COVID-19 Child Care Reimbursement Program now available
A new temporary program will provide $500 to $5,000 tax-free to those in the Regular Employee Benefits Group to reimburse them for child care provided during the 2020/2021 school year.
The COVID-19 Child Care Reimbursement Program was created by King County management and unions in the Joint Labor Management Insurance Committee (JLMIC) in response to the overwhelming impacts of COVID-19 on working parents. It is funded with $9M from the Protected Fund Reserve of the JLMIC.
Who can participate?
If you are enrolled in the Regular Employee Benefits Plan, you can be reimbursed for child care expenses provided for children 12 or younger and children 13 or older with documented special needs, such as a diagnosed medical disability or an Individualized Education Program (IEP). This includes your children, stepchildren, foster children, or children for whom you are the legal guardian.
For complete details, go to Eligible employees and children.
How the program works
- You pay for covered services, then submit a claim with receipts to the program administrator at Navia Benefit Solutions or use a paper claim form.
- The total available reimbursement amount ranges from $500 to $5,000 per child and is based on your King County income. Employees who earn lower salaries or wages are eligible to receive higher payments. If you earn less than $80,00 per year, you may receive up to the program maximum of $5,000 per child. If you earn more than $80,000, you are eligible for lower amounts. Log in to Navia Benefit Solutions to see your maximum eligible reimbursement amount.
- Child care services provided from Sept. 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021, are eligible for reimbursement.
- Covered expenses include payments to both licensed and unlicensed child care providers, including preschools, school-age programs, nannies, au pairs, tutors, extended family members (such as, an aunt, uncle, or grandparent), friends, and neighbors. For details about what’s covered, go to Eligible Expenses.
Program dates
- Child care expenses incurred during the 2020-2021 school year, Sept. 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021, are eligible for reimbursement.
- The program ends on the earlier of the following dates:
- June 30, 2021
- The date that program funding is exhausted
- The date that the federally-declared national disaster for COVID-19 ends
- For details and claims submission deadlines, go to Program dates.
If you have eligible children covered on your King County medical plan, you should receive a welcome email this week from Navia Benefit Solutions with account access and claim submission instructions. Employees who don’t have a King County email address will receive a letter in the mail.
For additional information about this program, go to the COVID-19 child care reimbursement program webpage or contact the King County Benefits Team at KC Benefits or 206-684-1556.
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Panel discussion on understanding ableism, Jan. 21
The King County Disability Consortium is hosting an online community discussion on ableism, the intersection of racism and disability, and where there is still work to do.
Understanding Ableism: Nothing About Us, Without Us is an informative panel discussion on how people with disabilities/disabled people define ableism and how it shows up in their own lives.
The panel will also discuss the intersection of disability and other marginalized identities, especially race, other people’s role in combating ableism, how disability justice meshes with other civil rights issues and ways we can all support our collective work. The online event takes place on Zoom on Thursday, Jan. 21, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and you can register here. Your attendance is voluntary, and employees will not be compensated or receive overtime for participating. ASL and CART are provided. For other accessibility considerations, please email events@disabilitypride.org.
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Please join me today, Jan. 14, for MLK Day Celebration
Dear fellow King County employee,
I am writing to invite you to the 2021 King County Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration today, Thursday, Jan. 14, from noon to 1 p.m.
While public health guidance won’t allow us to gather in person this year, I, along with the MLK Celebration Planning Committee, the Black/African Affinity Group, the Native American Leadership Council, and Council Chair Claudia Balducci, are hoping that you will join us to honor the life and legacy of our County’s namesake, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
This year’s event comes at a time when Dr. King’s challenge to America to grow up and grow out of its stunted adolescence and live up to its promise should be ringing loudly in all our ears and guiding our every action. It also comes at a time of hope and opportunity, when the calls for racial justice and an end to systematic racism have finally been heard; when we are accelerating our equity and social justice work, and reorienting our priorities, policies, and budget in order to meet our True North – a welcoming King County where all people can thrive.
I am committed to using my position to advance this critical work, pressing harder to implement the transformational pro-equity and racial justice work that we have begun here in Martin Luther King Jr. County. On the heels of 2020, a year like none of us has ever witnessed, we must move with urgency to truly honor and continue the work of Dr. King.
