Fifth annual Reconnect to Opportunity High School Resource fair distributes resources to more than 450 community members
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections It is back-to-school season, and this August the Reconnect to Opportunity (ReOpp) team hosted the fifth annual High School Resource fair with 23 community partners and 466 community members participating. The resource fair was initially launched in the summer of 2020 as a drive-through resource fair to connect families to basic needs items for school such as food, school supplies, and backpacks. The fair has become a fixture and draws consistent turnout from the community and organizational partners. Read more.
King County’s investments in the mental health and well-being workforce
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections Supporting the well-being and mental health of our communities is a priority for King County. Even before the pandemic, community members were facing new challenges in accessing supports for mental health care. Since the pandemic, those challenges have deepened, especially for young people who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), LGBTQ+, and multilingual who have increasing mental health needs but a lack of culturally representative providers. Among other areas of investments in behavioral health, King County is expanding funding in the workforce. The Crisis Care Centers Initiative invests… Read More
King County’s Vashon Recycling and Transfer Station achieves zero energy certification, with more climate successes on the horizon
Crossposted from Keeping King County Green With installation of a new solar array and other energy-saving features completed, the Vashon Recycling and Transfer Station has been Zero Energy Certified by the International Living Future Institute, meaning that over the course of a year the facility generates as much or more energy through solar power than it draws from the electricity grid. “This is a huge milestone for our division,” said Elly Trinh, King County’s Green Building Team Program Manager. “The Vashon Recycling and Transfer Station is the division’s first zero energy facility, and it’s one… Read More
More young people will have access to outdoor recreation, refurbished aquatic centers, and enhanced sports fields with $5 million in King County Parks funding
More young people will have access to outdoor recreation, after-school activities, refurbished aquatic centers, and enhanced sports fields and playgrounds thanks to a combined $5 million in King County Parks funding proposed by Executive Dow Constantine and approved by the County Council. The 63 funded projects include summer backpacking trips for underserved young people, after-school sports and wellness programs in South King County cities, a new synthetic baseball infield in Seattle’s Central District, and improvements for aquatic centers in Des Moines and White Center. “With support from King County Parks, more young… Read More
Preparing for emergencies in National Preparedness Month
Dear fellow King County employee, King County cares about your safety and well-being and we want to help you stay safe – and keep your family and community safe – in the event of an emergency. September is National Preparedness Month and I want to encourage you to take steps to prepare for a natural disaster or emergency. Our own Office of Emergency Management has training and resources that make preparing easy. Here are three steps you can take to be more prepared: Prepare for an emergency: You can find more… Read More
Sustainability and support mark a summer of meaningful advocacy for Department of Public Defense interns
Crossposted from For the Defense Cecilia Atkins, a rising 3L student at Michigan Law, chose to spend her summer internship at the King County Department of Public Defense (DPD) largely because of Washington’s unique Rule 9 licensure that allows supervised students to speak on the record. At the start of the 10-week program, she took over a handful of cases from a public defender who rotated into felonies from practicing in Seattle Municipal Court. Although Cecilia had heard from classmates at Michigan who had interned at DPD that she’d have the support… Read More
KCSO attends annual Skyway Health and Safety Fair
Cross-posted from the King County Sheriff’s Office newsletter. Last weekend, the King County Sheriff’s Office took great pride in participating in the Annual Skyway Health and Safety Fair alongside various stakeholders and the local community. This highly anticipated event attracted hundreds of residents from Skyway and nearby areas and was meticulously organized by the dedicated team at Skyway Fire District 20. The day kicked off with a complimentary pancake breakfast hosted by the fire department, setting a warm and inviting tone for the event. Throughout the day, there was a wide range… Read More
A highly successful paint recycling program shows how extended producer responsibility reduces waste, protects human and environmental health
Cross-posted from Department of Natural Resources and Parks. The success of a statewide rule that holds producers responsible for their own products, such as leftover paint, is a key component of Re+, King County’s initiative to prevent pollution, protect human and environmental health, and keep waste management costs in check. A state law that went into effect in 2020 promoting product stewardship dramatically reduced the amount of oil-based paint sent to the regional landfill in Maple Valley, preventing waste and protecting the natural environment in King County. An estimated 15,000 gallons of… Read More
Drug Court celebrates 30 years on Sept. 16
Cross-posted from King County Superior Court. King County Drug Diversion Court (KCDDC) will hold an in-person 30th anniversary celebration on September 16 in the Presiding Courtroom (E-942) of the King County Courthouse, 516 3rd Avenue, Seattle to celebrate three decades of “Transforming Lives and Strengthening Communities.” “Drug Court provided me with the treatment and resources that transformed my life. Since graduating, I have devoted my time to helping others by returning to work at the same program that saved me, supporting those who are facing similar struggles,” said Joe Barsana, a KCDDC… Read More
Your voice can be part of the future of Metro’s paratransit services
Crossposted from Metro Matters Are you an Access rider, caregiver to an Access rider, or service provider? Help shape the future of Access Transportation by taking our survey! King County Metro is continuing its full review of our paratransit rideshare service, Access Transportation, that will shape the service for the next seven to 10 years. We are at the stage where we are looking for community feedback from Access riders, Access caregivers, and Access service providers – organizations and businesses where Access riders are picked up and dropped off. If any of… Read More
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