Trading a sick day to help end homelessness
Team members from King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) Director’s Office traded a sick day to volunteer with Sound Foundations NW (SFNW) and be part of the solution to end homelessness in our community.
At the Hope Factory in SODO, they worked as a team on an assembly line to construct the frame of a tiny home which will provide shelter for someone experiencing homelessness. This tiny home is 96 square feet and will be set-up at the new Friendship Heights Village at Aurora and 125th in Seattle later this month.
SFNW says the main function of a tiny home is to get the person off the streets and into a space that is warm, safe, and dry. Many of the village residents then go on to move into long-term or permanent housing.
This DNRP team volunteer event was also part of the King County Employee Giving Program’s annual giving drive, as SFNW is associated with Low Income Housing Institution (LIHI), which is one of the nonprofits in the giving drive.
To learn how to help out in the community and volunteer with Sound Foundations NW visit www.soundfoundationsnw.org.
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Meaningful ways to thank a veteran for their service
This article is courtesy of the King County Veterans and Military Affinity Group
This Veterans Day, America will pause to honor those who have served in the military. Most Americans hold those who have served in high regard, yet sometimes are unsure how to properly thank a veteran without unintentionally saying the wrong thing, appearing intrusive, or somehow offending them.
While it is customary to offer a “thank you for your service” to veterans, you could instead say:
- “Thank you for putting your life on hold to serve our country.”
- “Thank you for the sacrifices you made being away from your family.”
- “Thank you for stepping up and choosing to serve when many others didn’t.”
But don’t stop there. Follow up by asking them if they have an interesting military story they might like to share. In fact, most veterans would be happy to share their military stories about coming of age, lifelong friends they’ve made, humorous situations, locations they’ve traveled to, cultures they’ve explored, and more. Here are examples of questions you could ask to begin the conversation:
- What inspired you to join the military, and how did you choose your branch of service?
- What was your job and what was the most rewarding part of doing it?
- What was your training like?
- What is the funniest thing that ever happened to you in the military?
- Was the food as bad as we hear?
- What are some of the things you remember about military life that you enjoyed?
- If you saw multiple deployments, how did they differ from each other? What did you enjoy about them?
- Did you go overseas? If so, what surprised you the most about serving abroad?
It is also important to know the types of questions to not ask. These questions include: Did you ever kill anyone? Did you see dead bodies? What was the worst thing you ever saw or that happened to you? Do you have PTSD? Did you see any action? How could you leave your family for so long? These sorts of questions often make those who served feel uncomfortable, and can be deemed as disrespectful.
So, on this Veterans Day and every day, the biggest sign of respect you can show to a veteran is to get to know them. Asking them about their military service and showing interest is the best way to express your gratitude for the many sacrifices they have made. For more information about those who choose to serve, please see this article from the Veterans Administration, 15 Things Veterans Would Like You to Know.
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Showing support for employees who serve in the U.S. National Guard or Reserves
This article is courtesy of the King County Veterans and Military Affinity Group
People join the National Guard and Reserves for a variety of reasons. Participating in the Guard and Reserve enables them to continue with their civilian jobs while still serving our country and being part of something greater than themselves. Their success and ability to focus on their varied missions depend on the support they receive not just from their families but also from their employer, direct supervisor, and fellow co-workers.
King County is truly proud to have more than 100 employees who choose to serve in the National Guard and Reserves. In fact, King County was bestowed the “Above and Beyond Award” in 2018 by the U.S. Department of Defense, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, for the generous benefits we offer those who serve. However, benefits are just one piece; the support each of us chooses to provide to our fellow co-workers who serve can be very impactful and meaningful.
Below are some ways in which to show our support for those who serve:
- Plan and prepare: The supervisor and coworkers can work with the service member to prepare for both planned and unplanned emergency (e.g. natural disaster) mobilizations and deployments, and create a plan of action in advance to make sure staff are trained and know how to step in to handle the work.
- Meet with service member: The supervisor, HR and co-workers are encouraged to meet with the Reserve or National Guard employee and ask, “How can I support you?” and if comfortable, also ask, “Is there some way in which I can support your family?” Unplanned deployments and mobilizations can be hard on the employee’s family. Offering to check in with the family or offer help in some other way can go a long way in alleviating some of the service member’s stress.
