Featured Headlines
VIDEO: Interim DNRP Director Mo McBroom shares her path to public service
KCSO in the spotlight: Air support
Welcoming new neighbors: King County invests in vital support for immigrant and refugee communities
King County, Plymouth Housing, and City of Kirkland celebrate opening of new permanent supportive housing community, Sheila Stanton Place
News
King County is #1 for tech!
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
Youth Sports Grants program salutes employee volunteers
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
Future of Work intranet site offers resources and tools to support you
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
KCIT Partners with Koa Club, Brings Leadership Training to King County Women
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
How to provide verification of vaccine status
King County employees must provide vaccination information for verification. To provide proof that they are fully vaccinated, employees have a couple of options: Initiating the COVID-19 Vaccination Declaration process through your NEOGOV Dashboard (click on Dashboard > Forms > COVID-19 Vaccination Declaration) and attaching a copy of an official document (see list below), OR Showing one of the following to an HR professional or other designated department representative: your actual vaccination card, or a photo or a copy of it, a copy of your state vaccine record, or a verified medical record. Please note, employees will… Read More
July is Disability Pride Month
By Taryn Farley, Disability Specialist, Office of Equity and Social Justice July is Disability Pride Month, a growing movement to build awareness of the pride people with disabilities feel in themselves. This pride movement recognizes what people with disabilities offer to society through their history, culture, and unique experiences. Disability Pride Month coincides with the celebration of the anniversary of the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, better known as the ADA. The ADA has created civil rights protections and better access for people with disabilities. Disability Pride builds… Read More
Sheriff’s drug dog is on the case
Courtesy of the King County’s Sheriff’s Office Facebook page Fury, a King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) drug detection K9, is rightfully proud of this bust. His specialized detection skills helped sniff out the perps. Detectives from multiple King County Sheriff’s Office Special Emphasis Teams (SET), with the support of TAC-30(SWAT) and Bomb Disposal Units (BDU), executed a search recently in southeast King County. The work was the result of a months-long investigation into narcotics distribution and firearms-related crimes. The results in this case are impressive and include the seizure of 3.6 pounds… Read More
Future of Work – what tech to expect back in the office
For employees returning to the office (full time or occasionally), KCIT is committed to making your transition as stress-free as possible. The Future of Work may look a little different for each department, but KCIT is launching new technology to bridge the distance between colleagues and foster greater collaboration. Here are some innovations you can expect in the coming months: Reserve your workspace in the office For employees without a permanent desk, KCIT will offer a new drop-in desk reservation system. The new system, ESRI Indoors, will launch this fall for agencies… Read More
Jaime Deer: Deputy Sheriff, Trainer, Advocate
While serving as a trainer for the King County’s Sheriff’s Office (KCSO), two things happened that helped Sgt. Jaime Deer realize that he could no longer travel the path in life he’d been born to. First, Caitlyn Jenner announced to the world she was transgender and would be transitioning to female. And second, another openly transgender officer came through the class where Jaime was the trainer. Those two events gave Jaime the courage to admit that he wasn’t being true to himself and that it was time to become the person he’d… Read More
Reminder on mask requirements for employees
On June 30, 2021 King County Executive Dow Constantine announced updated mask requirements for Executive Branch employees: If an employee has provided verified proof that they are fully vaccinated (see definition below), the employee is not required to wear a mask while working. If an employee has not provided verified proof of full vaccination, the employee is required to wear a mask when working indoors, outdoors, and when in an enclosed space with others (for example, when multiple people are in a vehicle). The only time the employee is not required to… Read More
King County Pro-equity Actions
You, as an employee may have different (and better) approaches; but here are some first steps about how you can incorporate the four pro-equity actions in your work at the County. For each approach ask “how will I advance this pro-equity action with the urgency needed to help address the public health crisis which is racism?” If we do these things every day, individually and collectively, WE WILL make a difference and WE WILL reach our True North of “Making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive.” Share power…. Read More
New process for voluntarily providing vaccination information
