Lend a paw: Animals searching for their forever home 

Crossposted from KC Employee Giving  For many of us, our pets are more than just pets – they are a part of the family. Cats and dogs are there in our moments of joy and of sadness, in our moments of smiles and tears. In this year’s Annual Giving Drive, you too can make a difference in an animal’s life by donating to one or various organizations. Don’t wait, lend a paw to a cat or dog in search of their forever home.  With over 80 nonprofit organizations doing work with animals, below are… Read More

Keeping King County safe during flood season 

Only a month ago, the nation witnessed hurricane-induced flooding in many parts of the country. Our region doesn’t experience hurricanes, but we do experience flood conditions nearly every year due to another weather phenomenon that recently garnered headlines – atmospheric rivers. When the rains fall and the rivers rise, King County’s flood response teams kick into gear. One of the first steps is the opening of the King County Flood Warning Center (FWC), which gathers, analyzes and distributes flood-related information to help people – including County employees – protect themselves, their families and… Read More

Responding to safety: Courthouse Vicinity Improvement effort  

Over the summer, several incidents of assault were reported in downtown Seattle around the King County Courthouse building, including assaults on residents reporting for jury duty. As a result King County, the City of Seattle, Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) at The Morrison and the Metropolitan Improvement District (MID) began working together on a new initiative – the Courthouse Vicinity Improvement effort – to improve the safety and cleanliness around the Courthouse for employees, visitors and residents of the area. Along with need for increased security, cleaning up the sidewalk areas outside… Read More

Kudos! Clinic staff receive rave from Seattle Times readers 

This piece was featured at the top of the Seattle Times’ Rant and Raves list. Kudos to the people working at the Seattle/King County Clinic! “RAVE To the selfless, kind people who took time out of their busy working lives to provide free medical and dental care to people in need at the Seattle/King County Clinic at Seattle Center on Oct. 26-29.”

Social Media Spotlight: King County Emergency News blog 

This blog is maintained by King County Emergency Management. In the event of a widespread disaster or other significant event, it will be used to inform residents in King County, Washington and the central Puget Sound region. The information provided may include safety tips, emergency directives, ways to stay informed, and important updates. Follow the King County Emergency News blog today! Click here to view all King County social media pages.

Reminder: Current Administrative Professionals are invited to attend a focus group 

The Administrative Professionals Advisory Committee has scheduled a second series of focus groups to hear directly from administrative professionals regarding the success of the program and what is needed to improve it. Feedback provided will help the committee learn how to best support administrative professionals at King County. Register for one of the following focus group sessions:  Tuesday, November 14, 2017 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. – Register here  Thursday, November 16, 2017 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. – Register here  Wednesday, December 6, 2017 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. – Register here 

We will pay to train you 

Crossposted from Clean Water Stories  Our business is unconventional – and that works for a lot of our employees.  We get it. Any of us who work here at King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) have been asked what we do for a living – and we’ve seen the smirks and heard the giggles when we explain we help run the region’s sewer utility.  Most of us did not seek out a career in wastewater, but many of us were pleasantly surprised when we found one. The people who operate our treatment… Read More

Success! Nonprofit Expo hosts a full house 

Crossposted from KC Employee Giving On November 1, Chinook hosted the final Nonprofit Expo Roadshow for this year’s Annual Giving Drive. The conference room was filled from wall to wall with 14 nonprofit organizations, and 70 County employees filtered through from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Organizations that attended the Expo run the gamut from the Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington to Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to Project Canine and Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project. Other nonprofit organizations that attended offer services that empower women, provide assistance to marginalized groups and environment preservation. Read more at KC Employee Giving

Honoring our Veterans through workplace giving 

Crossposted from KC Employee Giving  In observance of Veterans Day 2017, we would like to encourage King County employees to give back to the men and women who have served to make America the land of the free. Here are some nonprofits who work to support veterans:  Heartbeat Serving Wounded Warriors (9525) PO Box 704 Snohomish, WA 98291 – provides emergency assistance, morale building programs and innovative therapeutic services for Wounded Warriors and their families.  Last year, Heartbeat assisted 4,730 Wounded Warrior families. Although the organization’s primary focus are families, 20% of soldiers are single. Most notably,… Read More

Prosecuting Attorney’s Office profile: Sean Goode

If you wanted to create a profile for the type of kid who would end up involved in drugs, in gangs, in the juvenile justice system, Executive Director of the Choose 180 Program Sean Goode says the description would match his childhood.   Both of Sean’s parents struggled with mental health diseases: his father with schizophrenia; his mother with a personality disorder. His drug-and-alcohol-dependent father was also highly abusive.  “We left my father when I was 8,” Sean says. “I lived in 12 different places in 12 different years of school. As a result, I dealt with… Read More