Interview with Caitlin Cordell, Career LaunchPad Program Supervisor
Shared from the DCHS Touching Base Newsletter
What do you do in the Department of Community and Human Services?
I am a program supervisor for a new program within Education and Employment Resources (EER) called Career LaunchPad (CLP). CLP was funded by the Ballmer Foundation in March of 2017 to support more Opportunity Youth in our county to secure employment. Opportunity Youth are 16 to 24-year-olds who are disengaged from school and employment. When I took this position there were no systems in place to run a program like this, so my team and I have worked diligently over the course of ten months to build this program from the ground up.
We have five Career Navigators located across King County, primarily housed in what we call “re-engagement” schools. These schools offer young people, who have left traditional high school, an opportunity to retrieve credits, earn a high school diploma or GED, or even earn college credits and degrees. We have wonderful partnerships with iGrad in Kent, Federal Way Open Doors, YouthSource in Tukwila, Learning Center Seattle and the Salmon Creek Campus in Highline. In addition to these partnerships we also get referrals from many different community-based youth serving organizations. Most notably is our connection to rapid rehousing case managers. We partner directly with them to help young people obtain employment in order to become self-sufficient. CLP serves youth and young adults, ages 16-24, with individualized employment focused case management. We help our participants with job readiness, soft skill development, job searching and job connections. So far our program has secured unsubsidized employment for over 110 young people.
What’s something about yourself that people may not know?
I’m a competitive ultimate frisbee player. I’ve played for Seattle Riot, which is an elite level women’s team. With this team I’ve won two National Championship silver medals, one gold U.S. Open medal and one bronze National Championship medal. At 16 I was chosen to play for the U.S. National Team and went to Germany to play in the World Championships, where we won gold. Now I’m Masters eligible (which means 30+) and this year my team has qualified to play in the Masters World Championships.
To learn more about what DCHS is doing in our community, read the most recent issue of the Touching Base Newsletter (on SharePoint).
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February 13 Special Election
Message from Julie Wise, Director of King County Elections
Last week we mailed ballots for the February 13 Special Election to around 750,000 King County voters. If you live outside the City of Seattle, there’s a good chance you have something to weigh-in on! Eighteen jurisdictions are asking voters to make choices on a total of 34 ballot measures. These are important decisions about our community and I hope you will take the time to vote and return your ballot.
To learn more about what’s on your specific ballot, see your voting history and registration information, or to track your ballot, you can use our My Voter Information application. It’s available in Chinese, English, Korean, Spanish and Vietnamese. If you haven’t yet received your ballot by January 29, you can get a replacement ballot here or by calling 206-296-VOTE.
There are several, convenient ways to return your ballot:
- Through the United State Post Office with a first class stamp, postmarked by Election Day.
- At any one of our 55 ballot drop boxes across the County, one of which is located in front of the King County Administration Building on 4th Avenue.
- You can also use one of our three Accessible Voting Centers.
Please encourage your friends, family and neighbors to let their voice be heard and vote. And, if you aren’t eligible to vote on anything in this election, don’t worry – you’ll have ample opportunities later this year from state legislative races to congressional seats and many more. In the meantime, you can always keep up with the latest election news on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and our blog.
Thanks and happy voting!
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Kudos! King County DPD recognized for working to simplify Miranda warning for juveniles
A recent Bloomberg News Article, Kids Need Miranda Rights They Can Understand, highlights the work King County’s Department of Defense (DPD) has done on having developmentally appropriate Miranda warnings for juveniles.
The article states “In effect, in most cases the criminal justice system approaches juvenile suspects with confusing language to advise them of their rights, then proceeds to interrogate them without the benefit of counsel. It’s a recipe for injustice.”
Thank you to Katherine Hurley, DPD Attorney, and Anita Khandelwal, DPD Policy Director, for their outstanding work on this important project.
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Chief gives primer on Airport Rescue & Firefighter unit
Crossposted from the Centerline
By Chief Nathan Elledge, Airport Rescue & Firefighting
For more than a year, I’ve had the privilege to serve as your Chief of Airport Police and Fire here at King County International Airport/Boeing Field. During my tenure, I’ve noticed that there seems to be some confusion as to who has jurisdictional responsibility when it comes to police and fire response at the airport. Given that, I’d like to provide you with an overview of who we are and what we do.
The King County Airport Police and Fire Department, commonly known as the ARFF (Aircraft Rescue & Firefighter) unit, is comprised of 18 men and women from the King County Sheriff’s Office. They are uniquely cross-trained to handle police, fire and EMS duties at the Airport. Our staff includes a fire inspector, as well as a dedicated trainer who helps keep our staff trained to the highest level.
