Mental Health Month week three: Connecting with others
For the third week of Mental Health month, Balanced You is focusing on the topic “connecting with others.” Social connection helps ward off social isolation and is an important part of mental health. The connections we make with other people enrich our lives and support us through the most difficult times. But, sometimes, it is not easy to know how to make those meaningful, enriching connections, especially during the pandemic. During the pandemic, you may not be as ambitious about connecting with others as you were pre-pandemic, and that is okay. Still,… Read More
D.I.Y. face coverings: Tips on making cloth masks from the Public Health Crafter’s Corner
Crossposted from Public Health Insider A lot has changed since we published our first Public Health Crafter’s Corner in December (where we featured bedazzled hand sanitizer as a surprisingly prescient holiday gift). Since then, crafting has become a way to fill the many hours at home, and now there is urgent need for homemade cloth masks with the directive to wear face coverings in King County. Fortunately, making your own face coverings isn’t necessarily hard or expensive. We’ve got you covered–so to speak–with Do-It-Yourself ideas, even if you’ve never threaded a needle or touched a glue-gun. Read… Read More
Advice from EAP during Mental Health Month: Finding safe connection while social distancing
Social distancing is one the strongest tools we have to save lives and slow the spread of the coronavirus. Yet for many of us, the practice is difficult; while social distancing keeps us and others safe, it also challenges our important need for connection. Whether you live alone or in a home full of people, practicing social distancing can lead to feelings of isolation, which can take a toll on your mental health. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help combat isolation and stay safely connected, both online and offline,… Read More
Unemployment fraud is escalating. Learn how to protect yourself
Washington State is seeing an alarming rise in fraudulent unemployment claims as victims’ identities are being used to file false unemployment claims with the Employment Security Department (ESD), including here in King County. Some individuals who have not filed an unemployment claim have received notification from ESD indicating that a claim as been filed on their behalf. The State is taking this seriously and reviewing its internal processes to identify and prevent these fraudulent claims going forward. This may slow down processing, but is being done in the interest of claimants. Please… Read More
Extension of mandatory telecommuting through Sept. 7
Dear fellow King County employee, For almost three months, we have been working together to stop the spread of COVID-19. By maintaining social distancing, changing the way we deliver services, telecommuting wherever possible, implementing measures to keep front line staff safer, practicing good hygiene and, now, wearing cloth face masks, we have helped to flatten the curve in King County and save countless lives. These changes haven’t always been easy, and I am grateful for your willingness to adapt and embrace these new and necessary precautions in the interest of our community… Read More
Updated guidance for mandatory telecommuting
On May 21, 2020, King County Executive Dow Constantine extended mandatory telecommuting for all Executive Branch employees who are currently telecommuting through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7, 2020, except where there is an operational need to physically return to the workplace. Employees in other branches (definitions below) of County government will receive guidance from their leaders. Read the Executive’s announcement here, and please see our updated guidance below. First responders: Employees designated as first responders have the highest duty to report to work as directed in emergency conditions. Given the unique situation of the COVID-19… Read More
Translating video guidance helps keep people safe
Public Health – Seattle & King County has launched a Public Service Announcement (PSA) video entitled, COVID-19 Community Guidance, in different languages to support the diverse communities that make up King County and connect them to life-saving information. Employees from all over King County contributed to the videos, working to overcome language barriers by providing extensive language translations. Two of the employees who participated in this video project and translated information are Dr. Eyob Manzengia, Assistant Division Director for Environmental Health in Public Health, who translated in Amharic, and Silvia Rus, Health and… Read More
Stopping the COVID-19 pandemic depends on having the right supplies. Where can you get 5,000 masks?
Meet the team — from our King County Office of Emergency Management, Public Health – Seattle & King County and other county departments, as well as volunteers — tracking down thousands of masks and hundreds of gallons of hand sanitizer to keep healthcare and frontline workers safe.
Elliott Avenue modular pilot project opens to offer shelter beds and services to fight COVID-19
King County Executive Dow Constantine invited media to join in a tour of the newly completed Elliott Avenue enhanced shelter located at 551 Elliott Avenue West in Seattle that will offer safe housing and 24/7 onsite services for about 45 people currently experiencing homelessness. King County Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles who represents Council District 4 joined the tour, along with staff of Catholic Community Services, the contract service provider. The location is opening to further King County’s efforts around shelter de-intensification, reducing the density of existing congregate shelters that pose a danger for… Read More
New public health Directive requires masks or face coverings on transit
Crossposted from Metro Matters Starting Monday, May 18 until further notice, passengers are required to wear masks or face coverings while riding transit, according to a new Public Health Directive from Dr. Jeff Duchin, Public Health – Seattle & King County health officer, along with King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Jenny A. Durkan. Additionally, Executive Dow Constantine has directed that all King County employees, including transit operators and crews, wear masks or face coverings when in public indoor spaces or outdoors when they are unable to social distance. Metro has already… Read More
Employee News 