Featured Coronavirus Information
Updated guidance for mandatory telecommuting
Emergency childcare for first responders & essential workers
Help needed to support COVID-19 efforts
Cleaning and disinfecting facilities during COVID-19
News
Stopping the COVID-19 pandemic depends on having the right supplies. Where can you get 5,000 masks?
Meet the team — from our King County Office of Emergency Management, Public Health – Seattle & King County and other county departments, as well as volunteers — tracking down thousands of masks and hundreds of gallons of hand sanitizer to keep healthcare and frontline workers safe.
Elliott Avenue modular pilot project opens to offer shelter beds and services to fight COVID-19
King County Executive Dow Constantine invited media to join in a tour of the newly completed Elliott Avenue enhanced shelter located at 551 Elliott Avenue West in Seattle that will offer safe housing and 24/7 onsite services for about 45 people currently experiencing homelessness. King County Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles who represents Council District 4 joined the tour, along with staff of Catholic Community Services, the contract service provider. The location is opening to further King County’s efforts around shelter de-intensification, reducing the density of existing congregate shelters that pose a danger for… Read More
New public health Directive requires masks or face coverings on transit
Crossposted from Metro Matters Starting Monday, May 18 until further notice, passengers are required to wear masks or face coverings while riding transit, according to a new Public Health Directive from Dr. Jeff Duchin, Public Health – Seattle & King County health officer, along with King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Jenny A. Durkan. Additionally, Executive Dow Constantine has directed that all King County employees, including transit operators and crews, wear masks or face coverings when in public indoor spaces or outdoors when they are unable to social distance. Metro has already… Read More
Communication and Problem Solving Skills online training, May 19-21
This three-day, live/online training 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. Tuesday, May 19 – Thursday, May 21, from 9-11:30 a.m. Register here. To accommodate the transition to online training, this class has been spread out over three days. Class is live via Zoom. For questions contact Learning and Development at KCTraining@kingcounty.gov.
Your new Phish Alert Button
On Monday, May 18, King County employees received a County-approved email from do-not-reply@kingcounty.gov about the new Phish Alert Button that has been added to Outlook so you can quickly and easily report suspicious emails that may be phishing attacks. The email also advised you that have been enrolled in “Phish Alert Button” training. If you haven’t already done so, please make sure you complete the training to help keep King County safe and defend against cyber-attacks. Most employees received the email Monday morning (see image below). How will it work? All Outlook email… Read More
Featured job: Administrative Specialist II – Public Health Laboratory
Salary: $22.74 – $28.82 Hourly Location: Seattle, WA Job Type: Special Duty Assignment or Term Limited Temp (TLT) Department: DPH – Public Health Job Number: 2020AB11638 Division: Prevention Closing: 5/15/2020 11:59 PM Pacific Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
Celebrating successful elections and honoring employees for Administrative Professionals Day
King County Elections held a virtual celebration to recognize the completion of four elections in February and March, as well as honor Administrative Professionals Day. Elections recognized the value of their administrative professionals pictured here: Robin Blake, Liwen (Lulu) Liu, and Alvin Dela Cruz.
King County phishing test to protect data and files
Every day, cybercriminal make phishing attempts against King County employees. Some are successful. To help protect critical data and files, KCIT cybersecurity recently sent out simulated emails recently to test our defenses. KCIT sent 14,523 simulated phishing emails out. Each employee received one simulated phishing email. Of those, 2,546 emails (17.5%) were opened, and 82.5% were not opened. Of those 2,546 opened emails: 1,349 employees (53.1%) took an unsafe cyber action, while 46.9% did the right thing and took no unsafe actions. 495 employees (3.4%) clicked on a link in the email they received, and 96.6% did not. 126 employees (.9%) replied to the phishing email, and 99.1% did not reply. 549 employees (3.8%) opened the… Read More
New directive for employees to wear cloth face masks
Effective Wednesday, May 13, all Executive Branch employees must wear face coverings over their noses and mouths if they are likely to be in contact with another individual and distancing of six feet is not able to be maintained, per the Public Health Directive from the Seattle & King County Public Health Officer. The only exceptions are: Any individual who has a physical disability that prevents easily wearing or removing a face covering; Any individual who is deaf and uses facial and mouth movements as part of communication; Any individual who has been advised by… Read More
Advice from EAP during Mental Health Month: Filling our self-compassion tanks
The coronavirus pandemic is challenging professionally and personally for all of us. Perhaps you’re frustrated with yourself because you’re struggling with computer technology or having difficulty learning new job skills. Or, if you’re a parent, perhaps you’re questioning your ability as you struggle to balance your child’s online and recreation schedule. Self-compassion is a practice that can help reduce anxiety and lessen the critical thoughts we have about ourselves. Self-compassion means we hold compassion for our fear, we recognize how difficult this time is, and we do our best to be warm… Read More
Employees deploy to Shoreline site through Emergency Deployment Program
The coronavirus has prompted employees to support King County’s effort to stop the virus by participating in the Emergency Deployment Program. The program fills emergency-related roles through temporary assignments at multiple locations throughout the County, including roughly 20 Isolation/Quarantine (I/Q) and Assessment/Recovery (AC/RC) sites. To learn more about this important work, and the employees who have stepped forward to be a part of it, we interviewed three employees at the Shoreline Assessment and Recovery site: Chris Castleman, Anna Hughes, and Spencer Hensley. They each came on board early on in the County’s… Read More
Mental Health Month week two: Creating healthy routines
For the second week of Mental Health Month, Balanced You is focusing on the topic “creating healthy routines.” Many of our routines including nutrition, physical activity, social connection, and rest have been upended by the pandemic. Maintaining our old routines may be impossible, due to new work schedules, social distancing rules, or stress levels. As we settle into this new normal, it is important that we develop new, sustainable routines in order to support our physical and mental health. Routines we develop during the pandemic may not be as ambitious as our… Read More
Upcoming employee learning opportunity: The Get Better Mindset, May 13
This live event on KC eLearning will cover building resilience in the face of change and challenge – and how to benefit from a “Get Better” mindset. Topics include increasing risk appetite for personal growth and being less afraid of failure. This webcast features Dr. Heidi Grant of the Neuroleadership Institute. Wednesday, May 13, from noon to 1 p.m. Join here. For questions or more information contact KC Learning at KCTraining@kingcounty.gov.
