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Featured Job: Public Defense Investigator
Salary : $36.22 – $45.91 Hourly Location: Seattle, WA Job Type: Multiple job types-career service and/or temp Department: DPD – Public Defense Job Number: 2020SE11769 Closing: 6/30/2020 11:59 PM Pacific Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
King County Metro restores some transit service starting June 22
Crossposted from Metro Matters With stabilized workforce levels and the state’s “Safe Start” plan moving forward, King County Metro will restore service on dozens of bus routes, increase water taxi service, and partially restore Via to Transit on Monday, June 22. The move fully restores 23 bus routes that were canceled in March and April and adds trips to other routes. A few recently canceled peak commuter routes will be restored, while other routes will remain suspended due to financial constraints and lower anticipated ridership. The result is Metro will operate more… Read More
Community support: Helping seniors stay safe at home during COVID-19
Crossposted from Community Connections The growing senior population in King County has been facing unprecedented challenges due to COVID-19. Our Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy (VSHSL) funded senior centers have prioritized keeping their community of seniors safe while adapting typical service delivery and developing new ways to meet clients’ needs. Below, we feature three VSHSL-funded senior centers that have found creative ways to serve seniors during this challenging time. Read more.
Mindfulness Classes: Back by popular demand, multiple dates
As we continue to maneuver through this very difficult time in our society, it is important that we manage our mental health and stress levels. Balanced You heard from employees that Mindfulness Classes have helped alleviate some of the anxiety many are experiencing, so we are continuing to provide them through August. In this two-hour workshop, we will review the various aspects of mindfulness practice, the ways mindfulness can help reduce stress, reactivity and burnout, and the science that supports the practices. The workshop includes hands-on learning of several simple but effective… Read More
Financial resources for King County employees
COVID-19 has resulted in urgent financial needs for many households. Fortunately, there are ways King County employees can receive financial help. Read this Balanced You blog post for information on T. Rowe Price and My Secure Advantage.
Navigating grief during COVID-19
Crossposted from Public Health Insider The COVID-19 pandemic may be introducing new layers of loss – social isolation, disrupted routines and cancelled future plans, financial strain, illness, and perhaps death – to everyday life. On top of COVID-19 and its varying effects, you may be feeling loss and pain as you process the continued harm and injustice to Black communities. Experiencing or realizing the layers of oppression and systemic racism communities are facing within this ongoing pandemic is painful, complex, and full of grief. Grief is the response you have to losses in… Read More
Juneteenth: Commemorating the end of slavery in the United States
Dear fellow King County employee, Tomorrow, June 19, we celebrate Juneteenth, marking the day in 1865 that Union soldiers landed in Galveston, Texas, with word that the Civil War had ended and that enslaved Africans were now free. Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, and is an opportunity to reflect on and learn about our nation’s history, Black history, our shared history. It is a time to celebrate the vital contributions that Black and African Americans have made – and continue to make… Read More
King County distributing 25 million face coverings to residents, workers and businesses
With King County preparing for a transition to Phase 2 of the Governor’s Safe Start Plan, and county and state directives about face coverings in effect, the county is distributing 5 million cloth face coverings and 20 million disposable face coverings to residents, workers and businesses. “We made good progress at flattening the curve, and saved thousands of lives, but with increasing activity comes the need for ever-increasing vigilance to protect each other from COVID-19,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “The county is providing these face coverings at no cost so… Read More
Finding connection and centering People of Color during Pride 2020
In June of every year, Pride Month – a celebration of visibility, equality, connection, and self-affirmation – is celebrated by the LGBTQ+ community across the country and around the world. This year, as the Black Lives Matter movement grows, it is important to remember that the first Pride was held in commemoration of the 1969 Stonewall riots. These riots, led by trans women of color fighting against police brutality and oppression, were the catalyst for the rights our LGBTQ+ community has today. As we continue to protect ourselves and our community from… Read More
Looking back at Pride in celebration and solidarity
Usually at this time of year, King County employees, family, and friends are getting ready to take part in the Seattle Pride Parade and other community events in support of LGBTQ+ rights. While we can’t celebrate in person this year, we will celebrate the spirit of Pride, the fight for equality and acceptance for all, and the voices and rights of Black and Brown LGBTQ+ people. We’ve put together short video to look back at King County Pride over the years, and remind us that the fight continues today. Watch the video here and… Read More
Pet of the Week: Sunny
Even when it’s gray and rainy outside, our Pet of the Week Sunny is ready to brighten your life! This seven-year-old boy was brought in by a good Samaritan on May 12. Sunny is a gentle and loving cat who likes to take things slow, so he’s one of our “Bashful Blue” pets. He may get nervous in new situations, so Sunny is looking for a family who understands that he might need some time to warm up. Once he gets to know you though, he will be a very devoted friend! … Read More
Featured Job: Communications Specialist III – TLT
Salary: $77,840.67 – $98,667.50 Annually Location: Seattle, WA Job Type: Term Limited Temporary, Full Time, 40 hrs/wk Department: DCHS – Community & Human Services Job Number: 2020SC11740 Division: Comm & Human Svcs Admin Closing: 6/28/2020 11:59 PM Pacific Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
King County FBOD featured on PBS show for Lean accomplishments
The King County Finance and Business Operations Division (FBOD) was recently highlighted in the PBS show “Behind the Scenes with Host Laurence Fishburne.” The segment focused on FBOD’s success with Lean, and how people solve problems and improve processes with online Lean Six Sigma Training & Certification courses. View the video segment below, and learn more about King County’s Lean journey here.
