Panel Discussion on Mental Health, Recovery, and Suicide Prevention, Sept. 25
As this video from the World Health Organization shows, mental illness can affect anyone at any time. Join us for a panel discussion on actions and resources to support mental well-being and a mentally healthy workplace. The panel will feature representatives from Public Health, Community and Human Services, Metro Transit, and Human Resources, along with King County’s Chief People Officer Whitney Abrams.
- Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019 from 9:30 – 11 a.m., in the King County Administration Building’s 5th Floor Training Room
- Join by Skype Meeting or phone at 206-263-8114 using conference ID 5289695
Please Note: This is a County-sponsored event and supervisors are encouraged to permit employees to participate, if possible. Read King County’s HR Bulletin regarding employee attendance at County-sponsored events for more information. Attendance is voluntary, and employees will not be compensated or receive overtime for attending
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Focus on values: We drive for results
Dear employee,
In July, Executive Constantine launched our True North vision and values to Executive Branch employees as part of our ongoing effort to build a workplace culture of respect, innovation, and performance excellence.
Beginning this month, we are launching a monthly focus on each of our eight values to help us gain a deeper understanding of the values and how to apply them to our work. This month, we are focusing on the value “We drive for results.”
When we talk about driving for results, we are talking about doing more for our customers – better, faster, more equitable. Driving for results isn’t just a department, division, or section effort – it’s an individual effort. What can each of us do to provide a superior experience for our customers?
While our individual responsibilities may vary, no matter at which level or in which department we work, each of us has an impact on King County residents in some way. That makes us all accountable for the results we deliver, for the attitude we bring to our work, and the way we show up in our jobs. It’s how we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive.
Please take a moment to watch this short video where employees discuss what “We Drive for Results” means to them. Your supervisor will also soon discuss what this value means to you and your team, and how it applies to you and your work.
In the end, driving for results is about how we serve our customers. Our customers expect good results. It’s up to each one of us to provide them.
Sincerely,
Gary Kurihara
Chief Performance Officer
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Sept. 15 – Oct. 15, 2019 King County celebrates Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
National Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month officially starts on Sept. 15 and ends Oct. 15. This month is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the long and important presence and contributions of Hispanic and Latino and Latina (Latinx) Americans.
In the spirit of shared learning, increased understanding, building community, and advancing pro-equity values at Metro, all King County employees are invited to participate in these events, below. For more information about each event, view this flyer.
- Cross Agency Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month Celebration: Thursday, Sept. 19, noon to 1 p.m., Union Station, Ruth Fisher Board Room, 401 S. Jackson Street. Executive Dow Constantine will proclaim Hispanic and Latinx month 2019 for King County.
- Lunch and Learn: Meet King County’s New Latinx Affinity Group (LAG), Thursday, Sept. 26, noon to 1 p.m., King Street Center, 4th Floor Transit GM Conference Room, 201 S. Jackson Street, Seattle. Come connect with LatinX members about what’s happening and how to get involved with King County affinity groups.
In addition to the events Metro is partnering with or supporting, all King County employees are also welcomed to join in two additional events this month, hosted by Sound Transit’s Latinx In Transportation (LIT) employee group, and held in Union Station, Ruth Fisher Board Room, 401 S. Jackson Street. For more information, please contact Cristina Fonesca.
- Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP), Tuesday, Oct. 8, noon to 1 p.m.
- Cumbia Class, Tuesday, Oct. 15, noon to 1 p.m.
Pictured: A group are representatives from Sound Transit, Seattle Department of Transportation, King County ESJ office and King County Metro attended the Fiestas Patrias 2019 Celebration held Saturday, Sept. 14, in South Park, Seattle.
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King County 2019 flu shot schedule, week of Sept. 18
Check out the King County 2019 Flu Shot Schedule and mark your calendars for the location most convenient for you. These are open to all employees, unless noted otherwise. If you miss the opportunity to get a flu shot at work, here are some tips for getting your flu shot through your health plan. Contact balancedyou@kingcounty.gov for more information.
Some things to remember: Clinics are open to all employees, except when noted otherwise. Benefits-covered spouses and family members (age 11 and above) are welcome to attend most clinics, but please confirm these details with your site contact(s) beforehand. When able, bring your medical ID card or number.
Dates this week are:
- Thursday, Sept. 19 from 3 a.m. – 6 a.m., at Atlantic – Central Base, 1500 6th Ave. South, Seattle, WA 98134, 2nd Floor Classroom 2C. Contacts are Benita Grace at 206-477-2409 and Tutti Compton at 206-477-0426.
- Thursday, Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., at Dexter Horton, 710 2nd Ave. Seattle, WA 98104, Room 125. Contact is Leslie Brown at 206-263-1634.
- Thursday, Sept. 19, from 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. at Ryerson Base, 1220 4th Ave S., Seattle, WA 98134, Classroom 203 A, 2nd floor. Contact is Janet Crahan at 206-477-7404.
- Friday, Sept. 20 from 6:30 a.m. – 10 a.m., at North Base, 2160 N 163rd St., Shoreline, WA 98133, Classrooms 1 and 2. Contact is Jamie Bonnar at 206-477-2409.
- Tuesday, Sept. 24 from 6 a.m. – 8:30 a.m., at South Treatment Plant, 1200 Monster Road SW, Renton, WA 98057, Cedar River Training Room, Administration Building. Contact is Angela Dickson at 206-263-1768.
- Tuesday, Sept. 24 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., at Kent East Hill Public Health, 25742 104th Ave SE, Kent, WA 98030, Family Service Room. Contact is Anne Shinoda-Mettler at 206-477-6964.
- Wednesday, Sept. 25 from 6-8:30 a.m. at West Point Treatment Plant, 1400 Discovery Park Blvd., Seattle WA 98199, Olympus/Baker Room. Contact is Christine Oro at 206-477-4668.
