Join us at the King County School-to-Work Transition Fair 2020 

Crossposted from Cultivating Connections  These two great events are coming up soon and we need your help to promote them. Our goal is to reach more parents, students and teachers to join us at the fair. Even if you are not involved in this community per se, check out the fair–it truly is special! The first fair will be held at the Microsoft Commons on Thursday, February 27, and the second at Highline College on Saturday, March 14.  Help us by sharing this blog post  Share our YouTube video–it’s less than a minute long! Watch… Read More

Census awareness campaign underway 

Crossposted from DES Express  Every ten years, the federal government counts every person living in the U.S. through a national census.  The results help determine how funding is distributed for the next decade — for things like our schools, affordable housing, hospitals, and public transportation. The count also determines how many representatives our state will have in Congress, and how district lines are drawn for legislative bodies like the King County Council.  Read more from DES Express

Preparing now to reduce impact of novel coronavirus

Dear employee, As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak continues to spread to more countries, the likelihood that eventually there will be more cases in the United States increases. King County is getting prepared now in order to reduce the number of illnesses and negative effects that could occur in our community. Department leaders are working with the Executive’s Senior Leadership Team and the Office of Emergency Management now on response planning – short term and long term – in line with our Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP). Every one of us have… Read More

Pet of the Week: Hemlock 

Crossposted from Tails from RASKC  A hale and hearty hello to Hemlock, our Pet of the Week! This handsome boy was brought in by a good Samaritan in mid-December. Hemi, as he’s also known, is the sweetest old man you’ll ever meet. He is a huge cuddle bug who drools when he’s happy. Hemlock purrs almost on contact and will rub his face all over you. At 12 years young, Hemlock still loves to play, especially with teasers and chase toys! He is sweet and gentle, and non-reactive to other cats, but he… Read More

Security update: Downtown area around the King County Courthouse   

Seattle Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred around 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 25 on Third Avenue near the King County Courthouse in which two people suffered non-life threatening injuries. The incident, which occurred after regular working hours, did not involve any King County employees.  Our first priority is your safety and security at work. King County continues to work closely with other local jurisdictions, including the Seattle Police Department, to improve security in the downtown area around the King County Courthouse. Some recent steps:   King County Security, King County… Read More

Coronavirus response update, February 26

As we continue to respond to novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Public Health is committed to providing up-to-date information to King County employees. Below you’ll find links to our most recent blog post, an update on the current risk in King County, travel recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and an anti-stigma social media tool kit recently developed by Public Health.   What happens if coronavirus spreads here?   With continuing spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak to more countries, it is increasingly likely that we will see a worldwide spread… Read More

King County Affinity Groups provide an opportunity for connection and impact 

In July 2019, King County’s Executive Branch adopted a policy for employees to participate in Employee Resource Groups during their work time. These Employee Resource Groups, also called Affinity Groups, are led by employee volunteers, and are formed around protected categories set by local and federal anti-discrimination law. Some of the categories included are race, gender, and sexual orientation, among others. “The groups promote equity and social justice, foster employee engagement, strengthen workplace effectiveness, improve leadership abilities, and enhance personal and professional growth within King County,” said Janine Anzalota, Equity and Civil Rights… Read More

Pet of the Week: Dapper

Crossposted from Tails from RASKC  Who is this handsome gentleman? Why it’s Dapper, our Pet of the Week!  This affectionate lovebug would be thrilled to cuddle up with you at home. Dapper is a young pittie mix who is full of energy and loves to play. He tends to calm down more when the people around him are calm. Because he has lots of energy, Dapper does best when he gets lots of exercise and something to keep his mind busy. Read more.   View all available pets at www.kingcounty.gov/adoptapet. 

Reflecting on the history of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. logo 

This month during Black History Month, we are reflecting on why King County adopted the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. logo, and what it means to be the only county in the United States named after the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  King County changed its logo in 2007 from a gold crown to an original graphic image of civil rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  Dr. King is an international icon for justice, equality, and peace, and the logo is symbolic of those same… Read More

Ongoing Coronavirus response, February 18  

As we continue to respond to novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Public Health is committed to providing up-to-date information to King County employees. Below you’ll find links to our most recent blog posts, as well as travel guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Planning for a novel coronavirus update: What you can do to prepare at home, at work and in the community – Our Public Health Insider blog features an interview with Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer, about how we can prepare at home, at work and in the community… Read More