King County Executive Girmay Zahilay and Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson Appoint Dr. Sandra Valenciano to Lead Public Health – Seattle and King County
Crossposted from Public Health Insider
On Wednesday, King County Executive Girmay Zahilay and Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson appointed Dr. Sandra Valenciano to serve as the Director of Public Health – Seattle and King County. Dr. Valenciano currently serves as Acting Director for the department.
Pending confirmation by both the Metropolitan King County Council and Seattle City Council, Dr. Valenciano will advance the department’s work to protect and promote the health and well-being of more than two million residents. The department works across a wide range of areas focusing on preventing illness and injury, responding to emerging health threats, and addressing the root causes of health disparities so that all communities have the opportunity to thrive. Read more.
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Discounted tickets to Washington Spring Fair
King County employees can now take advantage of discounted tickets to the Washington Spring Fair. The Spring Fair is April 10-12 and 17-19.
To purchase tickets, visit thefair.com/corporate, click the “Buy Tickets” button, and enter access code 26king. Tickets are only available trough April 19.
See all available discounts on the Employee Discount intranet page.
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Records Management Reminder: Make good records in the first place
A big part of records management is being mindful about what records we decide to create in the first place. Making good records to begin with is essential to good records management and the Executive’s focus on better government.
Some general tips include:
- Avoid sending unnecessary emails (consider phone calls for messages that do not need to be documented)
- Avoiding saving unnecessary copies (consider using links or shortcuts to existing records, rather than saving additional copies)
- Use descriptive titles and naming conventions (avoid vague and general words)
- Where possible, ensure the records are accessible to others
For more information, visit the County Records and Information Management Program’s website or contact them at records.management@kingcounty.gov. The County Records and Information Management Program (CRIMP), in the Department of Executive Services, provides guidance, resources, and training to all King County employees to assist them with managing King County’s public records according to state and local legal requirements and best practices.
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New temporary cat building to open March 27
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC
The Cat Adoptions Building, a newly-refurbished trailer at Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC), will open on March 27 to receive incoming cats and allow adopters to once again choose a new furry feline friend on-site at the Pet Adoption Center in Kent.
During the December 2025 storms, the cat building at the Pet Adoption Center suffered damage that rendered it unusable. Since then, RASKC has been unable to accept new cats for sheltering. RASKC was also forced to rely on members of the community to foster shelter cats in their own homes.
“Losing the cat building in the winter storms really put a damper on our ability to serve people and pets,” said RASKC Manager Tim Anderson. “We’re grateful for all the volunteers and others in the community who stepped up to help us and our cats when we needed it.” Read more.
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Ask a tox doc: What’s the big deal with plastic?
Crossposted from Public Health Insider
It’s hard to avoid plastic. So many common objects that we use regularly have plastic, from toothbrushes and soap bottles to juice cartons and kids’ toys.
I sat down with Dr. Shirlee Tan, a toxicologist with Public Health, to chat about plastic and find out: Is it a concern for our health? And if so, how can we protect ourselves? Read more.
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KCSO hosted Dr. Kevin Gilmartin’s presentation Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement
Crossposted from the KCSO Employee Newsletter
The King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) was pleased to host Dr. Kevin Gilmartin on March 5 for the presentation of Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement, based on his groundbreaking book. First responders from agencies across King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties joined KCSO professional staff, members of the Peer Support Team, and others at the Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) for this event.
Dr. Gilmartin holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Arizona and served for 20 years with the Pima County Sheriff’s Office in Arizona. He is also an adjunct instructor at Cornell University, the University of Massachusetts, Sam Houston State University, and the FBI Academy. Dr. Gilmartin’s most significant and lasting contribution to public safety is his 2002 book, Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement, which continues to influence generations of deputies and service members. Few individuals have contributed more to advancing wellness in law enforcement than Dr. Gilmartin.
This training was made possible through CJTC grant funding. KCSO appreciates all who attended and extend thanks to the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) professionals who assisted with planning and support.
Pictured: From left, Dr. Kevin Gilmartin and Detective Sgt. Jimmy Mitchell from the Internal Investigations Unit (IIU).
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Help your favorite nonprofit be part of the King County Employee Giving Program
Crossposted from KC Employee Giving
Throughout the Annual Giving Drive, employees often ask why their favorite nonprofit is not part of the King County Employee Giving Program (KCEGP). Now is the time to help your favorite nonprofit by submitting a nonprofit referral!
When a nonprofit participates in the KCEGP it allows King County employees to support that nonprofit through our program. It also allows employees to use their sick leave for volunteering benefit with that nonprofit. Read more.
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‘At the Office” resources now available to employees on new SharePoint page
King County employees now have a new tool to make working in the office easier. The “At the Office” SharePoint page is a comprehensive, one-stop-shop with helpful resources for employees working in a King County building. The page provides tools for all King County employees including those working in a hybrid workspace, new employees, those changing buildings and/or departments, and those looking for a central hub for office resources. The page includes information about reserving conference rooms and County vehicles, submitting facilities fix-it requests, campus safety, “At the Office” best practices, workplace policies, employee support programs, employee transportation options, a video library, and more.
Here is the link to the new “At the Office” SharePoint page. You can also find links to the new page on the Employee Intranet in the “Employee Resources” menu dropdown at the top of the page, and in the “Employee Resources” tile section, halfway down the page. If you have any questions or feedback about the topics on the “At the Office” page, reach out to kcemployees@kingcounty.gov.
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Transit Appreciation Week: Celebrating the people who keep our region moving
Executive Girmay Zahilay and the King County Council officially proclaimed this week, March 22–28, as Transit Appreciation Week.
This is a special time of year to recognize the more than 6,100 Metro employees who work together to get people where they need to go safely and reliably. While transit operators are often the most visible, behind every trip is a network of people planning service, maintaining vehicles, supporting customers, and ensuring operations run smoothly. Please join us in celebrating all the transit workers who keep our region connected.
- Thank your transit operator. Offer a quick “thank you” as you board or exit, submit a driver commendation or send Metro a comment about your transit experience.
- Express gratitude. Take a moment to recognize your Metro colleagues this week, by giving kudos in person or sending virtual gratitude via Teams or email.
- Sharing on social media. You can use this transit-appreciation themed Canva template and post a shout out to Metro employees, use the hashtag #ThanksMetro. Don’t forget to tag Metro on X (Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook!
This week, and every week, we celebrate the people who keep King County moving! Visit the Transit Appreciation page for additional ways to get involved.
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King County Executive Girmay Zahilay Appoints Dr. Susan McLaughlin to Lead King County Department of Community and Human Services
King County Executive Girmay Zahilay recently appointed Dr. Susan McLaughlin to serve as the Director of the King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS). Dr. McLaughlin currently serves as the department’s Acting Director.
Dr. McLaughlin will lead the department tasked with providing affordable homes for people experiencing homelessness, coordinating publicly funded mental health and substance use disorder treatment, promoting youth mental health, stabilizing immigrant and refugees in the region, supporting residents who have intellectual and developmental disabilities to participate fully in community life, and strengthening the human services workforce.
“Dr. Susan McLaughlin is a thoughtful leader who brings deep expertise and a strong commitment to improving the lives of the communities we serve,” said Executive Zahilay. Read more.
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