Income and employment verification InVerify becomes The Work Number

King County’s income and employment verification service – InVerify – is transitioning to a new provider, The Work Number from Equifax. The Work Number provides a comprehensive income and employment verification service that helps employees qualify for loans, credit, government aid, and more. All current InVerify processes will be transferred to the www.theworknumber.com on Wednesday, June 8. Employees can visit www.employees.theworknumber.com to get the verification services they need to obtain: Loans, home mortgages, new jobs, rental qualifications, and Social Service benefits such as temporary assistance, housing assistance, child support, and nutrition assistance. For more information, or to access… Read More

Individual Contributor Award honors Carolina Johnson

This year’s recipient of the Individual Contributor award is Carolina Johnson, Data Asset and Technical Manager, Department of Community and Human Services. This award honors an individual contributor who does not directly manage staff. Carolina is the product owner for the Community and Human Services and Public Health Integrated Data Hub, and she created the first-in-county structures and processes to allow for transparent and responsible data use and interpretation. She moved her project team to quickly generate data analysis that shaped the county’s COVID-19 homelessness response and limited the spread of the virus…. Read More

King County’s Vashon Recycling and Transfer Station goes energy neutral with new solar array

Posted by the Department of Natural Resources and Parks As it becomes more urgent to address the effects of climate change, the Solid Waste Division in King County’s Department of Natural Resources and Parks is working to provide recycling and waste disposal services throughout the county while reducing its carbon footprint and overall environmental impacts. At the Vashon Recycling and Transfer Station, a recently completed solar project will help the division reach its climate goals, providing energy-neutral recycling and garbage service to Vashon Island residents for years to come. Read more.

Executive Constantine moves Free Youth Transit Pass forward, aiming for implementation in time for school

In his State of the County address last month, Executive Constantine touted the great work of King County Metro and acknowledged key investments for the future, including the Free Youth Transit Pass that will connect youth to the freedom of transit throughout our region. The proposed free youth transit pass builds on King County’s many years of success in providing ORCA passes to middle and high school students during the school year, and also stretching into summertime for those who most need travel support. By adopting a year-round free youth transit pass… Read More

DAJD mourns long-serving head cook

Submitted by the Department of Adult & Juvenile Detention (DAJD) Claro “Ed” Mitre was a beloved figure in the kitchen at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent, where he had worked as lead cook/baker since the facility opened in 1997. The father of seven had started working at King County jails soon after he retired from the U.S. Navy. That was back in 1979. And earlier this year, at 86, he was still keeping up his dedicated routine. Sadly, Mitre passed away on Monday, May 16. He had worked his regular… Read More

Executive Constantine proclaims June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Pride Month

King County Executive Dow Constantine has proclaimed June 2022 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Pride Month. King County is a leader advancing equitable policies and practices based on sexualorientation and gender identity in the areas of marriage, employment, housing, public accommodations, and contracting. Executive Constantine urges everyone to honor the fight against discrimination and the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people to our County and our society. View the full proclamation below.

King County transitions COVID-19 testing sites to community partners 

Cross-posted from Public Health Insider As announced earlier this month, Public Health – Seattle & King County is ending its operational oversight of itsTukwila, Federal Way and Auburn COVID-19 testing sites in the transition from COVID-19 emergency response to long-term prevention management. Community partners will take over operation of these three sites in June, following a brief closure during the transition process. These sites will continue to provide free tests regardless of immigration or insurance status. Click here for more details.

Innovation Award for Sustainability honorees

The Innovation Award for Sustainability goes to the Department of Natural Resources and Parks/Water and Land Resources Division – Lones Levee Setback and Floodplain Restoration Project. The 1,600-foot-long Lones Levee on the Green River had fallen into disrepair and no longer provides adequate protection from flooding and erosion. The Water and Land Resources Division worked with landowners and tribes to build a new, stronger levee that restored functional floodplains, improved salmon and native fish habitats, and supports forests and greenspace. Click here to learn more and watch the video of the presentation. Each… Read More

Celebrating Pride and the fight for equality

Dear fellow King County employee, Happy Pride Month! Every June we celebrate Pride and honor the fight for equality and equal rights for LGBTQ+ people that began in June of 1969 with the Stonewall Riots led by trans women of color. Pride is a time to recognize the accomplishments and many contributions of LGBTQ+ people to our communities here in King County and around the world, to our shared history and our shared future. It is a time to reflect on the adversities that LGBTQ+ people have faced throughout history and their… Read More

For Drug Court Month, one family shares a story of resilience

Dakota – Cody to his parents – spent more than five years on the streets and in places like Echo Glen, where juveniles are incarcerated. In March 2021, with advocacy from his defense attorney, Dakota transferred into King County Adult Drug Diversion Court on residential and other burglary charges. Thirteen months later, with his parents, defense attorney, and drug court team cheering him on, Dakota graduated from the program with his life remarkably transformed. Click here to read the full story.