How past trauma and current stressors interact: A conversation with the Employee Assistance Program
Mental Health Month begins on Friday, May 1. Look for additional information throughout May about the benefits and resources we offer to support King County employees’ mental health and well-being.
Many people feel stretched by the pace of work, family responsibilities, and the uncertainty happening in the world right now. According to King County Employee Assistance Program Manager and counselor Miguel Messina, it makes sense that current stressors feel heavy on their own. For some people, those stressors can also stir up older experiences that were never fully resolved.
“If you’re feeling stressed out, snappy toward people, or like your emotions are harder to control, that may be connected to the accumulation of trauma from your past being activated by what’s happening now,” Miguel explains. Read more.
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King County Auditor’s report shows DCHS continues to make significant progress
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections
Improving how our government works and ensuring public dollars are well spent is a top priority at King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS).
A recent report by the King County Auditor’s Office states that DCHS “made significant progress on audit recommendations, improving training and awareness” over the last several months as the department has implemented new policies and procedures.
The work DCHS is doing will serve as a roadmap for the King County enterprise—ushering in a new era of accountability. Read more.
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Notice of King County Personnel Board candidate filing and election
King County Elections will hold a candidate filing period for the elected member position on the King County Personnel Board. The candidate filing period will begin on Monday, May 4 at 8 a.m. and will end at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 8. There is a $5 non-refundable filing fee.
The Personnel Board conducts hearings on appeals of certain personnel actions as provided for in Section 540 of the King County Charter.
The Personnel Board consists of five members, four of whom are appointed, and one member elected by county career service employees. The elected term is for a 5-year term.
The county charter requires the elected member of the Personnel Board to be a resident of the state of Washington and not currently employed by King County.
A primary will be held on Tuesday, June 2 to determine the final nominees up for election on Tuesday, June 23. The primary and election will be conducted through the mail. If any candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote in the primary, they will be deemed elected and no further election will be conducted. Only career service county employees are eligible to cast ballots.
For more information on filing for office, contact King County Elections at 206-296-1565 or election.services@kingcounty.gov. For more information on the position, please contact the Personnel Board at 206-477-0860 or PersonnelBoard@kingcounty.gov.
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Records Management Report: King County among best in the nation!
During Records and Information Management Month, it’s a great time to celebrate our successes. Last year, King County received a report from an independent consultant that evaluated how well King County’s records and information management practices align with best practices and standards. That consultant, FreeDoc, evaluated King County’s practices based on 25+ different industry standards, maturity models, guidelines, and technical reports related to records management. They also compared our practices to the 15 largest self-governing counties in the United States.
Overall, the feedback provided by the consultant was very positive. Their report outlined all 33 categories that they reviewed, and a thorough analysis of each category; including positive feedback, general observations, and recommendations for improvement. In general, they indicated that King County practices align “notably well” with industry best practice and compliance. When compared with the top 15 largest counties in the nation, they concluded that King County’s practices were some of the very best it has ever seen and conclude that our records management practices are “leading edge and the best among large counties across the nation.”
The consultant did also offer some suggestions for improvement, and the County Records and Information Management Program has been involved in efforts to implement many of those recommendations. Most of those recommendations are minor in nature, and the most significant recommendations suggest the need for greater accountability (including for agency leadership).
Overall, this is good news for King County. Each of you should be proud of the efforts you have made to contribute to our status as a nation-wide leader in records management. Although there is a lot of work to do, the County Records and Information Management Program (CRIMP) is looking forward to continuing to lead the way with each of you. Thank you!
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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Seeing GIS through fresh eyes: A middle schooler’s inspiring visit to the King County GIS Center
Sometimes the best reminder of why GIS matters comes from seeing it through fresh eyes. Recently, an energetic 8th grader with a real passion for maps and geography visited the King County GIS Center with his mom for a lunchtime learning adventure. His excitement, curiosity, and thoughtful questions made it a memorable visit with Fred Lott and the GIS Center staff. It was inspiring to see him realize just how much of daily life GIS quietly shapes. We’re happy to share his story here on the GIS & You blog, written in his own words as he reflects on what he learned and where his interests might take him next. Read more.
