Voter Education Fund kickoff was a success!
Crossposted from Election Connection
It was a long day of training and information but the recipients of our Voters Education Fund program were happy to participate!
Thank you to every organization who came to our kickoff today and who is doing great things to help expand voter education and outreach to underserved communities throughout King County!
The Voter Education Fund is a government, philanthropic and community partnership led by King County Elections and Seattle Foundation to remove barriers to voting in underserved and underrepresented communities. Through this partnership, 33 organizations are receiving grants totaling more than $460,000 to increase voter engagement in underserved communities.
Big shoutout to our partner the Seattle Foundation and King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski for leading the group and speaking about the importance of this program!
Read the full article for more information on the grantees, to read the press release, and more!
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Kudos! to Judges Helen Halpert and Veronica Alicea-Galván
Judge Helen Halpert
Judge Veronica Alicea-Galván
King County Superior Court Judges Helen Halpert and Veronica Alicea-Galván will be honored at the 2018 Judicial Appreciation and Honors Luncheon sponsored by the King County Chapter of the Washington Women Lawyers. Judge Halpert will be receiving the Judge of the Year Award, and Judge Alicea-Galván will be receiving the Vanguard Award. The luncheon will be held Wednesday, June 27 at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel.
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The unique niche (and diverse roles) for Public Health nurses
Crossposted from Public Health Insider
When nurses come to work at Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC), they come with a purpose.
“The nurses who choose public health as their practice are strongly rooted in service. They want to be of service to those who are vulnerable,” says Amy Curtis, a Registered Nurse who leads recruiting efforts for Office of Nursing at PHSKC. “There is a strong commitment to equity and social justice.”
Barbara Huffman, registered nurse on board the Seattle Mobile Medical Van
Despite the national shortage in nursing, we are still finding extraordinary nurses for PHSKC because the work holds so many unique rewards. And with more than 320 Public Health Nurses, it’s one of the largest job classes at the agency.
Public Health nurses are frequently working with King County’s most vulnerable people – whose health is impacted by income, homelessness, addiction, age or other factors. The nurses draw on a combination of technical and interpersonal skills as they:
- Mentor and build trusting relationships with women who are pregnant or new moms who are identified to be at high risk (through First Steps-Maternity Support Services or Nurse-Family Partnership programs)
- Deliver primary care in unique settings, such as inside schools and on mobile medical vans, and at clinics that serve people living homeless
- Educate people with tuberculosis or other communicable diseases, and assist in investigative-work to prevent diseases from spreading (with the tuberculosis clinic or communicable disease team)
- Treat individuals who end up in the County jail and may have injuries, wounds or ongoing health conditions, such as diabetes or hypertension
The breadth of work spans from family planning and sexually transmitted disease clinics, to the Breast, Cervical and Colon Health program.
For National Nurses Week this year, the Office of Nursing is launching a new blog to raise the visibility of public health nursing and encourage nurses to share their stories.
The blog (which is in soft-launch mode this month and is running a contest to help pick a name), features a story from the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Nursing at Seattle Pacific University, Antwinett O. Lee:
“Over the years, many people have asked me why I did not become a doctor and I always tell them that I was called to be a nurse. I chose nursing because of the diversity of roles, experiences, and settings available to the profession of nursing.”
Public Health nursing is considered a sub-specialty within nursing, with a focus on prevention and the social context that impacts an individual’s health – factors ranging from access to healthy food to transportation to education.
“For example, I’m thinking of a recent client with an eight-month-old baby,” says Curtis. “This family had just lost their housing, and they called one of our Public Health nurses, who worked tirelessly to help them find resources and housing. It was emotional, and the impact is lasting for both the client and the nurse.”
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Deadline for US – The Untold Story Project submissions extended to June 1
US – The Untold Story Project invites employees of color to share their untold story of racism, and has extended the deadline for story submissions to June 1. Stories can be submitted online or hand-delivered to project team members John Miller, Donna Miscolta or Julia Yen.
Stories will be available to all King County employees this summer on the project site.
