Get your updated booster at King County Roads Maintenance Headquarters in Renton on Oct. 28

King County Roads Services Division, Department of Local Services, is partnering with Discovery Health to host a COVID-19 booster clinic for all employees and their family members ages 12 and older. Appointments to receive the vaccine are strongly recommended. The updated Pfizer booster will be available for those 12 and older and the updated Moderna booster will be available for those 18 and older. View a flyer for the clinic here. 

Capacity at the clinic is limited, so registration for an appointment is strongly encouraged. Please register below:

• Friday, Oct. 28 from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Register here.
• Friday, Oct. 28 from 3 to 5 p.m. Register here. 

The booster clinic will be held at King County Roads, Building C, 155 Monroe Ave. NE, Renton WA. Parking is available on site, and masks are required in the vaccination area. Those attending are reminded to please bring their CDC vaccination card with them. Read more.

Stay home when you’re sick or have symptoms this flu season

We’re heading back indoors, children are back in schools, and sure enough, the cold and flu season has arrived. At the same time, COVID-19 remains with us, and as we spend more time indoors, we could expect to see the number of COVID illnesses rise again. Please do what you can to prevent the spread of illness in our workplaces and community. Read more.

Benefits Open Enrollment is Nov. 1-15

Take the time to review your benefit choices—including some new options—before Open Enrollment, Nov. 1–15. Several benefit changes become effective in 2023, including a new dental plan option and a new KingCare Select network. Read more. 

How did COVID-19 impact people living with disabilities?

Cross-posted from Public Health Insider

The COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to slow its spread brought a number of social, economic and overall health impacts for communities throughout King County. Public Health – Seattle & King County, in partnership with the Disability Empowerment Center and Lifelong Aging And Disabilities Services, interviewed and listened to local people from disability communities to shed light on how these impacts were experienced by people living with disabilities in King County. Read more.

Metro GM Terry White welcomes North America’s transit leaders to Seattle

Cross-posted from Metro Matters

From Oct. 9 to 12, King County Metro hosted transit leaders from across North America for TRANSform, the annual conference of the American Public Transportation Association.

A record-breaking number of people — more than 3,100 — attended the four-day event. In addition to meetings and speeches, guests toured Metro’s battery-electric test charging station, our bus and light rail connections in the U District, the King County Water Taxi, bus stop murals in the Central District celebrating Black history and our innovative on-demand service in south King County. Read more and watch the video.

DNRP archeologist helps repatriate historic flintlock rifle to Muckleshoot Tribe

Cross-posted from Keeping King County Green

A unique piece of 19th century Native American history purchased at a garage sale half a century ago has been returned to its rightful owners, thanks to work by the King County Historic Preservation Program.

Lane Corry, a Preston resident who long ago bought the rusted old rifle at a garage sale, recently contacted Historic Preservation Program archaeologist Phil LeTourneau because Lane wasn’t sure what to do with the artifact. Read more.

Volunteer to close a ballot drop box

The General election is just around the corner and King County Elections is looking for volunteers to help close ballot drop boxes on election night, Nov. 8. Under state law, ballot drop boxes close at 8 p.m. sharp on Election Day.

As a volunteer drop box closer, you will be paired with Elections staff to close a drop box, provide customer service, and hand out I Voted stickers. No experience is necessary!

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8 and Elections is looking for volunteers from about 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Sign up and join us for a fun and fulfilling experience helping your neighbors experience the excitement and community of casting their ballots.

Please note, this a volunteer opportunity is only for current King County employees. Have questions? Learn more here.

King County Affinity Group celebrates National LGBTQ+ History Month by highlighting author Dr. Darcie Little Badger                                    

This week, for National LGBTQ+ History Month, the LGBTQ+ Affinity Group wants to celebrate Dr. Darcie Little Badger. Indigenous futurist Little Badger identifies as a queer, asexual Apache woman, and her book Elatsoe features an asexual Apache teen protagonist. Learn more about Little Badger and other LGBTQ+ individuals throughout history by visiting this calendar celebrating LGBTQ+ History.

