Senior Leaders meet with Juvenile Detention employees
Two members of Executive Constantine’s Senior Leadership Team recently met with a group of employees from the Juvenile Detention Division to hear about the work they are doing to help the young people entrusted to their care.
Chief People Officer Whitney Abrams and Chief Performance Officer Gary Kurihara sat in on the daily briefing of about 20 employees at the Youth Services Center to hear about their work, the challenges they are facing, and what they can do to remove any barriers.
“Employees know more than anyone about the work they are doing, so it’s imperative that senior leaders go out and meet with them and learn from their experiences,” Kurihara said. “What really struck me was the genuine care that these employees have for the youth at the juvenile facility, and their commitment to making sure that their experience is one of learning, growth and healing.”
The King County Juvenile Division is responsible for the care and custody of youth in detention. The employees work hard to provide a therapeutic environment of rehabilitation and learning to help youth involved in Juvenile Court develop into healthy, productive adults.
“This group of employees had some really good suggestions and ideas for what we can do at the leadership level to help them better serve young people in detention,” Abrams said. “It was really gratifying to hear directly from them, and there is a lot that I was able to take away, to learn from, and to see how I can help them be more effective in their work.”
In his 2018 State of the County address, King County Executive Dow Constantine announced that all of the programming work within the Juvenile Division will be placed in the care of Public Health, building on the highly successful juvenile programs that are already generating tremendous results – work that Juvenile Division employees have been at the forefront of.
“It’s something that I am really passionate about – how do we as an organization put our employees in the best position to succeed in their work,” Kurihara said. “By listening to the people who are doing the work, we can find out what they need and try to make the changes so they can provide even better service to our customers.”
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Sign-up for the Big Backyard 5K and get your $5 hoodie today!
The ninth-annual Big Backyard 5K presented by Kaiser Permanente is happening on Sunday, June 3 at King County’s Marymoor Park in Redmond. This run/walk is an event for the whole family, and it’s dog and stroller friendly! All participants will receive awesome t-shirts, refreshments, snacks, a chance to win prizes, and the satisfaction of supporting King County Parks! The chip-timed course winds around the magnificent (but flat) Marymoor Park and, for kids ten and under, there is a free 1/4 mile Kids Dash.
And thanks to our friends at Harborstone Credit Union, the Big Backyard 5K hoodies that everyone has grown to love will be available for purchase for just $5 through April 30.
More incentive? Use the promo code KCPSave5 and receive a $5 discount on your registration fee as a King County employee. And if you refer a friend, you will get a collectible BBY5K coffee mug! (Limit one mug per referred individual).
Register as an individual or team today and support Your Big Backyard!
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Administrative Professionals step into the spotlight
This article is by Corinne Easter, Administrative Specialist with the King County Office of Risk Management Services
Today King County is celebrating its superhero Administrative Professionals at the third annual Administrative Professionals Recognition Event at the City of Seattle’s Bertha Knight Landes Room from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., located at 600 4th Ave in Seattle. All King County employees are invited to attend this exciting event and help us celebrate this special day (please review the HR Bulletin regarding employee attendance at County-sponsored events).
The fourth Wednesday of every April is National Administrative Professionals Day. King County recognizes this day and has taken it a step further by implementing an innovative program specifically focused on administrative professionals. At the request of Rhonda Berry, Public Health’s Deputy Executive of Operations, and with Whitney Abrams’s, King County’s Chief People Officer, sponsorship, the King County Administrative Professionals Development and Recognition Program (APDRP) was created and operates to support and recognize employees year-round. The APDRP is gaining momentum each year. So, who are administrative professionals?
“Administrative professionals work in a variety of classifications such as fiscal specialists, health program assistants, customer service and in many other areas,” Theresa Roscoe, Career Support Services Manager explains. “We look more at core roles, responsibilities and skills sets, rather than job titles.” The Program supports this vast audience and aims to provide development and recognition to support employees in meeting their career goals. Each department is asked to identify one administrative professional as a representative on the Administrative Professionals Advisory Committee (APAC). Members from human resources, management, and union labor representatives are also at the table to bring a holistic perspective and work together to identify employee needs, provide services, resources, and training.
