Crossposted from Cultivating Connections Ensuring access to basic needs is one of the straightforward ways we can promote community connection and well-being. Reconnect to Opportunity (ReOpp) initially launched the High School Resource Fair in the summer of 2020 in response to the emerging needs at the beginning of the pandemic. With the positive community response and generous support of program partners, ReOpp has been able to host the resource event annually. At the event we work across agencies and community partnerships to hand out school supplies, food bags, and resource information. Last… Read More

Crossposted from Tails from RASKC Editor’s note: this post is a first-hand account by one of our King County communications staff. On what is usually a short walk at a neighborhood park on my lunch break recently, I came across an unleashed dog without a human. It was a beautiful dog, perhaps a Golden Retriever/Irish Setter mix. “Where’s your person?” I asked the dog, while looking around the trail. We were near an off-leash dog park, but in an area that requires a leash. Read more.

Crossposted from DES Express King County Emergency Management is ramping up preparedness activities throughout September in recognition of National Preparedness Month. Activities include free Disaster Skills Training webinars, Emergency Preparedness Workshops at local senior centers, and preparedness posts on social media. Everyone is encouraged to get involved and take action. Share a preparedness selfie and tag #KingCountyReady on social media from Sept. 17-23. View the recording from the King County Employee Disaster Skills Training Webinar to learn more about how you can be prepared for emergencies and disasters. Read more.

Crossposted from the DES Express That ride-hailing service you take home from a late-night concert or sporting event might be the same one used by human traffickers to transport their victims. “There’s been a lot of research done with persons with lived experience in trafficking. The majority say they were transported in for-hire transportation,” said Michelle Hoang, Program Analyst for the for-hire and shared transportation team in DES’ Records and Licensing Services (RALS). Read more.

Crossposted from Tails from RASKC September is a great time to adopt a dog through Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC). All month, it’s just $50 to adopt an adult dog – a savings of 50% or more off the regular adoption fee. Nearly 50 dogs of all sizes have filled the kennels at RASKC and the shelter is over capacity. The shelter needs help from the community to find these dogs their “furever” homes. “We have some truly wonderful dogs right now that have been at the shelter a long… Read More

Crossposted from Metro Matters Health officials say riding transit remains safe; drug levels detected on public transportation ‘extremely low.’ Agencies continue vehicle filtration system improvements and cleaning protocols already underway. In a first-of-its-kind study, the University of Washington today released an analysis of drug smoke and residue samples collected on transit vehicles, and health officials say the levels are “extremely low” and that riding transit remains safe. The five transit agencies that sponsored the study—Sound Transit, King County Metro, Community Transit, Everett Transit and TriMet—are continuing plans to implement health and safety… Read More

Crossposted from Cultivating Connections Last week, Dr. Gupta joined King County Executive Dow Constantine, Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) Director Leo Flor, students, a parent of an alumni, and staff for a tour of the Interagency Recovery Academy, the state’s only publicly funded recovery high school. DCHS supports behavioral health outreach and recovery activities at the Recovery Academy by contributing state and federal funding. The Interagency Recovery Academy was established in 2015 as a partnership between Seattle Public Schools Interagency Academy Queen Anne Campus and the King County Behavioral Health and Recovery Division… Read More

“When you ask most people what they want to do when they retire, they will often say two things – travel and volunteer more,” said Junelle Kroontje, Employee Social Impact and Well-being Manager. “During an employee’s work life, making time for volunteering can be difficult. By allowing our employees to use up to three days of sick leave to volunteer at a King County Employee Giving Program nonprofit or at a local school, it frees them up to do it today – instead of waiting for retirement.” The volunteer program allows all employees covered… Read More