I am honored and proud to have Dr. Ben Danielson join us as our keynote speaker at the 2021 Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration. Dr. Danielson is a staunch advocate for the health and well-being of children and families, especially those with low incomes. He is a nationally recognized leader on health equity and dismantling systems that continue to perpetuate harm, particularly toward low-income and Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities. He is a clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington. For 20 years, he served as the medical director of Seattle Children’s Hospital’s Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic, based out of Seattle’s Central District, a historically Black neighborhood. He also helped found the Washington Medical-Legal Partnership, which trains doctors to recognize when societal forces outside the examination room contribute to health problems. Dr. Danielson continues to have profound impact on our county’s equity work through Best Starts for Kids and the Children and Youth Advisory Board.
I also look forward to honoring Gerald W. Donaldson, a Family Support Worker at Leschi Elementary School and recipient of the First Annual Larry Gossett Service Award which honors former Councilmember Gossett’s service to the people of King County. His leadership exemplifies the values and work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
To join our celebration, please visit the 2021 King County MLK Celebration website today, Thursday, Jan. 14, from noon to 1 p.m. You can also tune into KCTV Channels 22 and 322 (HD) at noon today.
Please stay strong and stay safe and plan to join us for this important event where we will honor Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., his values, and ongoing legacy in our community and work.
Sincerely,
Dow Constantine
King County Executive
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Teleworking employees impacted by power outages
Dear employee,
Power outages are affecting some employees’ ability to effectively work remotely today.
If you are unable to telework effectively today, please contact your supervisor to discuss other options for completing work tasks today. These may include taking leave or working from your regular King County worksite for today only.
If you are currently teleworking and have an operational need to work at your regular King County worksite today, please obtain supervisor approval. If you do have to go into an office area, please ensure you wear a mask over your nose and mouth, and continue to follow all current guidance to protect yourself and others from COVID-19, including staying at least six feet away from others, limiting activities outside the home, avoiding crowds, and washing hands often.
NOTE: This guidance applies to Executive Branch employees who are currently telecommuting. Employees in other branches of County government (definitions below) may receive additional guidance from their leaders.
Executive Branch departments: Department of Assessments, Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention, Department of Executive Services, Department of Community and Human Services, Department of Human Resources, Department of Judicial Administration, Department of Local Services, Metro Transit Department, Department of Natural Resources and Park, Department of Public Defense, Department of Public Health, Executive Department, King County Elections, King County Sheriff’s Office (The King County Sheriff’s Office is administered by the King County Sheriff).
Other branches of County government: District Court, King County Council, Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Superior Court.
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Update on rollout of COVID-19 vaccines
Dear fellow King County employee,
Last week I announced $7 million to create high-volume community vaccination sites and mobile teams so that as many people as possible in our community can receive COVID-19 vaccinations as quickly as possible.
My strategy is closely aligned with Washington State Department of Health (DOH) guidance for vaccine allocation, prioritization, and distribution. DOH has released a priority plan for vaccinating people in the next tiers, starting with Tier B1 potentially later this month. It has also released a chart showing estimated timelines for vaccine distribution, which contains some professions in which many County employees work, including corrections, transit, and law enforcement.
The rollout of vaccines is exciting news and is central to our efforts to end this pandemic, and people are anxiously awaiting news on when they may be eligible for vaccination.
It is important to remember that these timelines are estimates at this point, and are dependent upon several factors, including future federal vaccine allocations.
We continue to work closely with our state colleagues as well as partners in the community and at all levels of government to ensure COVID-19 vaccines are distributed quickly, safely, and equitably in King County and in communities across the state.
We will share more information on the vaccine distribution plan as more details become available. In the meantime, please continue to follow all current guidance, including wearing a mask, staying at least six feet away from others, limiting activities outside the home and avoiding crowds, washing hands often, and following CDC travel guidance and quarantine guidance after an exposure to someone with COVID-19.
Stay safe,
Dow Constantine
King County Executive
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We’ve moved to a better, more modern standard Internet browser
Many of us at King County recently were moved to the Modern Edge browser, which is faster and runs all web applications previously accessed with Internet Explorer and Edge Legacy. The move doesn’t impact any other browsers employees may currently have on their devices, such as Chrome or Firefox.
Last week, a vendor inadvertently hastened the move to the Modern Edge browser by changing settings for many county users. This meant if you previously had Internet Explorer or Microsoft Edge, you were moved to Microsoft Modern Edge ahead of KCIT’s schedule. We regret users didn’t receive advance notice. However, all employees need the Modern Browser to work more effectively with applications and web-based content.
