for the 2023 season.
This summer, Trailhead Direct continues to focus the transit-to-trails service on the most popular route with stops at trailheads near Mount Si, Mount Teneriffe, and Little Si. Riders can take the bus, Sound Transit Link light rail, or bike to get to the Sound Transit Capitol Hill Link station, where Trailhead Direct coaches will depart every 30 minutes. The 2023 season will include service on Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. Watch the informative video and read more in the official press release.
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‘People need us out there’ Metro Ambassadors engage and inform
Crossposted from Metro Matters
You might see “‘blue jackets” at transit centers, outside schools or on your way to a game at Lumen Field or T-Mobile Park. The people wearing the jackets are Metro Ambassadors and they are there to answer your questions, point you in the right direction and may even have some swag for you.
“I see this as a way to get comfort back,” said ambassador Royce Williams. “To make people comfortable about riding the bus again.” Read more.
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Recognizing DAJD staff during National Correctional Officers and Employees Week
Please join us in acknowledging National Correctional Officers and Employees Week from May 7 to 13.
This is a special opportunity to honor the Corrections Officers, Juvenile Detention Officers, and staff in other varied positions at King County’s Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention (DAJD). These professionals are responsible for operating safe, secure, and humane detention facilities and community corrections programs.
National Correctional Officers Week started in 1984. In 1996, Congress officially modified it to “National Correctional Officers and Employees Week.”
DAJD’s employees often encounter people at the worst time in their lives, after they’ve entered the criminal legal system. DAJD is entrusted with a crucial and challenging role at the intersection of public safety, public health, and the courts. Too often, the compassion DAJD professionals bring to their jobs goes unnoticed. During National Correctional Officers and Employees Week, King County recognizes and appreciates the hard work of DAJD staff as they diligently serve our community and help save and change lives for the better.
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Metro retires @kcmetroalerts, but will keep @KingCountyMetro
Crossposted from Metro Matters
King County Metro will continue to post on @KingCountyMetro, our general news Twitter account. But we will retire our automated, alerts-only Twitter account @kcmetroalerts after today. The information previously shared through @kcmetroalerts will still be available through other trip planning tools. Read more.
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2023 Seattle Pride Parade
2023 Seattle Pride Parade planning is underway. If you are a King County employee and want to be kept up to date on all things Pride Parade, send an email to Leah.Holland@kingcounty.gov with PRIDE INFO 2023 in the subject line.
This year, t-shirt sales will be done completely online and mailed directly to you. The Parade route runs from downtown Seattle to Seattle Center on Sunday, June 25. More info will be sent out soon. Happy PRIDE!
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King County is fixing stuff for free
During Earth Week, a Solid Waste Division program that helps people fix household items for free was featured on KING 5’s Evening Magazine. The program aims to keep items out of the landfill and put them back in use. The repair events are held approximately every month. The program was also featured on the Spanish-language TV channel KUNS.
Employee News 