The purpose of the project is to provide an opportunity for King County employees of color to share their experiences of racism in a space dedicated to their voices, and it is part of the ESJ Literary Project sponsored by DNRP’s Solid Waste and Wastewater Treatment Divisions.
For more information, contact Julia or Donna.
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Social Media Spotlight: King County DNRP Wastewater Treatment Division’s Facebook page
The #GoPublic employees of King County’s DNRP Wastewater Treatment Division protect public health and enhance the environment by treating and reclaiming water, recycling solids and generating energy.
Sitting behind a desk all day definitely isn’t for everyone! @kingcountywtd hires mechanics, electricians, treatment plant operators and more. Besides great pay & benefits, the skilled trades offer a rewarding career path.
Follow King County Wastewater Treatment Division on Facebook today.
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Featured Job: Transit Systems (HASTUS) Business Lead (Functional Analyst IV)
Closing: 5/23/2018 11:59 PM Pacific
Salary: $94,320.51 – $114,026.43 Annually
Location: Seattle, WA
Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week
Department: Department of Transportation – Transit Division
Job Number: 2018RL08095
Description: This position will be a representative of Metro’s “business side” needs. It will be located in Metro’s Scheduling group, but with clear organizational ties to all logistical/operational support teams including, but not limited to, Scheduling, Operations Systems Support, and Rail) involved with the HASTUS suite of products. The position requirements include leading, facilitating, and organizing Metro’s HASTUS User Community, sometimes remotely, and sometimes directly, in person.
Contact: For more information, contact Sr. Human Resources Analyst Reeshema Lewis at (206) 263-8413 or Reeshema.Lewis@KingCounty.gov.
Learn more about this position or all available jobs.
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Explore King County this month with two wheels instead of four
Crossposted from Employee Health and Well-Being
Hit the road for Bike Everywhere Month!
Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or just getting started, put on those helmets, tighten those gears and hit the road for Bike Everywhere Month!
According to Cycling Weekly, there are many health benefits of biking including: improved mental health, improved lung health and much more! In addition to improved physical health, biking is great for boosting your social circle with other passionate cyclists around the sound. Washington Bikes offers a great list of bike clubs throughout the Puget Sound Region. Other resources include Cascade Bicycle Club, Love to Ride and Familybike Seattle who are great to connect you to clubs in your neighborhood.
An avid rider, Greg bikes to work everyday
For King County employees, you never know who shares a love for biking just like you! We encourage you and your co-workers to support each other by creating your own bike everywhere team! Greg Felton in the Human Resources Division (HRD) did it. He organized a Bike Everywhere Challenge through lovetoride.net.
Maybe you prefer to go solo due to schedules or other commitments, like Heather Eliason in Public Health. She takes her kids to school in her daily bike routine. “I want to set an example for my kids,” said Eliason. “We bike even on the weekends. By biking everywhere, my kids get to know their neighborhood and community. We also have an opportunity to support small businesses along the way as we do our grocery shopping and other errands.”
Want to add a little adventure to your bike ride? How about taking in some of the Northwest’s breathtaking mountain top views? Check out the new Trailhead Direct service sponsored by King County Parks and Metro’s Community Connections program! This exciting new bus service runs from select Park & Rides and gives you a fun way to get your miles in while exploring a great view. And don’t forget it’s free if you use your employee ID/ORCA card!
Visit the Cascade Bicycle Club events calendar to find out about group rides and challenges happening throughout the month and into the summer!
For more information about bicycling and all the other transportation benefits you have as a King County employee, visit the Employee Transportation Program web page. Be sure to watch the short video events calendar on the first page, which shows you exactly how you can use your ID/ORCA card. Also learn how as a King County employee you can qualify for a monthly incentive if you commute by bike!
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Pet of the Week: Jeremiah
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC
Gentle, loving Jeremiah is our Pet of the Week!
This five-year-old gray tabby came in as a stray. His personality color is “Bashful Blue.” He likes to take things slow, and may need some time to warm up to his new family. But, once he does, Jeremiah will be a very devoted friend!
Jeremiah does enjoy being around people once he feels comfortable. Some of his favorite things include food, being brushed, and being pet on his cheeks. He will enjoy being part of a calm, quiet home where he can snuggle up in a nice warm lap.
