“This program is saving lives”: How community partnerships expand naloxone access
Crossposted from Public Health Insider
Overdose is the leading cause of preventable injury death in King County, but an easy-to-use nasal spray called naloxone is saving lives. When someone overdoses on opioids like fentanyl or prescription painkillers, their breathing slows or stops. Naloxone, sometimes also called Narcan, quickly reverses the effects of opioids, often restoring normal breathing in 2-3 minutes.
Through strong community partnerships and innovative approaches, Public Health’s distribution of this life-saving tool to community-based organizations in 2025 is on pace to double that distributed in 2024. This work is funded in part through the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Overdose Data to Action Grant. Read more.
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Making Life Easier’s Addiction Care Navigator tool
Navigating substance use concerns—whether for yourself or someone you care about—can feel overwhelming. That’s why King County employees and anyone living in their household have access to a suite of confidential, stigma-free resources through Making Life Easier (MLE).
Addiction Care Navigator is MLE’s online clinical assessment that offers a stigma-free, anonymous and confidential way to assess substance use risk and to immediately connect you with care and support. Read more.
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How to get the COVID vaccine in King County
Crosposted from Public Health Insider
Getting a COVID shot this fall might look a little different from state to state, but here in Washington, it’s pretty simple: all people ages 6 months and up can get the updated (2025-26) COVID vaccine. Here’s what you need to know.
Who should get a COVID shot this fall?
The short answer: it’s a good idea for everyone! No matter your age or health, vaccination can protect you from severe illness and Long COVID. The slightly longer answer: we strongly recommend that certain people at higher risk get vaccinated, including:
- Children under 2 years
- Pregnant people
- Children and adults with conditions that put them at risk for severe illness
- All adults age 65 and older
- People who haven’t yet had a COVID vaccine
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Five questions for a King County ecotoxicologist
The Science Section brings together experts from different fields to investigate and address environmental concerns. But what is a limnologist, a gager, or a hydrogeologist? Why do we need fish ecologists and oceanographers? What do they do and why does it matter?
In Five Questions you’ll meet the people behind the science and learn about their work and what it means for the rest of us. Read more.
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Join us in the Annual Giving Drive!
Dear fellow King County employee,
As we enter the season of giving, I’m proud to announce the launch of our Annual Giving Drive, running from Sept. 29 to Nov. 14, 2025. This year’s theme, “Start Something Good,” is a celebration of King County’s strong legacy and invites us to cultivate hope and take positive action.
Every act of giving is a fresh beginning. Through the Annual Giving Drive, we can choose to grow the good by supporting causes that matter most to each of us.
The Annual Giving Drive is closely aligned with our True North: making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. It also expands that vision by offering us a powerful opportunity to support people, communities, animals, and ecosystems— locally, nationally, and globally. Whether through donations, volunteering, or sharing our stories, we turn our shared vision into meaningful action.
There are several ways to get involved. Read more.
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Public Health’s Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention and King County Sheriffs Office host gun safety events for National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, Sept. 29 and Oct. 4
In recognition of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, Public Health – Seattle & King County’s Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention is hosting two gun safety events: a gun lockbox giveaway event at Kirkland City Hall on Sept. 29, and a gun buyback in Skyway with the King County Sheriffs Office on Oct. 4. Both events are free and open to all. Read more.
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Supervisor Spotlight: Highlighting those who keep us moving
Crossposted from Metro Matters
Expert Metro staff work tirelessly to deliver service across 150 routes and over 300,000 boardings a day. You don’t see them, but they’re essential to making sure your trip goes smoothly every day.
They help train the operators you see everyday, keep track of buses throughout the region and support drivers and the public 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
They are the supervisors, instructors, and coordinators who put their backgrounds from other fields into good use.
We want to introduce you to the staff that help keep the wheels on the bus going “round and round” everyday. Read more.
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Career Connections: From intern to Chief of Staff
Danielle Lucero and Nicole Way both serve as Chief of Staff in the Department of Executive Services, with Lucero in the Director’s Office and Way wrapping up a special duty assignment in the Facilities Management Division (FMD) as Deputy Director/Chief of Staff. What does it take to become Chief of Staff at King County, a position that involves finance and budgeting as well as government and legislative relations?
Both Lucero and Way started in entry-level, temporary positions and worked their way up. Lucero started at the county as an intern in 1998 at the Maleng Regional Justice Center, doing time entry for trades employees and supporting the superintendent. Read more.
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Mark your calendar: The 2025 Annual Giving Drive is almost here!
Get ready to rally around the causes that matter most—King County’s Annual Giving Drive kicks off Sept. 29 and runs through Nov. 14, 2025. This King County tradition is more than just a fundraising campaign; it’s a celebration of community, compassion, and collective impact. Each year, employees come together to support organizations close to their hearts, making a difference both locally and globally. Whether you’re a longtime participant or joining for the first time, this is your chance to be part of something meaningful and fun. Let’s make 2025 our most generous year yet! Learn more.
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My 2026-2027 proposed biennial budget: Message from Shannon Braddock, King County Executive
Dear fellow King County employee,
Tuesday I transmitted my 2026-2027 proposed biennial budget to the Metropolitan King County Council. It is a budget that prioritizes key investments in public safety, housing, and behavioral health while preventing devastating cuts to critical services thanks to a new revenue source. The budget also prepares King County for uncertainties surrounding future federal funding.
My 2026-2027 budget proposal protects core services to ensure safe, vibrant, and healthy communities where everyone can thrive. It also creates efficiencies and invests in proven programs serving those in need. By proposing a balanced and responsible budget, we are safeguarding our communities and delivering for the people we serve. Read more.
Employee News 