Read more at the Centerline
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Help us “Crush the Crown” in 2018!
It’s been a decade since King County switched to an illustration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as our logo. We take pride in having Dr. King represent our county, the only jurisdiction in the world named for the civil rights icon.
While Dr. King’s image can be found all over King County, there are still a few places where the old crown logo appears. That’s where you come in!
We’re looking to “Crush the Crown” in 2018 – and we need your help to do it. If you see an old logo somewhere, let us know where it is by reporting it at www.kingcounty.gov/CrushTheCrown. Provide as many details as you can about the location – you can even upload a photo! Completed reports will be entered in a random drawing for a $25 Amazon gift card. Entries must be received by 5 p.m. on February 28.
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Featured Job: Patient Services Representative – Float Pool
Closing Date/Time: Wed. 02/14/18 11:59 PM Pacific Time
Salary: $21.23 – $28.25 Hourly
Job Type: Various – See Supplemental Information Statement
Location: Various Locations Throughout King County, Washington
Department: Department of Public Health–Community Health Services
Description: Public Health – Seattle & King County is seeking Patient Services Representatives to become part of a dynamic, multidisciplinary, and diverse team in our Float Pool. The Patient Services Representative is generally the first point of contact for patients, both in person and over the phone; s/he must consistently maintain excellent customer service standards.
Our clients are culturally, socially, and linguistically diverse. Applicants should be committed to working with diverse populations to provide excellent customer service to people from a broad range of cultures, communities, backgrounds, and experiences, including people experiencing homelessness and/or mental illness. This position supports and advances the Community Health Services Division’s values for fair and culturally-competent service delivery, innovative, effective and efficient application of resources, building a culture of performance, expanding opportunities to seek input, and listen and respond to clients.
Contact: For more information contact Nic Horea at 206-263-8736 or Nicolae.Horea@kingcounty.gov.
Learn more about this position, or view all available jobs.
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Social Media Spotlight: King County Youth Justice blog
The King County Youth Justice blog updates you on work the County and its partners are taking on to reduce youth interaction with the juvenile justice system – especially for youth of color who are disproportionately represented in it. Each post highlights the County’s continuous efforts to improve its support of lasting, positive youth development.
Follow the KC Youth Justice blog today.
Click here to view all King County social media pages.
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Survey said! Results of the Employee Health & Well-Being Survey
Crossposted from Healthy Incentives
King County is overhauling the Healthy Incentives program based on what we heard from employees. In 2017, you provided valuable input that will help us shape the new program to support your diverse interests and wellness goals in a more meaningful way.
We’ve previously shared an overview of what we heard from you and now we’re sharing more detailed information including how we’re working to ensure the new approach is more responsive to all employees.
Read more at Healthy Incentives
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Employees can now view their W-2 form online
Your 2017 W-2 form is now available in PeopleSoft to view and print. A paper copy of your W-2 form was mailed this week by ADP to the address you have listed in PeopleSoft.
To view or print your W-2, log in to PeopleSoft, choose “My Payroll” and then “View W-2/W-2c Forms.” If you need help with PeopleSoft, read PeopleSoft Sign-on Instructions or contact the Help Desk at 206-263-3430.
Your Form 1095-C—Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage—will also be sent to your home address by ADP. This form will arrive by March 2 and shows whether you were offered health insurance by King County in 2017. This form is informational only—so you can mark the appropriate check box on your tax form.
For questions about the information on your W-2, please see Understanding your W-2 form or contact your payroll representative. If you have questions about Form 1095-C, please see About Form 1095-C or contact Benefits, Payroll and Retirement Operations at 206-684-1556 or KC.Benefits@kingcounty.gov.
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King County and surrounding cities host first discussion on homelessness
The OneTable campaign, announced last month, held it’s first workgroup meeting Monday to discuss ways to solve the regional homeless problem. The group comes from various backgrounds, including housing, behavior health and the criminal justice system, with leaders suggesting multiple ways to resolve the issue.
“That is going be one of the main outcomes of this conversation,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “What we need to do and what we’re willing to do to get to that prevention side of the equation.”
Monday’s meeting was highlighted in several news outlets. Here is a King 5 article entitled “King County homeless campaign releases staggering numbers” that highlights the need for this workgroup and the data regarding homelessness in King County.
Read the full article here, or watch King County Executive Dow Constantine speak about the OneTable campaign in this King 5 video.
Employee News 