Martin Luther King, Jr. calendars arriving at worksites
The 2020 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. calendars will start arriving at King County distribution points this week through the end of the year.
Please contact your team’s administrative professionals for information on how you can get one at your worksite. Any additional questions can be asked of Tynishia Walker at 206-263-0534 or TWalker@kingcounty.gov.
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How we use data to combat racial disparities in homeless housing
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections
Over the past year, the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) has partnered with C4 Innovations to analyze the racial equity impact of homeless housing prioritization tools used across the country. C4’s report, published in October 2019, found that one of the most commonly used tools – the Vulnerability Index – Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool or VI-SPDAT – results in higher average vulnerability scores for white people compared to people of color. Their conclusions reinforce DCHS evaluators’ ongoing efforts to understand and improve coordinated entry prioritization.
Read more from Cultivating Connections
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2020 Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, Jan. 16
Community members and King County employees are invited to join in honoring our nation’s foremost human rights leader and King County’s namesake, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The theme for the 2020 Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration is “Yes, we are on the move and no wave of racism can stop us. We are on the move now.” They keynote address will be given by john a. powell, Director, Othering & Belonging Institute, University of California, Berkeley. The program also includes music and spoken word.
Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020, noon to 1 p.m., Town Hall Seattle, 1119 8th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
For more information contact Matías Valenzuela, Director, Office of Equity and Social Justice.
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Are you ready for winter weather?
Crossposted from King County Emergency News
Pacific Northwest winters can bring rain, wind and power outages, cold and icy roads, and sometimes, snow flurries or epic snowstorms. Are you ready for whatever Mother Nature has in store?
Winter weather preparedness includes three simple steps:
Build a kit. Create an emergency preparedness kit with at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food and water for your home, office and car.
Read more from King County Emergency News
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Featured Job: Business and Finance Officer II
Salary: $76,689.39 – $97,208.38 Annually
Location: Seattle, WA
Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week
Department: DCHS – Community & Human Services
Job Number: 2019SC10987
Closing: 12/23/2019 11:59 PM Pacific
Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
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Pet of the Week: Pepper
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC
Put some spice into your life – adopt Pepper, our Pet of the Week!
This six-year-old female shorthair cat has a “Bashful Blue” personality, meaning she is a gentle and loving cat who likes to take things slow. Pepper may get nervous in new situations, so she is looking for a family who understands that she might need some time to warm up. Once this girl comes out of her shell, she is such a sweetheart!
Read more from Tails from RASKC
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King County Wins I-976 Preliminary Injunction
Crossposted from Metro Matters
Over the past few weeks, King County joined with other plaintiffs to challenge Initiative 976, which reduces car tab fees and cuts transportation and transit projects across the state. The county’s lawsuit sought an injunction to halt the immediate and irreparable harms of an initiative that violates the state constitution.
Read more from Metro Matters
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Five questions with Jesse Kent, Project/Program Manager III, Department of Local Services
When did you start in your role with King County, and what is your official title?
I started at King County in March 2019. I am the Manager for the Service Partnership Program within the Department of Local Services (DLS). The department works to ensure the local service needs of unincorporated communities are met. We have created service partnerships with other King County departments to help determine needs, better coordinate services, and monitor service delivery in the unincorporated areas. These partnerships help to define the relationship, services and processes in unincorporated King County between Local Services and other County agencies.
Before coming to King County I was doing research and working on my degree in particle physics. While doing this I started thinking about my future long-term and realized I’d like to get back to public service. When a friend recommended I apply to a position at King County, I did.
What do you do in your role?
My work varies. Part of it is managing relationships with service partners, and producing the Local Services quarterly report. The report pulls together data from across partner agencies and other sources on service delivery in our various community service areas. I also help Local Services with performance management and special projects that require technical data analysis.
Why did you choose this field as your career?
I chose this field because I like to work on and solve problems with a team in a data driven way and this seemed like a great place to do that. The people in Local Services are wonderful to work with and are committed to making the lives of unincorporated area residents better. I really appreciate the way that King County is vested in its employee’s personal and professional wellbeing, and the County’s values resonate with me and how I want to approach my work.
What is the biggest challenge of your job?
Honestly, scheduling and coordinating with people from across the county and its varied lines of business. I really dislike planning meetings and things that resemble party planning, so it’s a bit of a tongue in cheek answer.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
I really enjoy the people I work with both service partners in other agencies, and the people in the Local Services Director’s office. Also, there is great variety in my work and in the things King County does in unincorporated areas, I don’t have very many boring days. It’s great to learn about all of these services.
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Nominate team members for 2019 Performance Excellence Awards
Nominations are now being accepted for the Executive’s second-annual Performance Excellence Awards. The recognition program – the first of its kind at the County – honors employees and workgroups for their exceptional contributions in performance, leadership, and innovation.
Anyone in the Executive Branch can nominate a team or individual for a Performance Excellence Award until Jan. 10. You’ll find information about the awards here, including nomination categories, criteria, and forms.
Executive Constantine introduced the Performance Excellence Awards last year, and five teams were recognized for their outstanding performance in 2018. The awards program has been expanded to include more categories and increase the number of teams and individuals who will be awarded in 2019.
The Performance Excellence Awards are a great way to show appreciation for team members who are delivering outstanding results for King County residents. Submit your nominations by Jan. 10.
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Giving Tuesday: Make a Difference Today and All Year Long
As our Annual Giving Drive winds down, you can still make a difference through the Employee Giving Program.
Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving powered by social media and collaboration. To join the movement, and make it easy to give all year round, we’ve reopened the online pledging system for payroll donations for one day only! Give now.
More than 500 past contributors have yet to renew payroll for 2020. Renewal is easy — but not automatic. Renew now.
If you’ve already pledged — thank you for your generosity!
On Giving Tuesday and all year, we work with hundreds of nonprofits to make our community and world healthier, stronger, and more vibrant.
Thank you for all you do.
Learn more www.kingcounty.gov/giving Questions? employeegiving@kingcounty.gov
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