Town halls in unincorporated King County offer residents a chance to engage with King County officials
Shared from the DCHS Touching Base Newsletter
Leo Flor and Kelli Carroll staffed a DCHS table at the Fall City CSA meeting in 2016.
The 2017 Unincorporated Community Service Area (CSA) series of town hall meetings kicked off in April with well-attended meetings in Snoqualmie Valley and on Vashon Island. Residents received reports on local initiatives from their Councilmember, sheriff, assessor and other leaders from King County departments, and had the opportunity to ask questions and voice concerns about issues affecting their community. A few DCHS management members and Best Starts for Kids reps attended the meetings, hosting a DCHS table with information about DCHS programs.
The CSA town halls offer residents of unincorporated King County an opportunity to engage with King County officials and hear about King County’s work in their specific area. DCHS reps will be attending all the meetings, and you’re invited to join! For a list of upcoming CSA meetings, click here.
To learn more about what DCHS is doing in our community, read the most recent issue of the Touching Base Newsletter (on SharePoint).
Share this:
Monitoring the environment during West Point restoration
Crossposted from Clean Water Stories
King County shared good news April 27 that West Point Treatment Plant is back online. Employees and contractors worked around the clock to restore critical mechanical and electrical systems that were damaged by severe flooding on Feb. 9.
Whenever clean water infrastructure is affected, King County Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) gets in front of environmental monitoring. The scale of the West Point incident called for increased environmental monitoring and close coordination with the State Department of Ecology.
King County knows how much people in our region care about the environment, including our waters. We are answering questions, addressing concerns, and providing information about our environmental monitoring efforts as West Point is restored. WTD’s West Point Restoration page includes all progress updates, plans, reports and data.
Read more at Clean Water Stories
Share this:
Free military career Expo, August 9
King County is hosting the fourth annual “Working with Our Troops Career Expo” at the Washington State Convention Center on Wednesday, August 9, 2017, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Expo is free to both employers and job seekers and attracts 300-400 Veterans, transitioning Service Members and their spouses. There is space for approximately 130 employers. The deadline for employer registration is August 4, or until all spaces are filled. Here is the registration form.
Each participating King County agency receives a:
- 10×10 booth space with an eight foot draped table, two chairs, access to power, and Wi-Fi
- Reduced daily parking rate of $6.00 for each of the agency’s representatives
- Free boxed lunch for each of the agency’s representatives
Unable to attend but want to conduct outreach to military job seekers? Contact Susan Navetski, King County’s Vets 4 HIRE Program Manager, at 206-477-3271 or susan.navetski@kingcounty.gov.
Please direct all questions about the Expo to Andrew Ang, Business Services Liaison, WorkSource of Seattle-King County, at 206-779-4071 or aang@esd.wa.gov.
Share this:
Annual conference for administrative professionals, June 21 and 22
King County is participating this year as a sponsor in the 2017 T.R.A.I.N Support Staff Conference, taking place June 21 and 22. The conference is open to employees of public agencies who work in an administrative, departmental, customer service or office support role.
Registration for the conference opens May 8, 2017. Click here to register then, or download this PDF for more information about the conference.
Share this:
Upsizing or downsizing your home
Are you ready to move up to a bigger home or downsize to a smaller one? This seminar is presented by HomeStreet Bank to help you learn what it takes to sell your existing home, how to determine the market value of your home, what improvements pay off, and how to crunch the numbers to budget for your next home.
There are two classes available:
- Thursday, May 11, noon to 1 p.m., Chinook Building
- Tuesday, May 16, noon to 1 p.m., King Street Center
To register for these classes you can call the Hometown Hotline at 888-425-6990, or go online to www.homestreet.com/kingco.
Share this:
King County Archives receives the AKCHO 2017 Technology Award for its online exhibit, “Responding to AIDS”
Crossposted from Bytes and Boxes
The King County Archives was chosen as winner of the Association of King County Heritage Organizations 2017 Technology Award for its online exhibit, Responding to AIDS: The Seattle-King County Department of Public Health, 1982-1996.
The AKCHO Technology Award is “presented annually to an organization for an outstanding project that pairs technology with local history and provides an inspiration or a model for the heritage community.” We are honored to be among this year’s AKCHO award recipients, listed here: 2017 AKCHO Award Honorees.
Read more at Bytes and Boxes
Share this:
New videos showcase diversity of careers, people at King County
King County is releasing a series of new videos that showcase the diversity of career opportunities at the County and the people who work here.
One of those employees is Deborah DeQuier-Bowden, Dental Supervisor for Columbia Public Health Dental Clinic.
“I get out of bed, come in here, because I know that I’m going to make a change, or I’m going to make some kind of good effort in somebody’s life today,” Deborah says in the video. “It makes me happy to help people. That’s one of the reasons I got into public service.”
King County offers a wide range of rewarding careers that provide an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of people across our communities.
We are also working to become racially diverse and culturally responsive at all levels of the organization, which will help us provide equitable, high quality services to all our communities, as part of the Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan. Watch the video.
Share this:
DCHS developing 5 enhanced shelters for homeless individuals, families
Shared from the DCHS Touching Base Newsletter
Liz McDaniel of Mary’s Place was thrilled to accept 30 sets of sheets from the employees at King County Department of Community and Human Services for the tuck them in sheet drive.
The first of five enhanced shelters for homeless single adults and homeless families opened in March, and two more are moving forward!
