King County honored with workplace mental health award
Whitney Abrams, Chief People Officer, King County Executive Office
I am proud to announce that King County has been awarded the 2020 Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health at the Platinum, highest, level by Mental Health America (MHA).
The Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health is a first-of-its-kind workplace mental health certification that recognizes employers who strive to improve employee mental health and create a psychologically safe workplace for all employees. It recognizes the comprehensiveness of our mental health approach at a time when we are expecting higher mental and behavioral health concerns due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing racial injustice, and we are thrilled to be among the first organizations to receive this distinction.
The Bell Seal certification sends the message that King County is a national leader in workplace mental health. Bell Seal-certified organizations complete a rigorous evaluation of their workplace policies and practices in five areas: workplace culture, health insurance and benefits, employee perks and programs, legal and ethical compliance, and leadership and community engagement.
Here are some of the reasons for which we were certified at Platinum:
- Our commitment to racial justice
- Our competitive and mental health-friendly benefits package
- Our support of well-being through the Balanced You program
- Our willingness to go above and beyond ethical standards
- Our efforts to engage all levels of the organization in greater awareness of mental health and what to do when there are concerns.
This is a proud moment for King County as we continue to exceed expectations for what a mentally healthy workplace can be. One in five employees will experience a mental health condition each year, but we know that all employees benefit from a supportive and psychologically safe workplace. We care about your mental health and well-being, and our Bell Seal status is a testament to the positive workplace culture you have helped us create here at King County – and I thank you for that.
For more information about our mental health programs and resources visit the Balanced You mental health page.
Take care,
Whitney Abrams
Chief People Officer
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Thanking our local veterans for their service
King County Executive Dow Constantine
Dear fellow King County employee,
For more than 100 years, our nation has dedicated November 11 as the day to recognize the brave members of our country’s armed forces past and present. They placed their own lives at risk to defend freedom here at home and around the world. Veterans Day is our opportunity to honor and thank them for their service.
As we acknowledge the 115,000 veterans of all ages who call King County home, let us also recognize the 1,314 individuals we work beside every day – the King County employees in every branch and department of County government who have served in the armed forces. So far this year, 114 of our colleagues have performed military service hours. Serving your nation, serving your community – we are better for everything you bring to our team. Thank you all.
I am extremely proud that, in King County, support for our local veterans is demonstrated not just through words but through our actions. In November 2005, the voters of King County approved the first of three ballot measures that for 15 years have provided taxpayer support for shelter, housing, employment training, counseling, and behavioral health treatment coordinated through our King County Veterans Program. We are working to ensure that every returning veteran has the support they need to achieve a safe and healthy life when they come home – giving back to those who have given so much.
Veterans Day is Wednesday, November 11. Please join me in thanking our veterans and active duty personnel for their courage, commitment, and ongoing contributions to our country and to our community.
Sincerely,
Dow Constantine
King County Executive
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King County to observe Veterans Day holiday Nov. 11
Most King County offices will be closed in observance of Veterans Day on Wednesday, Nov. 11.
Due to the nature of our work, some services will continue as normal while others will operate on a reduced schedule. If you have any questions about your schedule for Nov. 11, please talk to your supervisor.
Veterans Day is our opportunity to thank our veterans for their service to our nation, and the contributions that they continue to bring to our communities.
Services will return to normal on Thursday, Nov. 12.
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Training Spotlight for November 10
- Mindful Morning for King County Employees – Online – A silent morning of continuous practice. During this half-day retreat, we will be guided in a sequence of meditation and mindfulness practices including: sitting meditation, the body scan, walking meditation, gentle mindful movement, and contemplative practices like the loving-kindness meditation. Restful and restorative. Treat yourself! Join us on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Register here.
- Building Gender Inclusive Spaces – Online – In this two-hour workshop, participants will learn foundational knowledge of gender and sexuality and best practices to support a gender diverse workforce, with a focus on the intersection of race and LGBTQ+ identities. Participants will have the opportunity to move through real-life scenarios, apply their understanding of pronoun use, and develop strategies to advance gender equity at King County. This training is free and takes place on Monday, Nov. 16, from 1-3p.m. Register here.
Please visit our King County Eventbrite page website for more opportunities. For more information, contact the Learning and Development Team at KCTraining@kingcounty.gov or visit Learning and Development at www.kingcounty.gov/learning.
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Access restored to King County systems
Access has been restored to King County systems that were experiencing outages, and these can now be used again.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
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Outage of several King County systems
King County is experiencing a network outage that is impacting multiple County facilities as well as VPN connectivity. It is also affecting many major services, including call centers and Skype calls. KCIT is working to restore services as quickly as possible.
We will send an update when systems are restored. Thank you for your patience.
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King County District Court Expands Youth Traffic Court on Eastside
By Troy Brown, Communication Manager, King County District Court
East King County Youth Traffic Court provides teen drivers with an alternative to fines, while helping educate them and their peers on the justice system
King County District Court has expanded its Youth Traffic Court Program from Redmond to the broader Eastside. The East King County Youth Traffic Court is a student-led organization that works with district court to hear real cases of traffic citations issued to 16- and 17-year olds, offering them an alternative to the traditional justice system. Cases are handled by youth “attorneys,” a youth “judge” and a youth “jury,” making it the ultimate jury of your peers for teenagers.