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Find a Walk Partner for safety in numbers
The Walk Partner program is now live on RideshareOnline.com. With Walk Partner, you can match yourself with other people to walk to and from King County buildings. In addition to talking to your friends and co-workers to see if they could walk with you, RideshareOnline.com is a great tool for matching yourself with other walkers.
How to use Rideshare Online
- Create an account (or sign in if you already have one).
- “Add a trip“ in your Ride Match / My Trips section.
- Instead of using your home and work address, enter where you would be walking from (for example, King Street Station to the Chinook Building) and select “walk” as your preferred travel mode.
Click here for sign up instructions or visit the Walking section of the Employee Transportation Program’s SharePoint page.
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King County opens new Disaster Recovery Center to help residents apply for federal assistance
Residents in King County who were affected by the historic December 2025 flooding may now qualify for federal disaster assistance under Federal Emergency Management Administration’s (FEMA) Individual Assistance Program.
After the flooding, Washington requested federal disaster declarations to help individuals affected by the atmospheric river flooding, as well as to help public entities repair infrastructure and partially reimburse their response efforts. The application deadline is June 10, 2026.
From April 28 to June 10, King County will operate a Disaster Recovery Center for people who would like in-person assistance with their FEMA application. It is located at the King County Elections Office, 919 Southwest Grady Way, Renton, Washington 98057. The center is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“I’m thankful for the collaboration with local, state, and federal partners that made this critical disaster assistance possible for those who need it most in King County,” said Executive Girmay Zahilay. “We’re working to make this assistance as accessible as possible so that residents and business owners can rebuild and recover.” Read more.
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Free admission to the 2026 King County Fair
King County employees can receive free admission to the King County Fair, happening July 16-19.
In honor of celebrating America’s 250th anniversary and the Back to our Roots 2026 fair theme, the fair is inviting all King County employees to enjoy a free day. King County managed the fair for over 140 years, from 1863-2006.
For more information, visit kingcofair.com. Free admission for employees only, with proof of employment such as ID badge or recent paystub. View this flyer for details.
See all available discounts on the Employee Discount intranet page.
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King County is working with communities to promote forest canopy in urban unincorporated areas
A study launched this spring by the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks will assess the current condition of forest canopy in unincorporated areas, which will inform future actions with communities that promote equitable access to healthy tree canopy.
The project team will study 34 square miles, which includes urban unincorporated communities and the unincorporated rural towns of Fall City, Vashon, and Snoqualmie Pass.
The study is led by the department’s new Urban Forestry Program, building on decades of progress King County foresters have made promoting forest health in rural areas. Promoting healthy urban forests was one of the priorities of King County’s 30-Year Forest Plan and aligns with the county’s Extreme Heat Mitigation Strategy, each of which include actions that will contribute to creating healthier communities.
“From reducing heat islands to cleaning our air and water, trees are essential to the health and livability of our communities,” said King County Executive Girmay Zahilay. “King County has promoted healthy, resilient forests in rural areas for decades, an inspiring achievement for environmental stewardship. Now we’re applying a science-based, community-informed approach in urban unincorporated areas so that more kids and families can experience the benefits of healthy tree canopy.” Read more or view the video below.
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Alongside people during vital life moments: Portraits of Public Health
Crossposted from Public Health Insider
Birth and death are some of life’s most meaningful and complex moments, and for nearly two decades in Public Health – Seattle & King County’s Vital Records, Robbie has been supporting community members through the process of gathering and filing records for these momentous events. We’re proud to celebrate Robbie, her 24 years of service to King County, and the essential work of the eight dedicated staff she leads in our Vital Records team in our series, Portraits of Public Health.
Hi Robbie! What does the Vital Records team do?
Our work focuses on issuing birth and death certificates in King County. We typically process over 160,000 orders per year, and likely much more in recent years with the REAL-ID Act. Our team supports customers who need certificates for major life events, and who often come to us with urgency. We help resolve errors, guide people through amendments (in partnership with the state), answer phone calls, and process orders that come in by mail, online, or in person. Our team meets people where they’re at to help them gather the right documents and ensure we can legally release their records. Read more.
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