In 2018, Communities of Opportunity (COO) launched a participatory evaluation to assess existing conditions and early partner efforts toward creating racial, economic and health equity. Over 46 partners shared their perspectives through surveys, focus groups, interviews and a community workshop.   Over 4,000 people increased skills through 81 capacity building events, job training and seminars.  275 relationships between organizations were newly developed or strengthened due to COO support.  264 community members held leadership positions within their communities and our region, including 85 youth  A snapshot of the findings is now available.   

Crossposted from Best Starts for Kids Blog  Kids watched in wonder last week as King County Executive Dow Constantine sprayed water on a model town, simulating a rainstorm. “There it goes!” one child exclaimed as water gathered and flowed through storm drains and into the imaginary Puget Sound. “That affects salmon,” explained Larry Reymann, a Volunteer Educator with the Environmental Science Center, “And who eats salmon?” A chorus of voices chimed in, “Bears! Whales! Us!”  Read more from Best Starts for Kids Blog

Crossposted from DES Express  You may have heard some buzz about the U.S. Census in the news lately. Whether the “citizenship question” can be included in the Census has been the focus of much debate. While the Supreme Court ruled that the question can’t be included, many communities still feel uneasy about participating in this important, once-a-decade civic event.  “It leaves the immigrant communities to believe that the [federal] government is still after information that could endanger them,” Denise Hulett of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund told Slate magazine.  King County made early decisions… Read More

On July 30, King County Executive Dow Constantine announced a $7.5 million initiative that will provide specially trained Pathfinders and Navigators to connect more veterans, servicemembers, and their families to a network of supportive services.  The community-based Pathfinders and Navigators will reach out to veterans, servicemembers, and their families throughout King County, focusing on those who face the greatest barriers, including veterans who are women, transgender, Native Americans, people of color, veterans who are experiencing homelessness, and their families. In addition to services, the Pathfinders and Navigators will connect veterans who experience… Read More

King County is helping low-level offenders get their lives back on track and building safer communities through a program called Community Court.   The Community Court Program is an alternative problem-solving court that can help low-level offenders avoid the traditional court system if they adhere to a plan, access community services, and create positive changes in their lives and their community.   “It warms my heart to have people succeed and to see the change in them,” King County District Court Judge Lisa Paglisotti said in a recent video about the program. “This is the one program that,… Read More

King County is protecting the health, safety and welfare of children in the dependency system and helping parents reunite with their children through its Family Treatment Court. The Family Treatment Court Program, started in August 2004, is an alternative option to dependency court for parents. Parents voluntarily enter the program and agree to increased court participation, chemical dependency treatment and intense case management in order to reunite with their children. “Family treatment court is not designed to be an adversarial type of program. It’s not designed to be litigious; it’s not based on… Read More

King County employees and one guest will receive free admission to Emerald Downs Racetrack Sunday, July 21 for the King County Express Stakes, which includes the Fiesta Premio Esmeralda. Employees must show their King County ID at any of the 12 gates, which will provide the employee and one guest tickets that include free admission, official program and tip sheet, and chips and soda. Children 17 and under get in free. In addition to this year’s King County Express Stakes, there will be the Mt. Rainier Stakes – the final prep race for the richest… Read More

Crossposted from DES Express  Congratulations to everyone involved in the recent “Passport Day” at the Black River Community Service Center in Renton. The Recorder’s Office held the event on Saturday, June 1, to accommodate residents who might not otherwise be able to apply for a U.S. passport in person during standard weekday hours.  “It exceeded our expectations,” said Norm Alberg, director of the Records and Licensing Services Division (RALS). “Staff were busy all day and people were very happy.”  Read more from DES Express