- Stay in touch: Keep the service member “in the loop” with what is going on at work. Information to share might include positive changes in the workplace (e.g., new projects or hires) and social information (e.g., a coworker had a baby, a new walking group started). This can be done with monthly letters and occasional e-mails. Staying in touch helps enhance the service member’s morale and feel remembered, especially if they are away during holidays. It is helpful to even consider sending a “care package” when they are deployed.
- Develop a reintegration plan: When it is time for the employee to return, the supervisor can discuss with the service member:
- What the employee can expect (e.g., what tasks have been delegated to others, if they will be working in the same or a different role, if and how procedures have changed).
- What the employee would like or find helpful in returning to work (e.g., written instructions for new procedures, additional meetings with management to get caught up on what they have missed, flexible work schedule).
- How the employee would like to be treated regarding their deployment (e.g., would they prefer not to discuss it, would they like to share what they did while they were away).
- What training, re-training, or accommodations need to be put into place.
Given this list, let us each now consider ways in which we can recognize and support our co-workers who choose to serve.
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KingCare Select members: Choose your Primary Care Provider
A Primary Care Provider (PCP) can make a big difference in your health by delivering continuity of care. This means you and your PCP establish a partnership over time to achieve the best possible health outcomes.
Next year, if you are enrolled in the KingCare Select medical plan, you must choose a PCP and let Regence know who you selected by calling them at 888-367-2112, visiting regence.com/pick-a-pcp, or emailing cs@regence.com.
If you’re not sure which medical plan you are enrolled in, check your medical ID card or login to PeopleSoft and go to the Benefits tile.
Each person covered on KingCare Select will receive an ID card with their PCP listed. If you don’t choose a PCP, Regence will assign one to you based on providers you have seen in the past or based on where you live.
You can change your PCP at any time.
To learn more, including how to find an in-network PCP:
- Read Having a primary care provider is good for your health
- Watch the KingCare Select PCP video
- See the PCP FAQ.
For information about Open Enrollment, attend a virtual information session. Register at: Open Enrollment Education Session or Transit Open Enrollment Education session. If you can’t attend an information session, watch the Open Enrollment Overview video.
For additional information, contact the King County Benefits Team at KC Benefits or 206-684-1556.
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Supporting veterans and military organizations through the 2021 Annual Giving Drive
As part of the 2021 Annual Giving Drive, we are highlighting nonprofits whose work supports organizations committed to veterans and military issues. These and hundreds of nonprofits are participating in this year’s Annual Giving Drive.
- Hitching Rail Wellness Center and Retreat (10019) – Provides a center which utilizes horses as a curative tool for helping the recovery of military veterans and first responders who are suffering from P.T.S.D.
- Operation Restored Warrior (4186) – Healing veterans of PTSD through a life-changing five-day program at no cost to the veteran. Led by combat veterans.
- USO Northwest (9585) – The mission of the USO is to strengthen America’s military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country, throughout their service to the nation.
You can go online or use a paper form by Friday, Nov. 19, to make a pledge to your favorite Employee Giving Program nonprofits by:
- Payroll donation: One-time, once–per-month, or twice-per-month.
- Time donation: Eligible vacation or comp time. See your department Lead Ambassador for details in your office.
- Check or credit card: Made out directly to the nonprofit.
- Volunteering: Up to three sick days per calendar year at a nonprofit in the EGP (for non-represented and employees whose union has approved this benefit, including those covered by the Master Labor Agreement).
For more information, contact your Employee Giving Program Ambassador, visit www.kingcounty.gov/giving, email EmployeeGiving@KingCounty.gov, call 206-263-9372, or attend an online Nonprofit Expo.
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Powering regional recovery by inclusion
Every October, King County recognizes Disability Employment Awareness Month, celebrating the many contributions of people with disabilities to our communities, workforce, and country.
As part of our everyday values, King County employees have been working to expand inclusion in the workforce, civic life, and recreation. During the coronavirus pandemic, inclusion means making sure that people with disabilities have access to the basics: food, transportation options, and access to vaccines and health care.
In 2021, the Disability Awareness Month Committee gathered stories about King County employees working to improve accessibility, provide services, and engage people with disabilities.
Click here to read more about programs and employee-led efforts to improve access and inclusion. You’ll also find resources and ideas. Together, we can all make King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive!
