Balanced You Conversations: Danielle Smith
Balanced You Conversations is a series of talks about important topics related to overall health and well-being. Karla Clark, Employee Health & Wellness Project/Program Manager III with the Balanced You team, sits down with Danielle Smith, Senior Client Manager for Delta Dental of Washington. They discuss why having a dentist is important, what dental insurance covers, and what to do if you’re feeling worried because you haven’t seen a dentist in a while. “Many people feel hesitant. What I’d say is just start with a conversation. Dentists are trained to work with… Read More
Take care working outdoors during hot weather
Hot weather is forecast for the next few days in our region, and a Heat Advisory will be in effect for King County from noon Tuesday to 10 p.m. Wednesday. As some of our work needs to be performed outdoors, we want to ensure that employees and supervisors take care of themselves and one another as temperatures rise. In extreme heat, Executive Branch departments should evaluate planned field work to determine if this work can be postponed to when temperatures are cooler, where possible. If work must be performed, departments should attempt to… Read More
King County Security Tips – HTTPS The ‘S’ stands for Secure
If you have ever signed in to a website such as Facebook or Amazon, you will notice that on the login page, the URL will change from ‘http’ to ‘https’. What that little ‘s’ stands for is secure. It means that your web browser and the website have both agreed to communicate securely so that no other individuals will be able to ‘listen in’ on your conversation. If you needed to communicate some sensitive information such as a password to someone else, you would not shout out in the open ‘HERE IS… Read More
Exclusive savings through TicketsatWork, cruise into summer
King County employees get access to exclusive discounts and deals through ticketsatwork.com. Cruise into summer. Receive up to $1,000 in onboard credit on top cruise lines like Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Princess, and more. Use your perks for dining, excursions, and onboard experiences. Learn more here. TicketsatWork is updated daily with seasonal offers and exclusive savings on everything from home entertainment to your everyday needs. Visit ticketsatwork.com/tickets and use the company code KingCounty to begin receiving discounts and extra special offers on your go-to brands and most-loved experiences, including brand new offers… Read More
ATU Local 587 and Metro put safety first as Task Force reconvenes
Crossposted from Metro Matters Since the historic inaugural meeting of the King County Regional Transit Safety Task Force on March 20, participants from across behavioral health, community, government, labor, law enforcement, public health, safety and transit have been hard at work. As our large group of more than 100 people reconvenes on July 9, we are eager to advance a structured framework for action. Informed by data and stakeholder experience, our action plan will draw from more than 150 solutions distilled into eight strategic themes: Built Environment & Safety Design; Care-Based Safety… Read More
One year later, West Point’s battery system proves its power
One year after activating the first-of-its-kind battery power system at West Point Treatment Plant, operators say it’s exceeded expectations — keeping critical systems online during 78 power disruptions and protecting Puget Sound from potential overflows. The onsite battery power system – which has won multiple engineering awards – kept critical pumps operating during 78 power disruptions, preventing untreated wastewater from being discharged into Puget Sound. There were 15 instances when pumps were powered exclusively by the 2,000 batteries housed in a new 24,000-square-foot structure. It is among dozens of improvements we’ve made… Read More
Ask the Tox Doc: How can I protect myself from harmful chemicals?
Crossposted from Public Health Insider We come in contact with a lot of chemicals in our daily lives, including the products we use to shower, the food we eat, and the air we breathe during our commutes. Not all chemicals are bad for people, but some can seriously hurt our health. Things like lead, formaldehyde, PFAS, and phthalates have health impacts ranging from allergic reactions and cancer to harm to brain development and the reproductive system. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by this, but there are many things that people can do individually, at… Read More
‘They have enormous hearts:’ Water Taxi crew helps person in distress
Crossposted from The Captain’s Blog The crew of the King County Water Taxi Sally Fox saw the person on the Seacrest Dock in West Seattle as they were preparing to finish their trip across Elliott Bay on March 16. As they boarded passengers for the late morning trip back to downtown Seattle, Deckhand Zack Klaja noticed a person standing on the opposite side of the guardrail at the dock. Klaja made Captain GW Rogers aware that something was out of the norm. “When you’re the deckhand that’s grabbing the first line you… Read More
Executive Braddock proposes continuation of local behavioral health sales tax for mental health, substance use care
Today, Executive Braddock announced her proposal to renew MIDD, a local 0.1% behavioral health tax that funds vital mental health and substance use treatment. In 2025, MIDD is estimated to generate $97 million for programs that support health, wellness, recovery, and connection to community for people throughout King County. For nearly two decades, MIDD has helped bolster treatment and crisis response programs that have experienced years of divestment at the federal and state levels, providing services to many low-income residents who lack access to care or who do not qualify for Medicaid. “At… Read More
Green Diesel Pilot receives BRG Innovation award for Climate and Environmental Stewardship
The Green Diesel Pilot Project has received the 2024 Best-Run Government (BRG) Innovation Award for Climate and Environmental Stewardship. Congratulations to the Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP), Solid Waste Division (SWD), Green Diesel Pilot Project team, and all their partners for their commitment to Best-Run Government. A special thank you to Jamey Barker, Scott Barden, James Gentili, and Anthony Slaughter. The Innovation Award for Climate and Environmental Stewardship recognizes workgroups and teams that have made progress in advancing the goals of King County’s Strategic Climate Action Plan and/or protecting and… Read More
Employee News 