March proclaimed Women's History Month

King County Executive Dow Constantine has proclaimed March 2023 as Women's History Month.

"Women are making history every day and will continue to do so in ways that will change our county and country," the proclamation states.

The Executive enccourages all King County residents to honor the central roles that women of every race, class, and ethnic background hold every day that are essential to the progress of our nation. Read the full proclamation here.

Watch the 2023 State of the County address Tuesday, March 7 at 1 p.m.

King County Executive Dow Constantine will deliver his 2023 State of the County address at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 7, and employees are invited to watch the address live from their workstations.

You can watch Executive Constantine's address streaming live on this webpage and on KCTV Channels 22 and 322 (HD). The Executive’s remarks will begin a little after 1 p.m.

Every year, during the State of the County address, Executive Constantine discusses the condition of our County and outlines his legislative agenda and priorities to the people of King County.

Video and the text of the Executive’s address will be available soon after the event.

The State of the County address is a County-sponsored event and King County directors, managers, and supervisors are encouraged to permit employees to join, if possible. Employees should speak with their manager about HR policies regarding employee attendance at County-sponsored events. 

Local Services program welcomes Jacques Imperial

From the Department of Local Services blog

Local Services’ goal of empowering residents to determine how money is spent in their neighborhoods just got a valuable addition.

Jacques Imperial recenlty joined Local Services as the Participatory Budgeting program’s new Administrator. In her new position, Jacques will help Program Manager Gloria Briggs, who is currently seeking applicants to serve on the program’s Steering Committee for 2023-24.

“My passion for public service stems from helping those whose voices are often unheard and ensuring that when communities seek government assistance, they get the best customer service possible,” Jacques says. “I am excited to be a part of the Local Services team that shares these same values.” Read more.

Animal Control Officers juggle many responsibilities

Cross-posted from Executive Services Express

Being an Animal Control Officer (ACO) involves much more than chasing loose animals.

“There’s a lot more that we do and that we’re exposed to that the average citizen does not think about,” said Sam Moore, an ACO at Regional Animal Services of King County. Read more.

Supporting people and communities affected by Türkiye and Syria earthquakes

On Feb. 6, a massive earthquake struck Türkiye and Syria, flattening entire cities and communities. Tens of thousands of people lost their lives and many more were injured. Hundreds of thousands of people have been left homeless in freezing temperatures, without access to basic needs such as shelter, health care, sanitation, food, and water.

Now through March 15, King County employees can give support through a special Employee Giving Program by making donations to organizations that are providing humanitarian aid and support for the people impacted by the earthquake. Read more.

Building awareness and understanding during Eating Disorders Awareness Week 

Eating Disorders Awareness Week (EDAW) is an annual campaign to educate the public about the realities of eating disorders and to provide hope, support, and visibility to individuals and families affected by eating disorders.

Eating disorders have the second highest mortality rate of all mental health disorders, resulting in around 10,000 deaths per year. Balanced You is observing EDAW by sharing education around the harms of diet culture and a free screening tool to determine if it's time to get professional help with an eating disorder. Read more on the Balanced You blog.

Have an idea to improve language access services? Your department may be eligible for a grant.

King County’s Office of Equity, Racial and Social Justice has grant funds available for qualifying language access projects and programs. 

The goal of this funding is to assist departments with implementing their Language Access Plans and ensuring meaningful access for persons with disabilities or who speak languages other than English. Eligible proposals must address language access needs or gaps related to COVID-19 and its impacts.

Your department or agency is encouraged to apply. If you have an idea, reach out to your Language Access Liaison to discuss potential programs or projects that may be eligible for funding. Your Language Access Liaison has access to the application and is briefed on eligibility requirements. 

Applicants will be considered on a rolling basis through Monday, March 13.

Learn more about this program and see examples of funded projects.

Dog adoption for $50 in March

Cross-posted from Tails from RASKC

Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) has a full house - all aces, no jokers - and that means a dog-gone good deal for you. During the month of March, you can ante up just $50 to adopt an adult dog - a savings of 50% or more off the regular adoption fee. Read more.

Black film series: Soul Food

In celebration of Black History Month, the Department of Executive Services (DES) is presenting a three-part film education series from the golden era of Black cinema. 

The final film in the series is Soul Food, a 1997 American comedy-drama film written and directed by George Tillman Jr. in his major studio debut. The story centers on the trials of an extended African-American family, held together by longstanding family traditions which begin to fade as serious problems take center stage.

The film will include commentary with Veronica Very Davis, local artist, writer, and activist. She is founder and visionary of Wonder of Women International and the nation’s newest cultural destination experience, WOW Gallery on Capitol Hill in Seattle.

• Friday, March 3 from 3 to 5:30 p.m. via Zoom. 

To obtain the passcode for this event, or for more information, contact Cecelia Hayes.

The Black Film Series is sponsored by DES. Employees should check with their supervisor for approval before attending this virtual gathering.

King County Employee Nights at Seattle Thunderbirds

The Seattle Thunderbirds will be hosting two King County employee nights at the Accesso Showare Center in Kent with discounted tickets available online.

• vs. Tri-city Americans Friday, March 10 at 7 p.m. 
• vs. Everett Silvertips Saturday, March 11 at 6 p.m.

Go to Tickets.SeattleThunderbirds.com and use the coupon code Go Public. Please note that codes are not valid on game day.

See all available discounts on the Employee Discount webpage.

MSA Live! Webinars for financial security

My Secure Advantage (MSA) is a financial wellness program that provides King County employees with tools and coaching to help you reach their financial goals. King County employees get 90 days of money coaching every year.

Women and Money: As the wealth gap narrows between women and men, there are still certain financial challenges that are unique to women. This session will empower you with action steps to create financial wellness and help you assess your history with money. It will also discuss the importance of incorporating emotional intelligence as well as technical aspects of money management to help direct your finances to their highest potential.

• Tuesday, March 14, register here for 9 a.m. and register here for noon.

Getting and Keeping Good Credit: Credit scores influence personal finances in more ways than most people realize. Whether it is your auto insurance premium or the interest rate on your mortgage, you want your credit score to be “excellent.” The session will discuss the criteria that determine a credit score, as well as how to establish new credit, how to recover from credit challenges, and best practices for maintaining an excellent credit score.

• Thursday, March 23, register here for 9 a.m.  and register here for noon.

Register even if you cannot attend to receive a recording of the webinar. Want to learn more about these topics? Connect with MSA at kingcounty.mysecureadvantage.com or call 888-874-7290.

Register now for upcoming retirement classes

The following virtual educational opportunities provided by your King County Retirement Team are coming up soon to help you prepare for retirement.

There are several options available including Introduction to Social Security, Road to Retirement, and Your PERS Pension. Multiple sessions are scheduled. Click here for schedules and to register.

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

Use your 2022 FSA funds

If you still have funds remaining in last year’s Health Care or Day Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA), be sure to get reimbursed for expenses incurred in 2022. There are a variety of ways to submit claims and the deadline is March 31, 2023. 

Click here for details and information on how to submit claims.

If you have questions about your FSA, contact Navia at 800-669-3539 or Navia Customer Service.

Pet of the Week: Cobra

Hi, my name is Cobra, a 10-month-old male Labrodor Retriever and Anatolian Shepherd mix. I'm full of energy, love to play, and am motivated by treats. At 73 pounds, I'll need someone strong and energetic to work with me!

You can find out more about me and my friends on our website at www.kingcounty.gov/adoptapet. Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) has moved back to walk-in services. Find out more information about our adoption process on our website. If you have more questions, contact RASKC via phone at 206-296-7387 (PETS) or email pets@kingcounty.gov.