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Domestic Violence Advocates build meaningful relationships with survivors
October was Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and in observance, it is important to highlight the work King County is doing to support survivors of domestic violence in King County.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, on average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the U.S., resulting in over 10 million people each year. Here in our region, in 2020 the number of domestic violence-related felony charge referrals, the most serious legal filing, did not decrease, despite temporary court closures, the statewide stay at home orders and social distancing guidelines. A data dashboard compiled by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (PAO) and Public Health – Seattle & King County, shows that from April to August 2020 there were over 100 domestic violence protection orders filed, and the highest call volume from King County residents to the National Domestic Violence Hotline was from April to July.
To address this need, the PAO includes a Domestic Violence (DV) Unit, staffed by DV Victim Advocates, who work with individual survivors to review their cases and navigate the criminal system.
Pictured: Kimberly Altamirano
“The DV Unit holds people accountable for the crimes that are committed against family members and intimate partners,” said Kimberly Altamirano, a current DV Victim Advocate. She started with King County in 2018 working in the PAO Criminal Division, before moving into the Victim Assistance Unit, and now the DV Unit.
Kimberly shares why it is essential for King County to do this work, and advocate for the community.
“Advocacy is important for survivors of domestic violence because sometimes it’s the only support that survivors have,” she said. “Many survivors have been isolated away from friends and family and don’t know who they can turn to for help. It is important that they have someone that they can connect with for resources.”
Fellow DV Victim Advocate Graciela Hernandez also emphasizes the work to hold perpetrators of domestic violence felonies accountable. Graciela started with the County in January 2021 in the Protection Order Advocacy Program and transitioned to the DV Unit in July.
Pictured: Graciela Hernandez
“As advocates, our overall purpose is to make sure that victims feel validated and supported as they navigate the criminal system,” she said. “Experiencing domestic violence can be a traumatic and heartbreaking experience for many survivors. On top of this, navigating the criminal justice system can be confusing and challenging.”
“Being an advocate for survivors is important because we are here to help people navigate this process in a way in which they feel supported and validated.”
Kimberly and Graciela are part of a team that supports survivors of felony domestic cases being reviewed for filing by the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Their work includes helping survivors create safety plans and understand the process of filing a case, and offering resources and referrals.
They share how the need for DV support impacts everyone, especially in a region like King County that has so many distinct ethnic groups. Both women are also bilingual, and regularly work with Spanish speaking survivors.
“King County is very diverse in population and it is important that victim-centered advocacy is provided for the community,” Kimberly said.
“Domestic violence occurs everywhere, and it can happen to anyone,” Graciela explains. “Doing this work is especially important for survivors who are a part of marginalized communities that often face unique barriers to safety and justice.”
“I love being able to assist Spanish speaking survivors in their native language. This helps create trust and offers culturally competent services,” she added.
The work can be challenging but is also rewarding. While navigating the system can be difficult, making case outcomes confusing and intimidating to DV survivors, Kimberly and Graciela are proud to be part of a team, and office, that prioritize building meaningful relationships with survivors.
“I really enjoy being able to connect with people, especially the Spanish-speaking community,” Kimberly said. “And I make it a point to create a space that allows the survivors that I work with to be themselves without worrying about how they need to present themselves.”
“Often times, survivors feel confused and intimidated as they go through the criminal process and to see their confidence build up as the case moves along is amazing,” said Graciela. “I enjoy the collaborative process that advocates have with prosecutors. Although our roles are different and our opinions on these cases may differ, we work closely together and try our best to do right by survivors.”
Through their work with the DV Unit, Kimberly and Graciela regularly work with survivors to overcome their trauma and find resolution. This work takes great strength, and both women credit not only their colleagues but their families as inspiration and support.
“My children are what keep me going through the rough times that come up while doing this work,” said Graciela.
“My mother is a survivor of domestic violence, and I always remember how difficult it was for her to talk to an advocate,” said Kimberly. “She is a daily reminder of why I love the work that I do.”
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Vets 4 Hire program expands funding
The Vets 4 Hire program, which offers on-the-job learning experiences for veterans, is now approved to offer King County agencies up to a full year of financial support when hiring military veterans into veteran fellowship experiences, doubling the amount previously available.
The program, financed by the Veterans, Seniors & Human Service Levy, reimburses King County departments to cover half of the veteran’s wages up to a maximum of $7,812 after six months of the veteran’s experience. If the department wants to extend the veteran’s experience another six months, up to an additional $7,812 is reimbursed at the one- year mark, based on available funds.