Here is some information to help with the move to the new browser:
Below are icons for the different browsers:
With the first launch of Modern Edge you’ll see the screen below.
- It’s now safe to sync your settings.
You may also be prompted to import your Favorites and set Modern Edge as your default browser. This is encouraged as it is the new standard browser for King County.
- Training for the Modern Edge browser is available here.
Other users will be moved starting Jan. 22. A revised schedule for browser updates will be communicated once it is complete; anyone who was not moved will be notified when the changes occur.
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Special Online Event for Veteran and Military Employees, January 21, Noon – 1:30 p.m.
King County is hosting a special online event for veteran and military employees on Jan. 21. Employees and family members are invited to join us for one or all of the virtual presentations below. Register HERE (open only to King County employees and family members).
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Award Presentation
Noon – 12:15 p.m.
King County Executive Dow Constantine will accept the Pro Patria Award from the Washington State ESGR Committee. The Pro Patria Award is presented annually to one small, one large, and one public sector employer in their state. Recipients have demonstrated the greatest support to Guard and Reserve employees through their leadership and human resources policies that make it easier for employees to participate in the National Guard and Reserve. This is the highest-level award that may be bestowed by an ESGR State Committee. Presenter: Phil Sanders, Chair, Washington State ESGR Committee
Veterans Benefits, Resources and Q &A
12:15 – 1:15 p.m.
Learn about the variety of services and benefits available to Veterans, spouses, and dependents offered through the Veterans Administration (VA). Additionally, the VA will share how they are navigating COVID to best serve the community. We will also broadly discuss services related to housing stability, employment, financial stability, emergency support, well-being, legal, and burial. You will learn where to go to seek assistance through King County as well as assistance navigating other resources. This information will be relevant to all Veterans, spouses, or dependents of Veterans, regardless of when the Veteran served. Presenters: Pritz Navaratnasingam, Regional Director for Veteran Benefits Administration AND Leon Richardson, Deputy Division Director, Adult Services, King County Department of Community and Human Services
Veteran/Military Affinity Group (V-MAG) Mission Statement
1:15 – 1:30 p.m.
Learn about the work that the V-MAG is doing and how you can be involved. Presenter: Renita Borders, V-MAG Co-Chair
This “Special Online Event” is sponsored by King County’s Veteran and Military Affinity Group (V-MAG). The group’s mission is to “provide guidance, resources and mutual support to our network of veteran and military employees. We strive to make King County a more equitable workplace that attracts, retains and develops veteran and military employees so they may achieve their full potential and thrive.”
This “Special Online Event” is sponsored by King County’s Veteran and Military Affinity Group (V-MAG). The group’s mission is to “provide guidance, resources and mutual support to our network of veteran and military employees. We strive to make King County a more equitable workplace that attracts, retains and develops veteran and military employees so they may achieve their full potential and thrive.”
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Protect yourself from unemployment fraud
With additional stimulus and unemployment payments on their way to many Americans, please be aware that scams and fraud attempts are expected to rise.
Last year, Washington state experienced an alarming rise in fraudulent unemployment claims as victims’ identities were used to file false unemployment claims with the Employment Security Department (ESD), including here in King County.
Please see our recommendations for how you can protect your identity and finances, as well as steps to take if you are a victim of this fraud.
To protect yourself from fraud
Employees should consider setting up their own account with ESD to prevent a fraudulent account being created in their name at https://secure.esd.wa.gov/home/. If an account exists that you did not create, please contact ESD immediately.
If you are a fraud victim
If you have received a letter from ESD, or if you believe that you are a victim of unemployment fraud, there are several steps that you should take to report this issue to protect your financial identity and credit history:
1. Step One – Contact HR
- Please contact your Human Resources Manager as well as the Department of Human Resources’ unemployment coordinator Elisha Mackey at elisha.mackey@kingcounty.gov.
- Please include a copy of the letter that was mailed to your home so that we can notify our third-party vendor, Employer’s Edge.
2. Step Two – Contact ESD
ESD’s preferred contact method is online at the ESD Unemployment Benefits Fraud website. ESD will ask that you use their Online Fraud Reporting Form to alert them as they are receiving an extremely high number of calls and no longer have email available.