On June 30, Executive Constantine announced the next phase in our COVID-19 pandemic, which includes updated requirements for wearing masks and a new process for employees to voluntarily provide vaccination information. If an employee chooses to do so, the employee can provide proof that they are fully vaccinated by either: Initiating the COVID-19 Vaccination Declaration process through their NEOGOV Dashboard (click on Dashboard > Forms > COVID-19 Vaccination Declaration) and attaching a copy of an official document (see list below), OR Showing one of the following to an HR professional or other… Read More
Jail Health Services new deputy director brings deep background
Cross-posted from Roll Call, the DAJD newsletter Angela (Angie) Hosking recently joined Jail Health Services (JHS) as Deputy Division Director, offering a wealth of behavioral health experience in her new role. Before joining King County, she served as the Director of Organizational Development at Western State Hospital – one of the largest psychiatric hospitals in the country. “I am so excited that she has joined our team, and she has already started immersing herself into our practice and operations,” JHS Director Danotra McBride said in an introductory email. Soon after being named… Read More
Wastewater Treatment Division reaches out for input on accessibility options at a popular trailhead
by Monica Van der Vieren, Communications Specialist, Department of Parks and Natural Resources What is the first King County agency that comes to mind when you think about accessible recreation? You probably didn’t say the Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD). But WTD’s Coal Creek Sewer Upgrade Project team is focused on that important topic right now and looking for input from the community. WTD’s pipes thread their way throughout the region, moving wastewater from city systems to treatment plants. Pipes run through parks, under trails, roads, and streets, across tidelands and wetlands…. Read More
Updated guidance on masks and Future of Work planning
Yesterday Gov. Inslee announced that most coronavirus restrictions in Washington would end today. This is great news and signals that, for those who have been fully vaccinated, we can begin to get back to the things we love doing without restrictions. As we move into the recovery and rebuilding phase of the pandemic, we need to remember that the pandemic is not over, and COVID-19 is still present in our communities. Those who have yet to get vaccinated remain at risk, and we need to be mindful of virus variants. Following the… Read More
Community Corrections Division recognizes Sabrina Gorman for her many years of service
Cross-posted from Roll Call, the DAJD newsletter Sabrina Gorman started her career with King County 25 years ago as a Corrections Officer in Seattle back in 1996. She was then hired in 2000 as a Personal Recognizance Investigator at the Maleng Regional Justice Center. At the time, the position was under “Court Services,” which is now known as Intake Services and is part of the Community Corrections Division. What Sabrina likes best about her current position at the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention (DAJD) is the variety of work duties, which… Read More
Take care working outdoors during extreme heat
Our region will once again experience extremely hot weather tomorrow, and high temperatures are expected to continue before moderating later in the week. Some of our work needs to be performed outdoors. Executive Branch departments should evaluate planned field work to determine if this work can be postponed to later in the week when temperatures are expected to moderate, where possible. If work must be performed, departments should attempt to adapt schedules wherever possible so work can be performed in the morning. Please see the following guidance and tips (this guidance applies to… Read More
Nature-lover leads West Point Treatment Plant updates
When first contacted about this story Kolby Hoagland started off telling about this great place he knows in the Mt. Rainier National Park for trout fishing. He mentioned the joy of the hike and the beauty of the location. Kolby is the type of person who is made for life in this region. “If it has something to do with the outdoors, I do it,” he said. “Fishing, gardening, soccer and anything in the snow…that doesn’t involve a motor.” It might sound surprising that someone who has a passion for the great… Read More
King County corrections officers line up for vaccines at clinic
By Noah Haglund, DAJD communications specialist One by one, King County corrections officers rolled up a sleeve to get a dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Officer Marcus Barrow was among those attending a June 15 clinic at the downtown Seattle jail. Dropping in during his shift helped Barrow fit in the appointment between work and family obligations. “I saw an opportunity and I took it,” Barrow said. “It was an easy, quick, painless process.” Employee Health staff hosted the clinic, giving doses to 13 employees at the King County Correctional Facility in Seattle…. Read More
Resources to support your mental, emotional, and physical health and well-being
from Whitney Abrams, Chief People Officer I hope you saw the results from our annual Employee Engagement Survey that showed a clear connection between your engagement and the mission of the work you do. As a King County employee, you come to this work because you care about your community, and you want to make a difference. For many this connection has become even stronger in the pandemic as the importance of the work became more and more evident and meaningful. At the same time, the stress and anxiety of the pandemic… Read More
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