If you are interested in getting connected to the LGBTQ+ community at King County, consider reaching out to the LGBTQ+ Affinity Group at LGBTQ@kingcounty.gov.

Learn more about King County Affinity groups at www.kingcounty.gov/AffinityGroups.

Supporting social and economic justice through the 2022 Annual Giving Drive

This week, as part of the 2022 Annual Giving Drive, nonprofits are being highlighted whose work supports social and economic justice.

• Coalition Ending Gender-Based Violence (9649): Working with and for over 40 member agencies and individuals in King County to increase our community's capacity to prevent and respond to sexual and domestic violence.
• JustLead Washington (10849): Growing a sustainable network of legal and community leaders who can effectively and collaboratively work toward equity and justice in Washington State
• Yoga Behind Bars (10945): Sharing trauma-informed yoga and meditation with people experiencing incarceration to promote healing, personal transformation, and a more just society for all
• Ceasefire Foundation of Washington (9210): Dedicated to reducing gun violence

These and hundreds of other nonprofits are participating in this year’s Annual Giving Drive. You can go online or use a paper form by Friday, Nov. 18, to make a pledge to your favorite Employee Giving Program nonprofits. Read more.

Giving Program Nonprofit Expo Series: Social and Economic Justice

The 2022 Employee Giving Program is underway and the virtual Nonprofit Expo Series is every Wednesday through Nov.16. 

The next session will be for organizations focused on social and economic justice with representatives from Veteran Rites, AIDS Research Foundation (amfAR), Yoga Behind Bars, and FairVote Washington Foundation. Read more. 

• Wednesday, Oct. 26 from 11 a.m. to noon. Register here.

Join the Employee Giving Program via Teams to learn about nonprofits engaged in the work you care about. 

Accessibility for All: Microsoft Office and Teams Settings

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and KCIT is taking a behind-the-scenes look at how our technology experts are improving accessibility for King County employees and residents.

There are many ways you can support our King County colleagues and residents of all abilities. For example, using the accessibility settings in King County's enterprise communication tools such as Microsoft Windows, Office 365, and Teams can enable everyone to easily collaborate. Visit KCIT's new site that provides accessibility recommendations, organized by disability type: vision, hearing, neurodiversity, learning, mobility, and mental health.

Register now for November & December retirement classes

Check out the following educational opportunities to help you prepare for retirement. These online classes will be held on Zoom or Teams and are provided by your King County Retirement Team.

Medicare 101: If you are reaching Medicare age and want to learn about your options as a King County employee, then come hear guest speaker Jean Cormier discuss Medicare basics. In addition, Jenny Stark from Regence BlueShield and Hannah Bachelder from Kaiser Permanente will discuss their Medicare Advantage plan options.

• Wednesday, Nov. 9 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Register here.

Road to Retirement: This 90-minute class is designed for employees who are planning to retire from King County in the next six months. It covers procedures, forms, medical coverage options, and pension plans—so you’ll be on a smooth road toward a happy retirement. Multiple dates are available.

• Tuesday, Nov. 29 from 1 to  2:30 p.m. Register here.
• Tuesday, Dec. 13 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Register here.

Registration is required. Use the registration links above, then select the date you’d like to attend. Before classes start, you’ll receive a meeting invitation at the email address you register with.

Please note, attendance at retirement classes is strictly voluntary, on your own time, and non-work related.

For additional information, visit the King County Retirement page, refer to the Retirement Guide, or contact Carmen Johnson, retirement navigator.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: 3 Steps to Early Detection

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This year we are focusing on importance of early detection—testing for cancer before it spreads. Detecting breast cancer early allows for the best possibility of successful treatment. Read the three steps to early detection.

Professional Development Scholarship Information 

Career Support Services is hosting general information sessions for the Coalition Labor Agreement’s Professional Development Scholarship throughout November to help you prepare for the first application period in January.

The event will covers eligibility criteria, 2023 timelines, an Individual Development Plan, and more. There will also be time for questions. The next session will be:

• Thursday, Nov. 3 from noon to 1 p.m. Register here.