Partnering eases transition from incarceration to society
*Correction: This article incorrectly lists Dave Murphy as the current interim Director of the Community Corrections division. Saudia Abdullah is the current Director, starting in August 2015 and confirmed by counsel in October 2015. Each year in Washington state, hundreds of inmates are released from correctional facilities after completing their sentences with $40, a bus ticket, and whatever they had on them upon entering. They are released into society without any training on how to deal with reintegration or changes in the way we live. Many have served long-term sentences and find… Read More
Social Media Spotlight: King County International Airport Facebook and blog
King County International Airport is one of the busiest primary non-hub airports in the nation. The airport serves small commercial passenger airlines, cargo carriers, private aircraft owners, helicopters, corporate jets, and military and other aircraft. Stay up to date with everything that is happening at the airport. Follow the King County International Airport on Facebook and The Centerline blog today! Click here to view all King County social media pages.
Tech Tip: A new free application for presentations
If you are bored with PowerPoint and Prezi makes you nauseous, our Office 365 application has something in between and it’s really easy to use. It’s called Sway. You can find it in the upper left hand corner tile in Office 365. It’s free and there are no restrictions for county users. Once you log in (it’s automatic when you login into Office 365) you open Sway and it brings up easy plug and play instructions. Then hit Get Started and Create. Pull in videos, maps, photos and text. It’s drag and… Read More
Kudos! RASKC June statistics show 200 pets found homes
Regional Animal Services of King County secured forever homes for 200 animals, the highest number so far this year. Working in creative ways to engage the public and also ensure animal health and well-being is paying off in a huge way, making sure we continue to deliver on our promise to transform animal services, lowering euthanasia rates and finding a home for animals in need. Kudos to RASKC employees and volunteers who make it possible for loving animals to find families and individuals who care about them, while doing so in a… Read More
Go check out ParkFinder: the new interactive map to locate King County parks and trails
Crossposted from King County Parks YAY for GIS! Now you can find ALL of our regional trails, backcountry trails, natural areas and parks on an interactive and easy-to-use virtual map. You can even search specific amenities and activities such as picnic locations, fishing locations and soccer locations. Go monkey around with it: http://gismaps.kingcounty.gov/ParkFinder/
Furry exterminators saving taxpayers money and saving their own lives
The King County South Wastewater Treatment Plan was recently highlighted on KIRO 7 for the creative way in which barn cats are helping the facility deal with rodents. Barn Cats R Us is a volunteer program that rehomes feral cats to barns and garages. They hunt rodents and also save King County taxpayers money as facilities no longer have to call exterminators. The cats are promoted as “organic rodent control” that keep facilities from using pesticides and chemicals that can potentially harm children, pets and wild animals. The feral cats are placed… Read More
Patchouli, Tibet, and a Hope for Mangoes
Crossposted from Expanding the Narrative, personal stories of government and public service When I was a boy, a very young boy, I lived with my mother and father on a houseboat in the Bay Area. This houseboat was a part of a hippy enclave that was ‘squatting’ at an unofficial dock constructed by said squatters. We didn’t have running water. My mother would fill up a huge copper bowl for our water use. There were no guardrails on the docks for a little boy like me. I fell into the water so often… Read More
Racism, Injustice and Public Health
By Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer Crossposted from Public Health Insider The horrible violence of the past week, with the killing of black men by police officers in Baton Rouge and Minneapolis and of white police officers protecting peaceful demonstrators in Dallas, revolting and deeply offending to all, has left us feeling confused, helpless and frightened. As a public health community dedicated to promoting conditions under which all persons thrive in good health, how can we respond? First, we need continue to renounce and work to end violence against all persons, adults… Read More
Children and Youth Advisory Board members leading change in many ways
Crossposted from Best Starts for Kids For Best Starts for Kids, we’ve had the fortune of working with a broad range of community and content experts through our Children and Youth Advisory Board (CYAB) . The CYAB brings together many leaders working to create a healthier place for all King County children and families. Two members recently have been recognized for their instrumental contributions. Zam Zam Mohamed is the CEO and Co-founder of Voices of Tomorrow. She also works closely with other community partners to eliminate racial and ethnic achievement gap that exists for East African children… Read More
New Mobile Medical Van to assist homeless in Seattle
Crossposted from Public Health Insider If you see what looks like a giant RV with a splash of sunshine painted on the outside, you’ve probably spotted King County’s new Mobile Medical Van. You might catch a glimpse at various locations around the city of Seattle, as the van makes its rounds to church-sponsored meal programs, tent cities, and other locations where people living homeless gather. The Mobile Medical program helps address some of the unique challenges of living homeless. How do you make a medical appointment and keep track of it, when you must… Read More
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