New program bridges gaps to meet the health and wellness needs of King County’s veterans
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections Many of America’s veterans, servicemembers, and their family members face challenges in accessing healthcare and wellness supports. Often times, challenges arise due to gaps in eligibility for health coverage, difficulties navigating large healthcare systems such as the VA, and the complexities in applying for and receiving disability benefits. Since 2005, the King County Veterans Program (KCVP), the nation’s strongest local veterans program, has supported King County veterans, servicemembers, and their families through a range of financial assistance, employment and job training supports, housing resources, mental health counseling, and social engagement… Read More
Employee Engagement for the Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan starts soon
Employees who opted in to Identity-Based Affinity Spaces should have received a calendar invite for their Affinity Space’s first meeting, which are scheduled sometime between July 31 and Aug. 10. Please check your email to ensure you have received this calendar invite. Effectively engaging King County employees is a key part of refreshing the Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan. Earlier this year, employees opted in to participate in Identity-Based Affinity Spaces, one of the ways the Refresh project will engage with employees. In these meetings, employees will provide information and… Read More
Voting materials available in 7 languages
New this Primary Election: King County Elections now provides ballots and voting materials in Russian and Somali. Voters can now receive their voting materials, from ballots to voters’ pamphlets to ballot alerts, in seven languages: English, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Sign up to receive voting materials in the language of your choice at https://kce.wiki/languages. For more information about King County elections visit www.kingcounty.gov/elections.
FMD flies the flag for Pride, manages flags for county buildings
Crossposted from the DES Express Each year during the week before the LGBTQ+ Pride Parade, Facilities Management Division (FMD) staff prepare to raise the Progress Pride flag at the Administration Building. Graphic designer Daniel Quasar’s Progress Pride Flag added five arrow-shaped lines to the six-colored Rainbow Flag, which is widely recognized as a symbol of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ+) community. It’s one of many flags FMD manages for special holidays, sports team accomplishments and other events. In addition, FMD manages lowerings of the American flag at county buildings for… Read More
As Duwamish River is made cleaner, local artists help community connect to its waters
Crossposted from Clean Water Stories The Duwamish River has many sides to it – industrial corridor, habitat for migrating salmon, ancestral waters for the people who have long inhabited its shores and waters. Two local artists have been commissioned to capture the complexity of the Duwamish and the clean water infrastructure that’s being designed to support a healthier river for future generations. Timothy White Eagle and Laura C. Wright are designing art that will be featured as part of King County’s West Duwamish Wet Weather Storage Facility to enhance the project’s connections to community. Both are residents of King County,… Read More
Jail residents receive high school diplomas in first post-pandemic graduation ceremony
Crossposted from the DAJD Employee Newsletter On June 29, a high school graduation ceremony was held at the King County Correctional Facility (KCCF) for six young men. As the first graduation since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was a welcome and inspiring return to normalcy. The six graduates were participants in the Interagency Academy, which was internally supported by DAJD Volunteer Coordinator Karen Pohio, and Education Instructor Tom Meadough. “The graduation ceremony provided a unique opportunity to witness students proudly receive diplomas as a measure of their dedicated efforts to… Read More
Executive Constantine recognizes July 26 as Disability Pride Day
In recognition of July 26, 2023 marking the 33rd anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990, King County Executive Dow Constantine has proclaimed July 26, 2023 to be Disability Pride Day. “For more than three decades, the ADA has made our communities, our economy, and our county stronger and more vibrant by affirming and protecting the fundamental rights of people with disabilities – the right to equal opportunity, economic self-sufficiency, independent living, and accessible and equitable participation in the community,” he says. Read the full proclamation… Read More
Workforce Equity and you: Disability as a protected class
As an employer, King County has a reputation for being a place where all people can succeed and thrive. Diversity, inclusion, equity, and social justice are part of our True North for both residents and employees. This means that employees with disabilities, whether visible or not, all have the same rights and resources as employees in other protected classes. The Workforce Equity Team is part of the Director’s Office of the Department of Human Resources (DHR). Workforce Equity provides oversight, guidance, support, and compliance functions that ensure an inclusive and diverse workforce,… Read More
King County Green Schools Program recognizes 67 schools, two school districts, and 88 student Green Teams for resource conservation efforts this school year
Crossposted from Keeping King County Green As the 2022-23 school year draws to a close, King County Green Schools Program recognizes 67 schools, two school districts, and 88 student Green Teams for their waste reduction and other resource conservation practices – that’s more than twice the total number of schools as last year. Issaquah School District and Tahoma School District earned recognition as Sustaining Green School Districts for their environmental initiatives in 2022-23. Led by the County’s Solid Waste Division, the Green Schools Program helps King County schools and school districts to start and… Read More
ESJ Strategic Plan Refresh seeking administrative professional support
The Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) Strategic Plan Refresh project needs your expertise and is seeking 8-10 administrative professionals to support 3-4 affinity spaces. Overview of tasks include: Creating meeting materials and logistics support Notetaking Scheduling, coordinating, and communicating resources Supporting hybrid meeting spaces Partnering with facilitators to support participants including breakout sessions First meetings will occur from July 31 – August 9, with additional meetings occurring every 3-4 weeks. Onboarding will be provided in late July with regular facilitation planning occurring before each meeting. To join the ESJ Strategic Plan Refresh… Read More
Employee News 