Need support so you can isolate or quarantine? We’re here to help.
Crossposted from Public Health Insider When someone has symptoms of COVID-19, they need to stay away from others by isolating themselves, even from people who live with them. That’s not always possible for those who live with many family members or with young children, or if their home isn’t set up so that the person who is sick can have a separate bedroom and bathroom. It can also be hard to isolate or quarantine for people who live alone or who do all of the errands and shopping for the household. And… Read More
Helping meet the need for supplies during pandemic
Crossposted from KC Emergency News Did you know there are more than 1,400 long term care facilities in King County? These include skilled nursing facilities (nursing homes), adult family homes, and assisted living and supported living facilities that provide care for older adults and people with disabilities who need help with activities of daily living. “People who live in long term care facilities are at high risk for COVID-19. Many are over age 60 or have underlying health conditions. They are often sharing a bedroom or bathroom and it is challenging to follow… Read More
Mental Health Month webinar: A Conversation on Self-Care, May 14
According to Psych Central, “self-care is any activity that we do deliberately in order to take care of our mental, emotional, and physical health. Although it’s a simple concept in theory, it’s something we very often overlook. Good self-care is key to improved mood and reduced anxiety. It’s also key to a good relationship with oneself and others.” The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting everyone’s mental health in unique ways. Now, more than ever, self-care and connection are needed. In recognition of Mental Health Month, join Shawna Johnson, Balanced You Employee Health Specialist,… Read More
King County mental health resources during COVID-19
King County is sending a mailing to all employees’ homes next week that highlights the mental health benefits and resources available to employees and families during the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlighted services include how to access mental health counseling remotely via telehealth, how to get support via the Employee Assistance Program and Making Life Easier, and Balanced You and community programs and resources that support mental health. Please look for the mailer at home next week, and remember you can always get mental health resources information online via the Mental Health Resource Guide, the… Read More
Tips for staying safe outdoors as more recreation lands reopen
King County Parks is reopening parks and trails on May 8 following a six-week closure in support of Gov. Jay Inslee’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy order to help flatten the curve of COVID-19 transmissions through the state. Outdoor recreation is a great idea but we absolutely need to continue to take precautions to prevent bringing COVID-19 back home with us. Everyone must practice safe distancing and good hand hygiene whether indoors or out because lives depend on it,” said Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County. “Where… Read More
Executive recognizes Public Health Director Patty Hayes for receiving top award for University of Washington alumni
King County Executive Dow Constantine lauded Public Health — Seattle & King County Director Patty Hayes for receiving the prestigious University of Washington Alumnus Summa Laude Dignatus Award. The award is presented annually by the UW and the UW Alumni Association and is the highest honor the University bestows on a UW graduate. Educated as a nurse, with both a baccalaureate degree and master’s degrees from the University of Washington School of Nursing, Hayes leads one of the largest and most respected metropolitan health departments in the country, which is currently at the forefront… Read More
Phone donation gives instant access to mental health support in isolation/quarantine
Crosposed from Cultivating Connections When King County opened its first isolation/quarantine site this March in Kent as part of its emergency response to the COVID-19 crisis, the need to support guests’ mental health in addition to their physical health was immediately revealed as a top priority. “It would be challenging for anyone to isolate or quarantine in a hotel room for up to 14 days, and this challenge is exacerbated when you have this terrible virus,” said Isabel Jones, Deputy Division Director, Behavioral Health and Recovery Division, Community and Human Services. “As part of our response we… Read More
About
We tell stories that highlight the work we do to support our residents,
build strong communities, and make our region a great place to live and work.
Our 15,000 employees work every day to make King County
a welcoming community where every person can thrive.
