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Honoring those who served and their sacrifices this Memorial Day
Dear fellow King County employee, As we prepare to observe Memorial Day, I want to take a moment to recognize the profound significance of this day. Memorial Day honors the brave members of our country’s armed forces who gave their lives fighting to protect and preserve freedom here at home and around the world. We owe a debt of gratitude to all who have served, and particularly to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Their sacrifices—and the sacrifices of their families—remind us of the true cost of the freedoms we enjoy. We… Read More
Tech Tip: Personally Identifiable Information
What is sensitive information? Sensitive information is privileged information which – if compromised through alteration, corruption, loss, misuse, or unauthorized disclosure – could cause serious harm to an individual or organization. You must always give the highest level of protection to privileged information. Here we discuss Personally Identifiable Information, or PII. What is Personally Identifiable Information? For the purpose of data protection, PII is defined as: any instance of an individual’s first name (or first initial) plus the last name, and any one of 29 additional confidential items. Read more.
Meet Wellness Hero Aaron Parker
Balanced You Wellness Heroes highlights employees doing things to better their lives, the lives of their colleagues, and our community. Meet Wellness Hero Aaron Parker, Director of Community Corrections Division, Department of Adult & Juvenile Detention (DAJD). In this video, Aaron talks about his career and role at King County, the benefits of sports for youth mental health, and what he does outside of work including volunteering at the Seattle Central District Little League. They most recently had the opportunity to officially open the Mariners season!
All in for Road Services All Hands event
What happens when more than 300 Road Services Division employees get together to learn, connect, and recharge? They roll up their sleeves at the fourth annual All Hands event, held on May 7, 2025! With teambuilding as the theme, collaboration and connection were at the heart of every activity. The Road Services Division hosts this annual daylong event to offer employees valuable professional development opportunities, help them learn more about the wide range of King County benefits, and most importantly, foster greater collaboration and connection across the team. The event draws hundreds… Read More
Facilities hosts Continuous Improvement open house
Crossposted from DES Express Facilities Management Division’s Continuous Improvement (CI) team hosted an open house last month to showcase some of their ongoing projects and initiatives. Staff at seven different tables talked about their work and highlighted upcoming changes. At one table, warehouse improvements were featured. At another, employees could try to shoot a plastic cup off a CPR dummy to win first aid supplies and prizes. Employees could learn about legislative issues and upcoming changes to validated parking at another table. Read more.
DES well represented at Women in Trades Fair
Crossposted from DES Express The annual Women in Trades Fair is an opportunity for middle and high school students and others around the region to learn more about high-paying, skilled careers in the trades, from electrician and plumber to meat packer and security guard. There are hands-on demonstrations and tables with information. Lines formed to make a desk organizer with the King County Facilities Management Division (FMD), for which FMD won a second-place ribbon this year. Folks also stood in line to “shoot the (rubber) ducks” with a water sprayer and get a free… Read More
Honoring AANHP Heritage Month
Crossposted from Metro Matters In celebration of American Asian, Native Hawaiian, Pasifika (AANHP)* Heritage Month, please join me in recognizing the cultures, histories, creativity and lasting contributions of AANHP communities who help shape the fabric of King County and our region. This month is both a celebration and an opportunity for reflection. As we honor the richness and resilience of AANHP heritage, we also recognize the ongoing impact of exclusion, discrimination and systemic racism—from the Chinese Exclusion Act to the scapegoating of Asian communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, to tragedies like the… Read More
Gone but not forgotten – Indigent Remains Ceremony 2025
Crossposted from Public Health Insider Every few years, the King County Medical Examiner’s Office (KCMEO) hosts a memorial to ensure that every King County resident is remembered. The KCMEO’s Indigent Remains Program provides burial for King County residents who have died without resources or family to claim their remains for a proper burial. The next ceremony to remember these individuals will take place on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Renton (100 Blaine Ave NE). It’s open to any member of the public who wishes to pay… Read More
First Responders in King County applaud Crisis Care Centers
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections A Crisis Care Center is a place for people experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis to go and receive urgent care. Funded by the voter-approved levy, anyone can walk into a Crisis Care Center 24/7 with or without insurance to get help and a path to recovery. Crisis Care Centers are also a place first responders can take people in crisis. Now, instead of going to jail or an overcrowded emergency room – which can often make things worse – first responders can easily transport a person to a… Read More
Celebration and support: DAJD’s Honor Guard reaches 25+ years of service
Crossposted from the DAJD newsletter Like their counterparts in other public safety agencies and the military, this tight-knit group provides official departmental representation at solemn events. They attend awards presentations, promotions, and retirements. Their job isn’t strictly ceremonial. Honor Guard members are often called upon to be there for peers and family members at the most difficult times. They stand by after coworkers have passed and pay respects to peer agencies after line-of-duty deaths. Read more.