Jeremiah has tested positive for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, which means he should be an indoor-only cat and will benefit from regular veterinary visits. His adoption fee includes a certificate for a free veterinary exam and an option for pet health insurance through Trupanion.
You can find out more about Jeremiah on our website, kingcounty.gov/AdoptAPet, or visit him and his friends in person at the Pet Adoption Center in Kent.
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Executive Constantine is GeekWire’s Geek of the Week
Executive Constantine is GeekWire’s Geek of the Week this week, and he sent a Thank You tweet Monday.
Geek of the Week profiles the characters of Pacific Northwest tech, science, games, innovation, and more.
In Kurt Schlosser’s May 11 feature, Executive Constantine says, ““Preserving this amazing place and serving the people who live here are my lifelong passions.”
He shares parts of his and his family’s story, his thoughts on our Best-Run Government continuous improvement campaign, and something else we can all consider:
Your best tip or trick for managing everyday work and life. (Help us out, we need it.)
“Try not to eat lunch alone at your desk. Use that time to connect with old friends, or gain insights from new ones.”
Writer and editor Kurt Schlosser covers the Geek Life beat for GeekWire. Read his entire feature on Executive Constantine at Geekwire here.
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Metro receives national award for reduction in bus driver assaults
Crossposted from Metro Matters
King County Metro was recognized this week with a national 2018 Bus Safety & Security Excellence Award for its Transit Operator Assault Program, which helped reduce assaults on operators by 53 percent since 2008. That drop is despite a 17-percent increase in ridership over that same period.
Metro was presented with a “Certificate of Merit for Security” for transit agencies with more than 20 million riders at the American Public Transportation Association’s annual conference in Tampa, Florida. A Certificate of Merit is given to organizations in recognition of exceptional achievement in safety or security.
Most assaults on operators involve minor assaults such as pushing, grabbing, touching or spitting. There were two felony-level assaults (involving bodily harm or use of a weapon) in 2016 and none in 2017.Most assaults on operators involve minor assaults such as pushing, grabbing, touching or spitting. There were two felony-level assaults (involving bodily harm or use of a weapon) in 2016 and none in 2017.
The Transit Operator Assault Program takes a multi-pronged approach that focuses on police responses, data analysis, and de-escalating training for operators. Metro Transit Police, and Metro’s Transit Safety and Operations staff place a high priority on operator assaults; police respond to every assault reported to the dispatch center, and each case is forwarded to a detective for investigation. Safety and Operations staff ensure that operators receive appropriate medical and personal attention; and conduct internal hazard analyses on how to further reduce the risks to operators and whether training and/or additional support is needed.
“Anytime a bus operator is assaulted, there can be significant trauma to the driver and to our customers,” Metro’s Deputy General Manager Terry White said. “Metro is honored to be recognized for our collaborative efforts to prevent assaults on operators, but this award does not mean our job is done. We will continue our work to further improve the safety of our transit system for all our operators and customers.”
In its nomination letter, Metro attributed the assault reduction program’s success to three important components: “1) a philosophy of teamwork; 2) a commitment to a data-driven approach; and 3) employment of effective risk management.”
Metro sees more than 400,000 boardings every weekday and security incidents are thankfully infrequent. Still, Metro continues working closely with operators, law enforcement, ATU Local 587 and the greater community to prevent misconduct and further improve safety for everyone who rides the transit system. In 2016, after a slight uptick in operator assaults, Metro held three security summit with drivers, ATU, and Metro Transit Police.
Metro plans to equip its entire fleet with security cameras, and is more than halfway toward that goal. Metro also is testing the use of video monitors on 33 buses serving the RapidRide A and F Lines, and is running pilot project with protective enclosures known as “driver shields” on eight buses around King County.
Nominations for the APTA Safety & Security Excellence award are evaluated on four criteria: effectiveness, benefit level, innovation, and transferability. The award provides value to the transit industry by “benchmarking successful programs so other public transit systems can adopt them and derive similar benefits,” according to APTA. The top honor is the GOLD Award, which is given to organizations with the best overall bus safety or bus security program.
Watch the APTA awards conference below:
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