White Center – The Family Shelter at White Center operated by Mary’s Place is open and providing safe, temporary housing for about 30 people (parents and children), which is the current capacity. Thanks to the Evergreen Aquatics Center, additional shower capacity is available just a short distance away. Construction is currently under way at the site, including plumbing additional onsite showers. Once that work is complete, the shelter capacity will stretch to about 70 residents. The shelter is open 24/7 with onsite case management and a range of other services. Meals are provided and families have the privacy of their own space for sleeping, in addition to common spaces for eating, socializing, playrooms for toddlers and homework tables for school-age children and youth. The community remains involved in the shelter, with a community work group meeting taking place in May to talk about operations to date. A community open house will be scheduled for early June. This location will house homeless families for about two years while planning gets under way for the permanent use of the land, likely a combination of human services and permanent housing in conjunction with Communities of Opportunity.
Kenmore – A community meeting sponsored by the City of Kenmore, Mary’s Place and King County has been scheduled for Wednesday, May 18 at 6 p.m. at the Northshore Fire Department Headquarters at 7220 NE 181st Street in Kenmore to discuss a proposed 24-hour resource center and family shelter. The shelter would be located on county-owned land, the vacant King County Sheriff’s precinct at 18118 73rd Ave NE in Kenmore. Representatives from Mary’s Place will talk about the services that Mary’s Place provides and how this shelter will help address the homelessness crisis in our region.
Bellevue – The Bellevue City Council voted on April 17 to move forward with planning for the Eastside Men’s Shelter and Supportive Housing project on land owned by King County near both the Eastgate Public Health Clinic and the Eastgate Park-n-Ride. The Council also agreed to a 45-day exploration period to determine the viability of two potential alternative sites for the shelter – the Lincoln Center office building at 515 116th Ave. NE and the future Eastside Sound Transit Operations and Maintenance Facility at 1899 120th Ave. NE. At the council study session on May 1, the City Council will review and comment on a set of criteria for this exploration. Bellevue is committed to a new 24/7 homeless men’s shelter with permanent housing above. Some Bellevue residents have voiced strong opposition to homeless men and the siting of a shelter in the proposed neighborhood.
Two more enhanced shelters are in the discussion and planning stages. Stay tuned!
For more information, contact Valerie Kendall with DCHS’ Housing and Community Development team at 206-263-9076 or valerie.kendall@kingcounty.gov.
To learn more about what DCHS is doing in our community, read the most recent issue of the Touching Base Newsletter (on SharePoint).
Share this:
From the Hip: Laura Inveen, Presiding Judge, King County Superior Court
Spotlight on Jason Clark, Superior Court Equity and Justice Advocate
Jason Clark, Superior Court Equity and Justice Advocate
As Presiding Judge of Superior Court, I was asked to write about the court. We have a lot going on, so it was a tough choice. After giving it some thought, the work being done by Jason Clark, our Equity and Justice Advocate rose to the top. Jason’s work is wide-ranging. He’s responsible for developing community-building and engagement strategies, for planning and policy/program development, and for general planning support for projects related to reducing racial and ethnic disparities in the juvenile justice system.
How does he do all that? Without skipping a beat! In just over a year, his accomplishments have been far-reaching. An example is his work in Federal Way. In response to increased violence in that area, he gathered together community members and local service agencies. This resulted in the formation of the Federal Way Youth Action Team (FWYAT), a consortium of caring folks and organizations that partner to provide youth development and opportunities in the community. Through Jason’s guidance and influence, the FWYAT has formed programs and activities for youth traditionally underserved or overlooked.
Just last week a 13 year old who might otherwise have been referred to the justice system was the beneficiary of Jason’s efforts. Jason had previously asked the King County Office of Alternative Dispute Resolution to provide facilitation services to the FWYAT. He also coordinated with case managers at the Federal Way Multi-Services Center’s Positive Outcome Program (POP). This coordination of services allowed this young man, his guardian, the victim, a member of the community, and his POP case manager to have a successful restorative mediation. The end result included connecting the young man with positive youth groups, a summer camp program, mentoring, and a satisfied victim.
Whether from a community member, judge, probation officer, or service provider, you will hear praises of Jason. Will Jimerson, a POP case manager says of Jason: “He is not one merely caught up with lip service, but more so with and through life service.” Will describes Jason’s work as lending his development leadership qualities and technical assistance and going beyond the stretch when it comes to community development – “a quiet and confident leader, who everyone looks to when he steps into the room.”
Laura Inveen, Presiding Judge, King County Superior Court
Chief Juvenile Judge Wesley Saint Clair notes Jason’s success as a community liaison is in part due to the way he solicits needs as described by parents and youth, not simply those of the system or by institutional players. In doing so, he has been instrumental in creating new avenues for the community to effectively engage in helping families that might be having issues, while at the same time helping community partners navigate the complexities of being a provider for government.
In addition to his work in Federal Way, Jason has focused on Equity and Social Justice training with juvenile court and those involved with the court, as either the trainer or part of a team that coordinates these efforts. He is able to deliver a message that is easily received by all. Superior Court is indeed fortunate to have great employees such as Jason!
Share this:
Featured Job: IT Services Manager I
Closing Date/Time: Sun. 05/14/17 11:59 PM Pacific Time
Salary: $106,870.40 – $135,470.40 Annually
Job Type: Civil Service, Full Time, 40/hrs Wk
Location: King County Courthouse – 516 3rd Ave, Seattle, Washington
Department: King County Sheriff’s Office
Description: The King County Sheriff’s Office is welcoming all innovative, forward-thinking technological professionals to apply for the position of IT Services Manager I. This person will be leading a team of technological professionals in coordinating and managing all of KCSO’s technology service needs. This strategic thinking leader will be overseeing all IT functions and guiding all KCSO IT staff in day-to-day operations as well as planning and execution. Working in partnership with the King County Information Technology Department, this manager will develop solutions that align with the ever changing IT environment coupled with law enforcement needs across multiple work sites to establish best practices.
Learn more about this position, or view all available jobs.
Employee News 