- Wednesday, Sept. 25 from 12 p.m. – 2 p.m., at Youth Services Center, 1211 E. Alder St, Seattle, WA 98122, Conference Room 213. Contact is Kimberley Rosenstock at 206-477-2646.
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Helping young people thrive in our community
King County is helping young people who have not completed high school but want to attain the General Educational Development (GED) or high school diploma and go on to college or a better job through services at Learning Center North and YouthSource.
Learning Center North and YouthSource provide different services supporting young adults toward their goals in secondary education through a successful model of Leadership, Career Development, and support to and through college.
The program helps young people earn their High School Equivalency Certificate and overcome barriers such as housing, employment, behavioral health, and transportation, to achieve their goals.
“This program has helped me gain confidence and has taught me valuable skills that have helped me grow as a person and prepared me to be an employee,” Asia Whitaker, Work Experience Participant I with the Department of Community and Human Services, said.
The services are available to youth ranging from 16-24 years of age. The programs are free-of-charge and enrollment is ongoing year-round. Opportunities include tuition-free college up to the age of 21, and help with financial aid and scholarship applications, paid internships, ongoing case management, job readiness training, employment and career counseling, and public speaking presentations. Both sites also offer behavioral health such as counseling services and some emergency financial assistance.
There are two different locations for the Learning Centers: Shoreline Community College and Seattle Central College. YouthSource is in Tukwila. The programs are a great way for youth to develop themselves and remove academic or other barriers that prevent them from accessing rewarding careers and reaching their full potential. Click here to learn more.
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Employee Resource/Affinity Group Policy
Dear King County employee,
As we continue to build a supportive, respectful, and equitable workplace culture at King County, we are committed to providing opportunities and spaces for employees to come together, share their experiences, and work to advance our Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan.
Executive Constantine recently signed the Employee Resource/Affinity Group Policy, which formalizes the work of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), also known as affinity groups. These groups are employee-led and focus exclusively on state- and federal-protected categories – such as race, gender, and sexual orientation – and their common interests.
Affinity groups are another opportunity to enhance professional growth and strengthen workplace effectiveness while supporting our Equity and Social Justice priorities and embodying our “we are racially just” value.
Affinity groups, such as the King County Native American Leadership Council, have been meeting for more than four years, and provide a space where members have grown their leadership skills, built fellowship, and developed goals and actions that support our Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan. Creating an official policy that addresses affinity groups ensures that our employees, especially those who are hourly and outside the downtown corridor, have an equitable opportunity to participate.
You can read the policy here and watch the video below to learn more about the groups. The Office of Equity and Social Justice is available to answer your questions and provide technical assistance.
I am inspired by the leadership I’ve seen in all our countywide affinity groups. I look forward to the growth of these groups.
Sincerely,
Casey Sixkiller
Chief Operating Officer
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New employee discount for Disney on Ice and Sesame Street Live
Employees can now take advantage of discounted savings for two upcoming family shows:
- Disney On Ice presents Mickey’s Search Party at the accesso ShoWare Center in Kent, WA, Oct. 30-Nov. 4, 2019. Order tickets before the deadline on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 at 11 a.m.
- Sesame Street Live! Make Your Magic is also coming to the acesso Showare Center in Kent, WA, Dec. 11-12, 2019. Tickets must be ordered before the deadline on Friday, December 6, 3029 at 11 a.m.
Tickets for either show can be purchased by calling 866-248-8740, option 1. For questions call the number or email FeldDirectGroups@feldinc.com. Savings will be applied at time of purchase.
View all employee discounts at www.kingcounty.gov/employeediscounts.
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Video provides hope, guidance to parents whose children are removed by CPS
Crossposted from For the Defense
One of the most painful experiences a parent can face is the removal of their child by Child Protective Services. A new video by the King County Department of Public Defense explores this difficult issue, profiling two parents who experienced both removal and reunification and who have guidance to offer others as a result.
The video also highlights the value of dedicated public defenders in child welfare cases. “My public defender – she’s the reason I got my son back. She didn’t give up on me. She directed me, and she fought for me,” one mother says on the video.
Her message to others, she added, “is a message of hope – that no matter what your situation, you’re just as eligible as anyone else to get your child back.” Read more here, and watch the video below.
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Training Spotlight: Communication and Problem Solving Skills
Communication and Problem Solving Skills, Oct. 16: This one-day training will address communication and problem-solving skills with the public and with co-workers. This class covers skills for effective listening, speaking, dealing with conflicts and with defensive behavior. Register and learn more.
View more training and development opportunities at www.kingcounty.gov/learning.
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KCIA employees cut ribbon at new Activity Center
Employees at the King County International Airport (KCIA) celebrated the opening of the airport’s first-ever Activity Center on August 28. Located at the Maintenance Shop, 6518 Ellis Ave. S., the Activity Center features full-service exercise equipment including treadmills, a stationary bicycle, free weights, stability balls, and more. The ribbon-cutting event also featured personal trainers, who showed employees how to use the equipment. The center is open to all King County employees from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
“We encourage employees to take some time to get up from their desks for a mental and physical break by getting up and moving at lunch, before or after work, or on a break,” said Karla Clark, a health educator on the Balanced You team.
The project cost about $45,000, including about $20,000 in equipment from King County Employee Health and Well Being and $25,000 in material and equipment from the airport. The airport saved thousands of dollars on the project by contributing employee labor.
Thank you to everyone involved in helping develop this space to ensure our employee well-being!
Pictured: From left, Balanced You Health Educator and Karla Clark and KCIA Director John Parrott cut the opening ribbon. Karla and John talk with staff in the new activity center.
Employee News 