You will need to include the following information when you contact ESD:
- Your full name
- Last four digits of your Social Security number
- Your address, date of birth, and phone number
- Information on how you learned a claim was filed on your behalf
3. Step Three – Police report
- File an online or non-emergency report with the law enforcement agency whose jurisdiction you live in.
- Seattle residents can file an online report at the City of Seattle Online Reporting website.
- King County residents can file an online report at the King County Online Reporting website.
- Start keeping a file folder or journal with the information from this incident, including any case numbers. Some government services and accommodations are available to victims of identity theft that are not available to the general public, such as getting certain public records sealed.
4. Step Four – FTC Identity Theft report
- File an Identity Theft report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) via their online form at www.identitytheft.gov.
- Review the materials available from the FTC about how to respond to, limit the damage from, and start recovering from identity theft. You can find useful and reassuring resources at the FTC Consumer Information Identity Theft site and www.identitytheft.gov.
5. Step Five – The three major credit bureaus
- Obtain your free credit reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion at www.annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228.
- Report to the credit bureaus that the fraudulent claim was made using your identity and provide them with the case number from your police report. You can have a fraud alert put on your identity or freeze your credit. Doing either is free by law.
- A fraud alert is free and will make it harder for someone to open new accounts in your name. To place a fraud alert, contact one of the three credit bureaus. That company must tell the other two.
- Equifax: 1-888-766-0008
- Experian: 1-888-397-3742
- TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
- Check your credit activity at least once a year. As a victim of identity theft, you have the right to check it monthly if you choose.
- Credit Freeze – If you do not have upcoming large purchases, such as a home, you may want to freeze your credit for more protection. It is free, and you can do it yourself. Learn more at the FTC Consumer Identity Credit Freeze site.
6. Step Six – Keep your notes
- Hang on to any notes, copies of emails, etc. This is the paper trail that you can reference if you face any identity issues or locate inaccuracies on your credit history sometime in the future.
If you are a victim of identity fraud, please make sure you follow these steps. They may seem like more work than they are worth; however, they are crucial in helping you recover and combat this crime nationwide.
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2021 Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, January 14
Community members and King County employees are invited to join in honoring our nation’s foremost human rights leader and King County’s namesake, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, in a virtual celebration on Thursday, Jan. 14.
The theme for the 2021 Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration is “Creating the Beloved Community” and the accompanying quote is “A democracy cannot thrive where power remains unchecked and justice is reserved for a select few. Ignoring these cries and failing to respond to this movement is simply not an option — for peace cannot exist where justice is not served.” – US Congressman John Lewis
The 2021 Celebration keynote will be delivered by Dr. Ben Danielson, Former Director of the Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic. The event will also include music and a spoken word performance. More details are available on the event website.
Essential employees that are reporting to their regularly assigned work site can order a 2021 MLK Jr. calendar by using this online order form. There is a limit of one calendar per employee and is only available via interoffice mail for King County staff. The calendar is not available for King County staff working from home. Digital media that centers this year’s artwork, theme and quote including a virtual meeting background, desktop background, and phone lock screen background will be available soon for download to employees who are teleworking.
The 2021 Larry Gossett Service Award nomination is now closed. The award recipient for the first annual Larry Gossett Service Award will be announced at the celebration. This year’s celebration is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021, noon to 1 p.m. It will be a virtual event in keeping with Public Health guidance and safety. King County employees and community members will be able to access the event link on the event website on Jan. 14. Community members will also be able to tune into KCTV Channels 22 and 322 (HD) at 12pm on Jan. 14 to watch the event.
For more information contact Michael Padilla, MPadillaOCampo@kingcounty.gov.
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Balanced You: 2020 Reflections and 2021 Highlights
As we welcome in 2021, we at Balanced You want to take a moment to reflect on the growing importance of well-being in 2020 and share our plans for this coming year.
If there is a silver lining on the last year, it’s the realization at every level of the organization that well-being needs to be a priority for all of us. Over the last year we heard through surveys and listening sessions how your well-being was challenged by social unrest, the pandemic, and the presidential election. We were inspired by those of you who adapted self-care practices to the changing environment, and we were grateful to leaders who openly discussed mental health and well-being, normalizing the impacts we were all feeling. We learned a lot over the last year which we will carry forward into 2021 to support employees.
Read this Balanced You blogpost for reflections on 2020, new programs that were launched, and what our plans are for supporting employee well-being in 2021.
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