“King County departments identify practical, hands-on learning opportunities in a variety of fields,” said Susan Navetski, the Vets 4 Hire program manager in the Department of Human Resources, “The veteran serves in an intern — or fellow — capacity, either part-time or full-time, and the program is available year-round.”
Pay is based on military rank and education and includes some benefits. This flexibility allows for multiple positions throughout the different King County agencies, departments, and teams, offering veterans diversity in skill-building experiences.
The Vets 4 Hire program team works with the hiring manager and their HR staff to streamline the hiring process by providing access to a current veteran candidate pool and a selection process framework. Continued employment for the veteran is at the department’s discretion.
“Veterans are experienced working with diverse cultures, bring a team-first mentality and leadership skills that they’ve earned through intense training and experience,” according to Navetski. “But even more important is that they tend to have a sense of service for the community. You can’t teach that.”
Funding for this program is limited. If you’re interested in finding out more about the Vets 4 Hire program, contact your department HR or Susan Navetski at 206-477-3271 or by email at susan.navetski@kingcounty.gov.
The Vets 4 HIRE program receives funding from the Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy (VSHSL). The VSHSL promotes healthy living, financial stability, social engagement, housing stability and service system access for veterans, seniors, and vulnerable populations.
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King County employees launch Disability Affinity Group
The King County Disability Affinity Group hosted an official kick-off and held its first informational session on October 25.
The launch of this new affinity group (aka employee resource group) is an important piece in furthering the County’s commitment to disability equity, and reaching our True North, “Making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive.”
The Disability Affinity Group aims to serve the disability community through fellowship, by providing support, and in the co-creation of equitable policies, practices, and approaches – all in service to the disability community, including King County employees. The affinity group is supported by the Office of Equity and Social Justice (OESJ) and the Department of Community & Human Resources (DCHS).
“We look forward to working in partnership with the OESJ and the rest of the County to inform the County’s efforts to effectively serve persons with disabilities in King County, and to recognize and honor the intersectionality of race and disability in our work,” said the Disability Affinity Group Co-Chairs, Karla Lynch and Lili Stansberry.
“On behalf of the County Executive and myself, I want to say a sincere thank you to all the members of this inaugural group, including our two co-chairs and all who will bring their lived experience, skills commitment and knowledge to this important effort,” said Anita Whitfield, Director of the Office of Equity and Social Justice, and King County’s Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer.
The launch of this new affinity group continues the County’s efforts to effectively serve and co-create with the disability community. Working with disability community advocates, OESJ developed and the King County Council unanimously passed the County’s first Disability Equity Action Plan last month. This plan highlights more than legal compliance; it centers the County’s commitment to disability equity as a key component to meeting the County’s True North. According to Anita, disability equity will also be an important part of the next iteration of King County’s Equity & Social Justice strategic plan.
For more information about the Disability Affinity Group, email disabilityequity@kingcounty.gov.
If you are interested in learning more about the County’s various Affinity Groups and how you can plug in to them, visit King County Affinity Groups.
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Get the most from your King County employee benefits
Open Enrollment for 2022 benefits continues until Friday, Nov. 15.
Get the most out of your robust King County employee benefits package by finding out what’s offered in 2022 and by participating in Open Enrollment.
- Attend a virtual information session: Learn about the 2022 benefit changes and get your questions answered at live information sessions hosted by the Benefits Team. This event is offered on a variety of days and times to accommodate your schedules. Register here: Open Enrollment Education Session or here: Transit Open Enrollment Education session
- Watch an Open Enrollment overview video: If you can’t attend an information session, the Open Enrollment Overview video covers similar information.
- Go to the Open Enrollment website: A wealth of information and tools, including 2022 benefit changes, medical plan comparisons, and information about Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Benefit Access Fees, can be found at Kingcounty.gov/Open-Enrollment
- Complete Open Enrollment Nov. 1–15: Log in to PeopleSoft from your work computer or personal device: https://ess.kingcounty.gov. If you choose not to participate, you will not be enrolled in FSAs for next year and if you cover a spouse/domestic partner, the Benefit Access Fee linked to your medical plan will be applied. Other benefits will remain the same.
For additional information, contact the King County Benefits Team at KC Benefits or 206-684-1556.
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