Annual Giving Drive: Reasons 11-13 to give

The Employee Giving Program provides thousands of ways to make a difference all through one program. During the Annual Giving Drive, King County employes have access to a wide breadth of different causes. We have spotlighted a number of organizations that represent this diversity of causes and missions. Organizations that are committed to keeping our regions natural ecosystems healthy and thriving. LGBTQ+ led organizations that create safe spaces and work for LGBTQ+ rights. Organizations that offer support and solutions for victims of domestic violence. Read more to learn about each nonprofit. You can find… Read More

Andrew Cronholm helps drive Fleet as new Deputy Director

Crossposted from the DES Express Earlier this month, Andrew Cronholm joined Fleet Services as Deputy Director. He started part time on Oct. 2 while transitioning from his role in the Office of Performance, Strategy, and Budget (PSB). He officially began full time in Fleet on Oct. 9. Read more.

Going all the places: Celebrating the first year of the Free Youth Transit Pass at Metro

Crossposted from Metro Matters With free fare for those 18 and under, youth have unlocked the freedom to Go All the Places, and Do All the Things! We’re proud to share with you the positive response from youth and community, one year into Free Youth Transit Pass. Youth can ride for free by using a Youth ORCA card, showing a student ID, or just getting on board on transit systems across the region. Read more.

King County receives federal grant to improve re-entry services for people being released from jail

The U.S. Department of Justice recently awarded the Office of Performance, Strategy and Budget’s Criminal Legal section a $1 million grant to contract for virtual re-entry services for people being released from King County jail and people returning to King County after being release from Washington State prisons. PSB’s Criminal Legal section will use the funding to procure and implement an electronic, 24/7/365 substance-use disorder (SUD) recovery system that offers immediate and interim SUD interventions specifically designed to address the unique needs of people involved in the criminal legal system. Interventions will include evidence… Read More

Information for King County employees on the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine

Crossposted from KC Balanced You As we head into the fall and winter, the CDC has recommended that everyone six months and older, even if you have received the vaccine before, get the updated, recently released COVID-19 vaccine to protect against new strains of the virus. King County employees can access the vaccine at worksites, pharmacies, clinics, and community events. Why do we need an updated COVID vaccine? COVID-19 has not gone away, and local hospitalizations are on the rise. It is important to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community… Read More

Local Services team members honored for decades of service

Crossposted from King County Local Two members of the King County Local Services team recently received some much-deserved recognition for reaching impressive milestones in their public service careers. Our own Bong Santo (Sto.) Domingo and john miller were honored by King County Executive Dow Constantine and the King County Council for their decades of service. Bong, a Community Liaison, was recognized for his 45 years in public service, including the last 27 with King County. john, who serves as our Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Team Manager, was honored for his 25 years. Read… Read More

Fall 2023 natural disasters: How can you help 

On Sept. 8, 2023, a shallow magnitude-6.8 earthquake struck near the town of Oukaïmedene in western Morocco. It was the largest earthquake to strike the area in a century. Sadly, thousands of people lost their lives, more injured, and the area suffered massive infrastructure damage. Survivors are receiving intensive medical care, and families need food, water, shelter, and help reuniting with loved ones. Not too long after, catastrophic flooding struck eastern Libya on Sept. 10 and 11, 2023, because of heavy rains from Storm Daniel. Additionally, the storm caused major damage to infrastructure,… Read More

Maui fires – Support disaster relief during the Annual Giving Drive

Crossposted from KC Employee Giving During the first week of August, wildfires erupted in Maui. Spurred on by dangerous winds from Hurricane Dora, the fire spread quickly, wracking devastation across the island. The resulting fires became the most devastating natural disaster the state of Hawai’i has ever seen, with a death toll of over a hundred people, thousands of homes destroyed, and the almost-complete destruction of the historic town of Lāhainā. Communities across the world mobilized in response to this crisis, from the national level down to the small, hardworking nonprofits. While… Read More

Christie True – Executive Constantine’s longest-serving department director – retiring after 39 years of service at Department of Natural Resources and Parks

King County Executive Dow Constantine announced the retirement of Department of Natural Resources and Parks Director Christie True – the longest-serving department director on his Cabinet – after a 39-year career at the agency. Executive Constantine credited True for reinforcing King County’s reputation as a trusted environmental steward by producing climate solutions, protecting water quality, restoring habitat, conserving open space, and improving access to parks and trails. The Executive Office will conduct a nationwide recruitment for one of the largest metropolitan natural resource agencies in the country. “Since I appointed her Director… Read More

Attend an Open Enrollment info session or benefits fair

Open Enrollment education sessions Open Enrollment for next year’s benefits is coming up, Nov. 1–15. Get a head start on understanding your 2024 benefit choices by attending an online information session or a benefits fair hosted by your Benefits team. Register for an Open Enrollment information session to: Learn more about your 2024 benefit choices. See what’s changing next year. Discover why it’s important that you participate in Open Enrollment. Ask questions. Attend a benefits and retirement fair to: Talk with representatives from our benefits and retirement vendors. Get your questions answered… Read More