The Program acknowledges that many times administrative professionals work behind the scenes to make things happen. This is why the program strives to make these professionals feel more confident and valued as partners in the organization. Lili Stansberry, of Career Support Services, states, “Employee development is a key component to this goal. Depending on the employee, they may require honing their professional skills, or transitioning into a completely different position.” Although an employee may be unsure about the career path they want to explore, the Program provides resources and opportunities to help them discover and move forward in pursuing their interests. Many administrative positions have common skills that are overlooked. The APDRP helps them identify these talents and utilize them in pursing the employee’s desired career goals.
Another crucial element of the Program is bringing administrative professionals out from behind the scenes and recognizing these shining stars at the annual event. Each year, the APAC hosts an event where employees are honored for their hard work, dedication, and excellence. This year’s nominees will be acknowledged at the event, as well as being acknowledged within their individual departments. Each department will receive certificates of recognition and gold pins for each of their nominees to be recognized outside of the event. This year is expected to have the largest attendance in the Program’s history. Cyndi Schaeffer is the keynote speaker with Harold Taniguchi, DOT Director, and Donna Rodgers-Yates, Public Health Administrative Professional, as the MC’s.
The APAC is always looking for feedback and welcomes all comments. More information about the program can be found at www.kingcounty.gov/administrativeprofessionals or by contacting them at AdministrativeProfessionals@kingcounty.gov.
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Jay Osborne appointed Director of Human Resources Division
King County Executive Dow Constantine has appointed Jay Osborne as Director of Human Resources Division, effective April 30, 2018. Jay was selected as the successful candidate after a nationwide recruitment that attracted more than 100 applicants.
Jay has served King County for almost 30 years and his experience, skills, and commitment to excellence will be vital as HRD transitions to a standalone people-focused department beginning January 1, 2019. He has acted as Interim Director of HRD since December 2017 and has been instrumental in leading the work to create a HR department that will be charged with implementing Executive Constantine’s Investing in YOU strategy, and supporting employee engagement and workplace culture development in HRD and across the County.
Jay started his career as a summer hire with the Parks Division in 1988, and served as the Deputy Director for the Road Services Division in DOT prior to accepting the Interim Director position with HRD. He offers strong leadership skills, vast budget process knowledge, and a solid operations background in HR as a people manager and deputy director. He also has extensive labor experience, having previously served as a Shop Steward and Policy Chair for Professional & Technical Employees Local 17.
Jay is known for building teams and collaborative relationships with key stakeholders, as well as developing people, particularly in the midst of transition. His empathy and understanding, along with his straightforward and decisive style, are some of the qualities that will support HRD as it becomes a new department and help us deliver on our Investing in YOU work to ensure we are building a workplace where you have the tools and support to innovate, achieve your career goals and do your best work.
A native of the Northwest, Jay enjoys travelling, reading and gardening. Jay and his brother also raise grass-fed cattle on his family’s ranch in Eastern Washington. Congratulations, Jay!
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Third workshop for US – The Untold Story Project is May 1 in Chinook Building
“The thing you’re most afraid to share is the thing you most want to say.”
This is one of the observations journalist Florangela Davila made during the workshop she provided last week as part of the Untold Story Project. Davila also said that stories are built on verbs and movement, and that the most powerful parts of a sentence – and a story – are the beginning and the end.
The Untold Story Project, in support of the county’s commitment to lead with racial justice, invites employees of color to submit a 750-word story of how racism has affected them and their sense of self, belonging or worth.
The first workshop was in March and was led by poet Daemond Arrindell, who led participants in an exercise called the “essentialized poem” to distill their story to its core. He also provided a handout on editing and revision, which included this tip: Don’t teach, preach or explain overtly, when you can do it through images (metaphors!), actions and stinky cheese smells (the senses).
Jourdan Keith
The third in this series of three lunchtime workshops to assist potential submitters in writing their story is May 1 in Room 126 of the Chinook Building. It will be led by poet and essayist Jourdan Keith. She recently curated the Poetry on Buses project on the theme “Your Body of Water.” She’s been awarded numerous grants and artist residences. Her work, which has appeared in magazines, newspapers, radio and television, blends the textures of political, personal and natural landscapes to offer voices from the margins of American lives. She is the founder and director of Urban Wilderness Project, which provides environmentally and culturally based programs rooted in social change.
