King County proclaims May Treatment Court Month. Here’s what that means for participants
From the King County Superior Courts The King County Council and the King County Executive have proclaimed May Treatment Court Month. This proclamation recognizes and celebrates the success of program participants. It also affirms the important role courts play in addressing problems at the intersection of public safety and public health. For three decades, King County’s treatment courts have helped people whose legal system involvement stems from substance use disorders and/or mental health disorders to transform their lives. Read more.
KCSO Crisis Negotiation Team, Part II
Part I explored the evolution of the Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT). Part II brings the story of how a mental health professional (MHP) became an official member of the team after years of volunteering. Read Part III here. Part II: A mental health professional’s perspective “There was a suicidal gentleman on an overpass, just leaning and staring at the pavement below,” said mental health professional Susie Kroll. “We had to stop traffic for five or six hours.” The first 90 minutes were like talking to a wall, she added, but negotiators were… Read More
Programs available to help get you on the path to feeling better
Several Health Support Programs are available to employees and family members covered by King County medical plans. These programs provide extra support when you need it, for example, when you need help understanding a new diagnosis, managing a chronic condition, or handling an illness. Program representatives may contact you by phone or email to provide additional information. A summary is provided below. For details, go to Health Support Programs. Omada Diabetes Prevention: Offered to Regence and Kaiser Permanente members If you or a family member are at risk for Type 2 diabetes,… Read More
KCSO Crisis Negotiation Team in the forefront of special operations, Part I
This article is the first in a three-part series highlighting the KCSO Crisis Negotiation Team. Read Part II here, and Part III here. When the King County Sheriff’s Office TAC 30 team is called on, it’s because there is a potentially dangerous event that requires highly skilled personnel. Whether it’s an active shooter or hostage situation or virtually any serious case, TAC 30 — commonly called a SWAT team in most places — is sent in to secure and resolve the situation. What’s unique about the KCSO TAC 30 is whenever they… Read More
Executive proclaims Emergency Medical Services Week
King County Executive Dow Constantine has proclaimed May 21-27 as Emergency Medical Services Week in recognition of the important work these medical professionals provide to our community, including saving lives, responding to crises, and serving as a model for the federal Emergency Medical Services System Act of 1973, now celebrating its 50th year. Executive Constantine encourages all residents of King County to show their gratitude and appreciation to these valuable providers. Read the full proclamation below.
Mental Health Accommodations for King County Employees
King County is committed to supporting employees with mental health conditions in the workplace. A key part of this focus is to provide employees who experience limitations due to a mental health condition with reasonable accommodations in the workplace to be able to perform their job duties productively and effectively. Examples of reasonable accommodations that may be provided to employees with mental health conditions include the following: An employee with depression may benefit from noise-cancelling headsets to help with concentration and focus. An employee coping with an anxiety disorder may need to… Read More
An industrial mechanic at home at West Point Treatment Plant
Cross-posted from Clean Water Stories Shane Hamilton, an industrial maintenance mechanic, knows West Point like home turf. At 33, he’s been in this line of work more or less since he was a 15-year-old intern. Shane grew up in Federal Way. In high school, his friend’s father was Mike Lindsay, an industrial maintenance mechanic at South Treatment Plant in Renton. Mike saw in Shane a hard worker who was willing to learn, and when time came for Shane to do a job shadow for school, Mike worked out an internship at South Plant…. Read More
We’re ready for warmer weather – but our bodies might not be
Cross-posted from Public Health Insider Our bodies may be more sensitive to heat when they haven’t had a chance to adjust to warmer temperatures. And people flock to rivers and lakes when the weather turns warm – but the shock from unexpectedly cold water can lead to accidental drowning. You can prepare for the heat by knowing if you or your loved ones are more sensitive to heat, paying attention to any signs that you are overheating, and being careful around cold water. Read more.
Metro Matters: Service you can count on
Crossposted from Metro Matters By Michelle Allison, King County Metro General Manager King County Metro is the largest transit agency in the entire Northwest. We provide bus, paratransit, vanpool, and water taxi services. We also operate Seattle Streetcar, Sound Transit Link light rail, and Sound Transit Express bus service. We are proud to be part of Executive Dow Constantine’s broader vision to continue to expand our regional transit network by putting people first. We’ve earned recognition ranging from Best Large Transit Agency in North America in 2018 to Most Equitable Large Transit… Read More
Fourth Avenue entrance to King County Courthouse now closed, Third Avenue reopens
Updated June 15, 2023 The Fourth Avenue entrance to the King County Courthouse in downtown Seattle has closed for necessary repairs, and the Third Avenue entrance has resumed serving as the primary access point to the building moving forward. Employees, jurors, and other visitors to the Courthouse Building should allow additional time to gain access and clear security screening on Third Avenue during this transition. Temporary signage will be installed to provide directions to users of the building. King County employees will still be able to access the Courthouse Building through the… Read More
Employee News 