Executive hosts conversation on youth mental health with US Surgeon General
King County Executive Dow Constantine yesterday hosted a discussion with United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy on the youth mental health crisis and policy resources for youth mental health at the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference in Washington D.C.
“As County leaders, we see the impact (on youth mental health) firsthand. You see it when it shows up in the criminal legal system; you see it when it shows up in public health, and in homelessness. You see it when it shows up in suicides,” Executive Constantine said during the discussion. Read more and watch the full discussion here.
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Rescue training: Ice, ice, baby
Cross-posted from the Sheriff's newsletter
Recently, the King County Sheriff's Office Marine Rescue Dive Unit participated in a joint training day with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office Dive Unit. The training was specific to Ice Rescue and Ice Diving operations and took place at Fish Lake in Chelan County.
Outside temperatures during the day were in the 20s, water temperature was 34F and safety was the biggest aspect of this training. Ice thickness was up to 12 inches in places and conditions were very cold. In spite of the frozen training ground, with the proper gear and equipment the day went well. Read more.
Metromance: Two bus operators who drove straight to a fairytale
Cross-posted from Metro Matters
The year was 1981. Paul Schwartz and Debra Revere were both assigned to the Ryerson Base in Seattle. Paul had begun driving for Metro in 1979 and Debra in 1980. In a truly perfect Metro moment, the two met in the base bullpen (the lobby for operators). Their first conversation: Discussing Paul’s selection as Operator of the Month.
In July of 1982, Debra sent a request to the popular live NPR radio program “A Prairie Home Companion” to have Paul wished a happy birthday during the broadcast. During the broadcast, she was initially disappointed that the radio program didn’t wish Paul a happy birthday during that segment of the program. But then came a happy shock: Prairie Home Companion musicians wrote and performed an original song celebrating the couple. Read more.
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King County to observe Presidents Day holiday on Monday, Feb. 20
Most King County offices will be closed in observance of Presidents Day on Monday, Feb. 20. Due to the nature of our work, some services will continue as normal while others will operate on a reduced schedule.
Metro will remain on regular weekday service.
If you have any questions about your schedule, please talk to your supervisor. Offices will return to normal service on Tuesday, Feb. 21.
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Tax documentation for workplace giving donations available
It’s tax time and you may be asking, how do I document workplace giving charitable donations for my taxes?
If you donated through the King County Employee Giving Program, here’s the scoop on just how easy it is to retrieve this documentation for tax purposes. Read more.
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VMAG monthly meeting: Why extremist groups successfully recruit military members
This month’s meeting will feature a presentation by the FBI’s Domestic Terrorism Program covering domestic terrorism threats and extremist groups, specifically the close ties that some of these groups have with current and former military and law enforcement personnel.
The January 6 insurrection deeply impacted many of us and we wonder what we may be able to do to help identify the threats and mitigate the dangers that extremists groups pose.
- Wednesday, Feb. 15 at noon via Teams
The meeting is open to all employees who are currently serving or are former members of the military and their allies, as well as their family members and partners. To be added to the meeting invite send an email to vet.milag@kingcounty.gov
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Upcoming mindfulness classes
Balanced You partners with Mindfulness Northwest to offer free mindfulness classes and workshops to King County employees. Register for an upcoming class below or view the full schedule here.
Mindful Relationships 2: Growing healthier relationships -Take a deep dive into untangling repetitive patterns of reactivity through mindfulness and cultivate a better understanding of yourself and those and others by becoming more aware of emotions and needs. Develop kindness and compassion as you find ways to repair rifts and build connections. This course can be taken on its own or as a follow-up to Mindful Relationships 1: How Do You Relate?
Mindful self-compassion at work - Learn to befriend yourself, especially when things are tough. This nourishing workshop combines the skills of mindfulness and self-compassion, providing a powerful tool for greater resilience and deeper self-kindness.
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Get Movin' with Balanced You
Join Balanced You and a certified trainer every other Wednesday for a 30-minute virtual move break. Session topics rotate weekly including stretching, cardio, yoga, and strength training. View the full schedule on the Balanced You blog. Classes are for all levels, beginner to advanced.
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Administrative Professional Partners kicks off 2023 with project management presentation
The Administrative Professional Partners (APP) is preparing new and dynamic training and development through the series "APP Presents." With subject matter experts facilitating each session, administrative professionals will be fortified with the information and knowledge for a successful career path.
The next event topic is Project Management, with presentations by project managers from Metro Transit and the Office of Performance, Strategy, and Budget.
- Tuesday, Feb. 28 from noon to 1 p.m.
Join the KC-Admin Professionals Network Teams site for information or join with the Teams access code: d69figi to stay connected for updates.
APP Presents will host a catalog of professional and career enhancement sessions, benefiting the admin experience. To register for this event or for more information, visit www.kingcounty.gov/administrativeprofessionals.
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Training Spotlight:
Equity and Social Justice Fundamentals – Online – This four-hour small group webinar is the first in a series of trainings designed to support King County employees in learning about equity and social justice and in particular racial justice at King County. Using videos, small group conversations, and the sharing of information and resources, participants will be able to explain the concepts of equity and inequity; examine King County disparities related to race and racism; summarize King County’s commitment to equity and social justices, especially around race; and identify ways to advance equity in everyday interactions.
Mentorship Lunch and Learn – Online – Would you like to have a mentor, someone who can help you grow professionally? Do you want to strengthen your coaching skills? As a Mentee, you will have a trusted advisor who can help you navigate complex situations, and as a Mentor, you can uncover new or forgotten skills and build influence. This Lunch and Learn is free and multiple dates are available.
Creating Effective Application Materials – Online – This two-hour virtual workshop will provide tips and strategies on how to make application materials stand out. Learn the purpose of the job application, resume, cover letter and supplemental questions, and how to make each of them more effective. We’ll go over what to include in your resume and the best format to showcase your qualifications, how to write a tailored cover letter, and how to showcase your accomplishments and transferable skills.
Please visit the King County Eventbrite website, Learning and Development website, and Career Support Services website for more learning opportunities. For more information, contact the Learning and Development Team at KCTraining@kingcounty.gov or visit Learning and Development at www.kingcounty.gov/learning.
Featured Job: Roads Maintenance Section Manager
Salary: $134,785.04 - $170,847.66 Annually (Depends on qualifications)
Location: Renton Maintenance Facility
Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hours per week
Department: DLS - Local Services
Job Number: 2022MR18096
Division: HR Team
Closes: 3/8/2023 at 11:59 pm
The Department of Local Services is recruiting for a Roads Maintenance Section Manager. The primary focus of this position is to provide the daily operational needs of the Road Services Division (Roads) Maintenance Section, which will require a high level of communication, fiscal, labor relations, and organizational skills to effectively manage a budget of $37 million and lead 235 full-time employees represented by one of 10 collective bargaining agreements.
Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
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King County Headlines
The Daily: Three years of COVID: All that’s changed, and all that hasn’t
King County Parks: Three King County parks off the beaten path
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