From extinction’s edge to a promising future: How King County and partners put Lake Sammamish kokanee on a path toward recovery
Seven years after a catastrophic decline in the number of adult kokanee salmon returning from Lake Sammamish put the native species on the brink of extinction, a partnership coordinated by King County is reporting a potential breakthrough for a sustainable recovery. Biologists reported that more than 8,300 adult kokanee salmon returned to their spawning grounds during the 2024-25 spawning run, a stunning improvement over the 2017-18 run when just 19 returned. It was the second-highest return since King County began monitoring in 1996. The King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks… Read More
Therapeutic courts prove people can change their lives
Lane Shaw doesn’t take a moment for granted. “I am four years, six months, and 10 days clean,” he said to applause at the May 13 meeting of the King County Council. A 2023 King County Drug Diversion Court (KCDDC) graduate who now works as a KCDDC Peer Services Specialist, Shaw said prior to entering KCDDC, drugs and crime were all he knew. The resources, accountability, and support offered by therapeutic court helped him change his life. “Today I have my own house, my own cars,” he said. “I have a dog, you know?”… Read More
Healing with heart: CCFJC’s exceptional healthcare team
Crossposted from the DAJD newsletter Running a healthcare clinic at a juvenile detention center involves far more than providing medical care — it’s about creating a space where young people in crisis can heal, receive support, and begin to rebuild their lives. Read more.
Second 2025 Professional Development Scholarship launches Monday, June 2, 2025
The second application period for the 2025 Professional Development Scholarship Program opens June 2, 2025 – July 3, 2025, for training that begins in 2025. The Scholarship Program is a benefit offered as part of the 2025 Coalition Labor Agreement and is only open to employees represented by one of the unions in the Coalition. Applicants should visit the scholarship webpage to familiarize themselves with the application submission process, rating criteria, and frequently asked questions. Please check this webpage periodically as it is undergoing updates ahead of the scheduled launch. The Scholarship Program is designed to… Read More
Free admission to Emerald Downs on Sunday, June 22
King County employees can get free admission to King County Day at Emerald Downs on Sunday, June 22. Employees may attend for free on Sunday, June 22, by bringing their King County badge, displaying their King County email inbox on their phone, or displaying any other generally accepted proof of employment. Employees may bring up to five members of their family (six total free tickets). Tickets will be available for pick-up on Sunday, June 22, in front of the general admission gates from 1 to 4 p.m. Emerald Downs’ address is 2300 Ron… Read More
Kerry Wade receives Best-Run Government Leadership Excellence Award
For her commitment to enriching the lives of young people in King County and shaping programs and policies focused on children, Kerry Wade, Best Starts for Kids Community Partnership Manager, has been honored with the Best-Run Government Leadership Excellence Award – Individual Contributor. Her leadership helps ensure all children grow up happy, healthy, and thriving in their communities. The Best-Run Government Leadership Excellence Awards recognize individuals who have made significant and tangible leadership contributions to developing Executive branch values in others, improving workplace culture, and leading organizational change while inspiring others to… Read More
Steve Larsen receives 2024 Fred Jarrett Leadership Excellence Award
King County Executive Shannon Braddock announced the winners of the 2024 Best-Run Government Awards on May 8, with eight King County employees, leaders, and teams recognized for their outstanding performance, leadership, and innovation. The awards’ highest honor, the 2024 Fred Jarrett Leadership Excellence Award, was presented to Steve Larsen, Deputy Director of Adult and Juvenile Detention (DAJD). The Fred Jarrett Leadership Excellence Award is named for former Deputy Executive Fred Jarrett, the driving force behind Lean and continuous improvement for nine years at the County. It is presented to a senior county… Read More
Discount for June Seattle Symphony performances
Employees can take advantage of upcoming performances of “Haydn the Creation,” featuring the Seattle Symphony, Seattle Symphony Chorale, and three Soloists. Thursday, June 5 at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 7, at 8 p.m. Sunday, June 8, at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $18. Learn more and purchase tickets at seattlesymphony.org and enter promo code GENESIS to unlock 50% off tickets at checkout. Pricing will adjust in your shopping cart. Limit 4 tickets per household. See all available discounts on the Employee Discount intranet page.
Three Emmy Award nominations for videos produced by DNRP
Crossposted from Keeping King County Green Three videos produced by our staff Multimedia Producer Ken Christensen are nominated for Northwest Regional Emmy Awards. The winners will be announced at the 62nd annual award ceremony June 7 in Seattle. The awards recognize broadcast excellence in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington with government agencies competing against news stations, documentary filmmakers, commercial videographers, professional sports teams, universities, and other public, private, and nonprofit organizations. Read more.
Balanced You Conversations: Sarah Wilhelm
Balanced You Conversations is a series of talks about important topics related to overall health and well-being. Karla Clark, Employee Health & Wellness Educator with the Balanced You team sits down with Sarah Wilhelm, Strategic Advisor for Public Health – Seattle & King County and Best Starts for Kids. They discuss how government and communities can work together using the Best Starts for Kids model to support youth mental health, and more. “Best Starts for Kids invests upstream, the idea of getting ahead. We invest in prevention strategies, so young people in… Read More
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