Registration for the workshop is online: 12-1 pm Tuesday, May 1 @ Chinook Building
Stories for the Untold Story Project are due May 25 on the project submission page. Submitters are cautioned that this project is not a forum for discrimination or sexual harassment complaints, which must be legally addressed by Human Resources.
Because stories are meant to be shared, the stories collected as part of this project will be made available online for all employees to read this summer. In the fall, several events open to all employees will feature local performance artists presenting some of the stories, followed by a facilitated discussion on racism. The Untold Story Project is based on the premise that story is what connects us and helps us understand each other.
For more information, contact Julia Yen or Donna Miscolta.
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Employee benefits and retirement office is moving to better serve you—closed on May 4
The Employee Benefits and Retirement Operations team is packing up and moving across the hall to join Payroll, so you’ll now have just one stop to get your benefits, payroll, and retirement questions answered.
To facilitate this move, Benefits, Payroll and Retirement Operations will be closed on Friday, May 4. If you need assistance on May 4, please reach out to us at kc.benefits@kingcounty.gov or call 206-684-1556, which will be monitored by those working remotely, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Beginning Monday, May 7, you can walk up to receive help with benefits, payroll, and retirement concerns at the same window currently used by Payroll on the second floor of the Chinook Building, Suite 230. All other contact information remains the same:
| Benefits, Payroll and Retirement Operations |
| Chinook Building |
| 401 Fifth Ave., Suite 230, Mailstop: CNK-ES-0240 |
| Seattle, WA 98104 |
| Hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. weekdays |
| Web: Benefits, Payroll and Retirement Operations |
| Phone 206-684-1556 |
| Benefits and Retirement Fax: 206-296-7700 |
| Payroll Fax: 206-296-7678 |
| Phone Hours: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. weekdays |
Thank you for your understanding and patience!
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Be vigilant, stay ahead of phishing scams
Cybercriminals are continuing to target institutions around the world with sophisticated phishing scams, and King County is no exception. Here are 10 tips from KCIT to help you stay ahead of would-be scammers:
Tip 1: Don’t trust the display name
A favorite phishing tactic among cybercriminals is to spoof the display name of an email. Here’s how it works: If a fraudster wanted to spoof the hypothetical brand “My Bank,” the email may look something like:
Legitimate emails from My Bank would come from xyz@mybank.com, not secure.com. This fraudulent email, once delivered, appears legitimate because most user inboxes only present the display name. Don’t trust the display name. Check the email address in the header from—if looks suspicious, don’t open the email.
Tip 2: Look but don’t click
Hover your mouse over any links embedded in the body of the email. If the link address looks weird, don’t click on it.
Tip 3: Check for spelling mistakes
Brands are pretty serious about email. Legitimate messages usually do not have major spelling mistakes or poor grammar. Read your emails carefully and report anything that seems suspicious.
Tip 4: Analyze the salutation
Is the email addressed to a vague “Valued Customer?” If so, watch out—legitimate businesses will often use a personal salutation with your first and last name.
Tip 5: Don’t give up personal information
KCIT will never ask you to click on a link and provide your user account and password. Legitimate banks and most other companies will never ask for personal credentials via email. Don’t give them up.
Tip 6: Beware of urgent or threatening language in the subject line
Invoking a sense of urgency or fear is a common phishing tactic. Beware of subject lines that claim your “account has been suspended” or your account had an “unauthorized login attempt.”
Tip 7: Review the signature
Lack of details about the signer or how you can contact a company strongly suggests a phish. Legitimate businesses always provide contact details.
Tip 8: Don’t click on attachments
Including malicious attachments that contain viruses and malware is a common phishing tactic. Malware can damage files on your computer, steal your passwords or spy on you without your knowledge. Don’t open any email attachments you weren’t expecting.
Tip 9: Don’t trust the header from email address
Fraudsters not only spoof brands in the display name, but also spoof brands in the header from email address.
Tip 10: Don’t believe everything you see
Phishers are extremely good at what they do. Just because an email has convincing brand logos, language, and a seemingly valid email address, does not mean that it’s legitimate. Be skeptical when it comes to your email messages—if it looks even remotely suspicious, don’t open it.
