Originally posted by Washington Courts The Washington State Board for Judicial Administration (BJA) recently presented the Innovating Justice Awards to King County Superior Court Judge Judith Ramseyer for leadership in shepherding new programs that work on access and equity problems in the courts such as those involving eviction cases, court filings by prisoners, examining racial justice issues, and more. The Innovating Justice Awards were established in late 2020 by the BJA to recognize leadership during the COVID crisis that promotes judicial branch innovation as well as responsiveness to racial equity and access… Read More

A newly created intranet site, The Future of Work, is King County’s employee resource website for all information and tools to help employees return to work. The section, Workstations, IT, and Office Use, provides employees who are working on-site with guidance on hybrid working models, shared work spaces, office necessities, and file management. King County departments with employees on-site and working remotely can continue to use Teams to connect and collaborate from wherever they’re working. IT solutions are available to ensure all employees are successful in this new hybrid work environment and… Read More

King County employees may see activity in and around City Hall Park this week as a County and City-funded contractor called the JustCARE program will be in the park assisting people living there to move voluntarily to safer and more sustainable shelter options. This follows several weeks of successful individualized outreach with the persons living in the park and a partnership with the City of Seattle in identifying safer shelter options. Background King County Executive Constantine proposed and the County Council enacted a “COVID-7” supplemental budget in May that included funds for… Read More

King County is committed to continuously improving safety at workplaces, in downtown Seattle, and throughout our county for all employees, residents, and businesses, and on Metro vehicles. We’re also engaging with employees for their perspectives and recommendations for how to improve safety at work. The County is taking immediate action on some of these suggestions to make workplaces safer, including: Increased security: Boosting security in the courthouse and other King County buildings Employee-only restrooms: Some restrooms are being designated for employees only and can only be accessed with a keycard or code… Read More

As King County recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re working together across departments to ensure our community can revive and thrive together in the future. On May 25, the King County Council passed Executive Constantine’s seventh COVID-19 supplemental budget, funded in part by the American Rescue Plan. The total budget includes more than $631 million in community investments focused on food security, rental support, vaccinations, economic recovery, arts and culture, and more. As part of the rollout, the Executive’s Office worked with KCIT’s Design & Civic Engagement team to create the “Revive… Read More

An employee was assaulted at work earlier today, Thursday, July 29, on the second floor of the King County Courthouse. We are grateful for the actions of the King County Sheriff’s Office Marshalls who stopped the assault and apprehended the perpetrator. This incident is a sad reminder that all employees should be aware of their surroundings and potential threats in and around their workspace. If you see anything or anyone that looks unusual or out of place, please call Facilities Management Division (FMD) Security at 206-296-5000. If it’s an emergency, call 9-1-1… Read More

Major wildfires are currently engulfing many parts of the western United States and Canada, including our own state, and it is very likely that we will soon experience wildfire smoke in our region. Wildfire smoke can cause a range of health problems, including chest pain, coughing, fast heartbeat, headaches, and asthma attacks. Some people need to be outdoors for their work or other responsibilities, so now is the time to get prepared. If we experience unhealthy air conditions in King County, it is recommended that you limit your time outdoors. If you are… Read More

There’s nothing like an old-fashioned Lunch and Learn session for comradery, sharing ideas and learning what your colleagues have been up to. Unless it comes during a pandemic where everyone is working from home and lunch is maybe a can of soup. Despite the lack of in-person interaction, the Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) has made a success of their Lunch and Learn series on their equity and social justice programs.   WLRD, affectionately referred to as “Willard” and a division of the Department and Natural Resources and Parks, launched this… Read More

We’re tops in tech! King County has been named the nation’s #1 Top Digital County by the Center for Digital Government and the National Association of Counties. The group surveys public IT departments around the country annually for effectiveness. This year, technology played a vital role fighting the pandemic as a rapid digital transformation from King County Information Technology’s (KCIT) and IT leaders around the County helped keep people safer. “It was…one of the best examples in the survey of both recovery from and response to the pandemic,” said the Digital County… Read More

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention recommends youth engage in 60 minutes of physical activity a day, yet in King County, only 19% of youth meet these recommendations. Many barriers such as rising costs, limited transportation options, along with policies and practices result in inequities of access to physical activity disproportionately impacting youth of color, youth living in poverty, and immigrant and refugee youth. King County Parks’ Youth Sports Grants aim to invest in programs and capital projects that will reduce barriers youth face to participating in physical activity. These Youth Sports… Read More

With the end of mandatory telework for Executive Branch employees on July 5, King County departments have begun to implement their Future of Work plans for how they will operate and serve customers in a post-pandemic environment. For some employees, this means moving to a new location or a new model for delivering services. Some will accomplish their work primarily in person, others primarily remotely, or they make work a hybrid of both. To help you during this transition, King County has built a centralized Future of Work intranet site (employee access only)… Read More

by Lindsay Prior, Communications Manager, Department of Information Technology Women in government are gaining confidence and leadership skills thanks to a unique partnership between KCIT and the Seattle-based Koa Club. Recently, more than 70 King and Snohomish County employees participated in the second-annual Mentorship Huddle challenge. The competition showcased participants’ leadership skills and knowledge gained through the Koa Club’s FollowMyLead training program for women in government. King County CIO Tanya Hannah approached Koa Club founder Susan Seah in 2020 to design a curriculum focused on women’s career development. “Tanya was instrumental in… Read More