Free webinar: Coping with COVID-19 and Beyond, multiple dates
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our schedule and daily lives dramatically and potentially affected our mental, physical, and emotional health. It is especially important during this time to care for YOU. This one-hour webinar from Kaiser Permanente will focus on ways to cope with this pandemic and tricks to build resilience during this time of uncertainty and change. Webinars will be held on various dates between now and July 2, from noon to 1 p.m. Register here. Webinars are open to all employees and have limited capacity. You must register to receive the link… Read More
Lean Transformation Tuesdays webinar series, weekly at 2 p.m.
In Finance and Business Operations, our employees use Lean tools and thinking to continuously improve. We’ll discuss the successes (and failures!) we encountered on our Lean journey to complete our recent Yellow Belt projects, and how Lean methods have helped us re-examine our daily work routines. Join us for this special webinar series that examines Lean transformation in action, every Tuesday at 2 p.m. Please use the links below to register for the sessions: June 23: Reporting Emergency Purchases & Eliminating Work: No More Contract Extensions, register here. June 30: Contract Purchase Agreement (CPA) Attachments… Read More
Black Lives Matter. What’s next?
A personal, reflective piece by Dr. Gloria Ngezaho, Workforce Equity Manager, Department of Human Resources It was just a couple of weeks ago that I, alongside the world, witnessed the murder of George Floyd at the hands, or should I say knees, of a White police officer. I sat in silence, along with my family, angry and not knowing what to do. It wasn’t too long after that I decided to share my thoughts with my network. This was a space I needed in that moment, because my entire family was hurting,… Read More
King County applies for Phase 2 of Safe Start recovery plan
Following two weeks of progress in modified Phase 1, King County has submitted an application to the state Department of Health to move to Phase 2 of the Safe Start coronavirus recovery plan, which would allow more re-opening of businesses to increase operating capacity. King County Executive Dow Constantine and King County Council Chair Claudia Balducci submitted an application to the state Department of Health to move King County to Phase 2 of the Safe Start recovery plan following approval of the plan by the King County Board of Health. “After two weeks in what… Read More
Communication and Problem Solving Skills three-day online webinar, June 30-July 2
In this three-day training, instructor Lenny Borer will address communication and problem-solving skills with the public and with co-workers. This class covers skills for effective listening, speaking, dealing with conflicts and with defensive behavior. Participants will learn how to name and demonstrate seven active listening skills, five assertive verbal skills, the five steps to deal with defensive behavior, and identify the differences between aggressive and assertive behavior, as well as list the seven steps in the problem solving process. Tuesday, June 30, Wednesday, July 1, and Thursday, July 2, from 9 – 11:30 a.m. Register… Read More
On-demand webinar recording: Supporting Kids through the Pandemic
During the recent Balanced You webinar “A Conversation on Self-care and Connection,” we heard from employees that one of your top concerns is how the pandemic is impacting your kids. Because you asked for help supporting your kids through this, we reached out to one of the area’s top parent coaches, Sarina Behar Natkin, to coordinate a webinar and Q&A session for King County employees. Attendees of the “Supporting Kids through the Pandemic” webinar learned how to support their children and themselves while building resilience and increasing connection in the home. To listen… Read More
How to be an ally: Anti-racism resources for white people
Many white people witnessing the violence against Black bodies and minds are committed to action that will set our country on a more just path. As such, many are resolving to demonstrate allyship by taking actions to counter, disrupt, and dismantle systemic racism through anti-racism. If you’ve heard these words, wondered what they mean, and want to know how you can make a difference, visit the Balanced You blog for definitions, tips, and resources.
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