The expanded youth court handles eligible traffic citations issued by Bellevue police, Duvall police, Redmond police, Sammamish police, King County Sheriff’s Office and Washington State Patrol. During the ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic, cases are heard via Zoom teleconference and supervised by Judge Michael Finkle. After the pandemic ends, the court anticipates resuming youth traffic court hearings at its Redmond and Issaquah Courthouses under Judge Finkle’s supervision and at its Bellevue Courthouse under Judge Jill Klinge.
Students in the program practice the principals of restorative justice in evaluating other students’ traffic violations, under a King County District Court judge’s guidance. The process provides a collaborative atmosphere in which everybody involved comes to a joint conclusion about the most appropriate disposition for the case.
One 16-year old student who had received a ticket from the Redmond Police for speeding and not having her headlights on, remarked after participating in her youth court hearing and being assigned 30 hours of community service and writing a 250-word essay that she was “more aware of the harm I can cause while driving, and to be more careful.”
Beyond benefiting teens who receive traffic citations, East King County Youth Traffic Court provides high-school students with valuable real-world courtroom experience. “Youth court members learn decision making skills, compassion, how to work with others they do not go to school with, and a little about the law,” said King County District Court Judge Michael Finkle.
Students in grades 9 to 12 who are interested in being part of the East King County Youth Traffic Court team can contact the court by email at KCDCYouthTrafficCourt@kingcounty.gov.
About King County District Court
King County District Court is the largest court of limited jurisdiction in Washington State, processing approximately 200,000 matters per year. The district court operate at 10 locations throughout King County: Auburn, Bellevue, Burien, Issaquah, King County Courthouse (Seattle), King County Jail (Seattle jail calendars only), Redmond, Maleng Regional Justice Center (Kent), Shoreline and Vashon Island (one day per month). For more information visit www.kingcounty.gov/courts/district-court.aspx.
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Strategic Interviewing Tips and Techniques, November 18
This two-hour virtual workshop will provide you with strategies and tips to help you to do your best during the interview. Learning objectives include:
- How to prepare for a virtual job interview
- The interview structure and types of questions you will be asked
- The STAR-LA method and how to use it to provide organized and complete responses
- General tips and strategies
This workshop will take place Wednesday, Nov. 18 from 10 a.m. – Noon. Register here.
For additional online workshops offered by King County Career Support Services (CSS), visit their Eventbrite page. For more information about CSS visit www.kingcounty.gov/CSS
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One week left to complete Open Enrollment
One week left – Complete Open Enrollment by Nov. 15
Don’t miss your opportunity to evaluate your benefit choices and make changes. If you haven’t already done so, make sure the right benefit options are in place for you and your family next year.
If you don’t participate in Open Enrollment, your current elections automatically continue for next year—except your Flexible Spending Accounts and your Benefit Access Fee exemption if you cover a spouse on your medical plan—these must be selected each year.
Learn
- See what’s changing next year.
- Register for a live Open Enrollment information session.
- Watch the Open Enrollment Overview video.
- Find out about the updated PeopleSoft Open Enrollment tool: Watch the Completing Open Enrollment with PeopleSoft video or read the Open Enrollment PeopleSoft Guide.
- Go to the Open Enrollment website.
Choose
- Consider changing medical plans. The Kaiser SmartCare and the KingCare Select plans have lower costs.
- If you cover a spouse or domestic partner on your medical plan, select the appropriate Benefit Access Fee—or exemption, which resets each year. The Kaiser medical plan has no Benefit Access Fees.
- Enroll in a Health Care or Dependent Day Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to reduce your taxable income.
All set? Sign in to PeopleSoft
- Select the new Open Enrollment tile.
- Make your selections, then scroll up to Enrollment Summary.
- Click the blue Submit Enrollment The Elections Preview statement will open in a new window—review, print, or save it.
- Benefits Enrollment Complete will then be checked.
- Click Exit to return to the PeopleSoft main menu.
Get support
Benefits, Payroll and Retirement Operations
206-684-1556 or KC Benefits
9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday – Friday (closed Veterans Day, Nov. 11)
Extended Hours Sunday, Nov. 15: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Due to COVID-19, the Benefits office is closed for walk-in service.
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A historic moment for our democracy
Dear fellow King County employee,
Last week, the American people elected a new president to lead us for the next four years and begin the work of healing our divided nation.
It was a historic victory for President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris, and indeed for democracy itself. I am eager to work with the new administration on fighting the pandemic, rebuilding our economy, upending racial bias, healing the planet, and restoring America’s standing in the world.
It is time to turn the page. I am grateful to once again have partners at the federal level focused on bringing our country together and advancing the critical work we are doing here in King County.
We have an unprecedented opportunity – not merely to go back to where we were eight months ago, or four years ago – but to press ahead, united and with urgency, to fulfill our nation’s potential.
I look toward to the future with hope and optimism. The work begins now. We face big challenges, but I am convinced that if we can focus on the fundamental values we share, we can build a brighter future for all people.
Sincerely,
Dow Constantine
King County Executive
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