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Airport Career & Internship Fair draws 300 visitors
Crossposted from The Centerline
The future of aviation is exciting, especially when you get to see it up close.
The Airport got the chance to do so during our Career and Internship Fair last month, when nearly 300 professionals, college and high school students packed our Arrivals building to discover opportunities in the industry.
Representatives from King County International Airport / Boeing Field and several of our tenants offered the attendees – who represented schools from across the state – a glimpse into what we do.
Companies and organizations represented at this year’s fair included:
- King County International Airport/Boeing Field
- The Boeing Company
- UPS
- Signature Flight Support Corp.
- Kenmore Aero Services
- Galvin Flying
- ATOMIC Helicopters
- Federal Aviation Administration
- Department of Homeland Security
- Green River College
- Renton Municipal Airport
- Port of Seattle
More importantly, the young professionals learned about internship and job opportunities in aviation, which range from operations to mechanical careers to administrative and office support.
We look forward to seeing how these budding aviation professionals will shape our industry. It’s exciting stuff.
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Kudos! to Melanie Maltry of Public Health
Melanie Maltry, Home-Based Services Manager with Best Starts for Kids, will be receiving a Preceptor of the Year Award for the Population Health track in the University of Washington School of Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. Melanie, who manages BSK’s Home-Based Services investment area, has served as a mentor for DNP School of Nursing student Nadine Martinez over the past year. Nadine conducted research in the community for her report, “Exploring Service Gaps and Systems Needs for Prenatal-to-Five Home-Based Services in King County’s Best Starts for Kids.” The findings from her report are being used to inform BSK’s investments in home-based services, as well as community-based parenting supports. Melanie’s work with Nadine is part of a new partnership between Public Health, Seattle & King County and the University of Washington School of Nursing, pairing DNP program students with PHSKC initiatives. Melanie will formerly receive the award at a ceremony on October 12, 2018.
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Creative health permit process gives paws, not pause
Crossposted from Public Health Insider
Our friends at Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) deserve a treat – they’ve helped increase the pet adoption rate in King County by 20 percent in a single year. RASKC attributes some of this success to the several cat cafés located in our area.
But, these cat cafes raised some questions for us. We’ve heard about horses in coffee shops, but cats in cafés? Is that okay? We called our Public Health Veterinarian Beth Lipton to get her perspective on these establishments.
We’ve been hearing a lot about cat cafés in King County. Why isn’t Public Health doing anything about them?
Actually, Public Health has been involved in helping permit cat cafés since 2015. We helped King County’s first cat café, Seattle Meowtropolitan, become permitted through both our Pet Business program and our Food Business program. It’s unique to have an establishment that is jointly permitted, so it took a little bit of creativity. We think we were able to discover solutions that help keep people and their four-legged friends healthy, safe and protected from disease.
How many cat cafés are in King County?
We permit four cat cafés, three of which are jointly permitted by our Food Business program and our Pet Business program and one that is only permitted by our Pet Business Program. Given that we are at the forefront of this trend in the United States, I expect this number might grow! Many people find spending time around cats to be relaxing and fun, and these cat cafés help the kitties find homes.
So what do you do to make sure felines and food don’t mix in an unhealthy way?
A cat café like Seattle Meowtropolitan consists of two distinct spaces– one that serves food and one that houses cats. The Food Business space must meet all the usual food safety requirements and undergo inspection at least twice every year. The animal shelter space must meet all of the Pet Business requirements and undergo inspection at least once a year.
But, because these spaces are in the same facility, we make sure that specific measures are in place to prevent cross contamination. For instance, cat café staff are only allowed to work in either the animal shelter or in the Food Business during a shift. Additionally, garbage from the animal shelter (like kitty litter) can’t pass through the Food Business. We also ask that cat cafés display signage encouraging patrons to wash hands or use hand sanitizing stations, and that they make those facilities available.
It’s great that more cats are finding ‘furever’ homes. Any advice to new cat owners?
I wouldn’t be a veterinarian if I didn’t take the opportunity to remind new cat owners to make sure their furry companions are vaccinated, dewormed, and examined by a veterinarian. In many cases, disease prevention in pets translates to disease prevention in people.
We’re happy to support RASKC’s mission of protecting people and animals, and we are proud to be a part of such innovative (and fun!) projects.
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