Metro wins WTS ‘Innovative Transportation Solution’ award

Cross-posted from Metro Matters

King County Metro was recently recognized by the Puget Sound Chapter of WTS for the adoption and roll out of the Free Youth Transit Pass program, which is supported by funding from the state’s Move Washington legislation.

“This program and policy change represents a fantastic investment in our riders of the future and we are honored to receive the award,” said Ina Percival, Metro Supervisor for Market and Business Development. “It was a fantastic team effort and included all of our regional transit partners.” Read more.

Website migration starts Friday, March 31 – what to expect

Starting Friday morning, March 31, King County will begin transitioning to our new public website platform (kingcounty.gov). This process should be complete by Monday, April 3. While the website migration is underway, site visitors may experience occasional errors. The Design and Civic Engagement (DCE) team is working with your department to ensure a smooth transition with minimal disruptions, but you can help:

• If issues persist, please contact your department’s Web Content Manager(s) for assistance.
• Be prepared for customer questions. After the transition is complete, online visitors will see the new King County homepage and your department’s new webpages. Your webpages will look different, and customers may need help navigating to popular web content.

Thank you for your patience while we settle into this new and exciting online space! Visit the “KingCounty.gov Refresh” project page to offer feedback or learn more information.

Serving healthcare with dignity to those serving time

From the American Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pasifika Affinity Group

Lio Saephanh, Nursing Supervisor with King County Jail Health Services, came to the U.S. as a child after spending a year in a refugee camp. She is Mien, an ethnic minority in Southeast Asia and the second largest Hill Tribal group in northern Laos and Thailand, after the Hmong people.

Lio has provided direct health services in King County for the past 33 years. In her role, she supervises teams of dedicated nurses providing critical health care and making sure scheduled services are fully staffed and operational. Read her story here.

More about the American Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pasifika Affinity Group

The next American Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pasifika (AANHP) virtual gathering will take place on Wednesday, March 29 from 1 to 2:30 pm via Teams.

If you are interested in getting connected to the AANHP community at King County, reach out to the co-Chairs, Helen Potter (hpotter@kingcounty.gov) and Guru Dorje (guru.dorje@kingcounty.gov).

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

Annual Women's History Month: Passing the Torch

The theme for the annual King County Council Women’s History Month panel is “Passing the Torch: An Intergenerational Conversation.”

This live, online event features a panel of specialists who will speak about a life in activism and new voices who are picking up the banner for the next generation. Read more about the a panelists for this event.

• Wednesday, March 29 from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Join via livestream on King County TV or Facebook.

This presentation is sponsored and moderated by Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles, and co-sponsored by Councilmembers Claudia Balducci and Sarah Perry, the Legislative Branch Equity and Social Justice Team, and the King County Women’s Advisory Board.

Still looking for a 2023 calendar?

The 2023 Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Calendar is still available for download. 

The 2023 calendar features the artwork First Family by Grace A. Washington, and the quote "An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

You can download copies to print or display on your phone or computer. For more information and links to the calendar, click here.

KC employees can help residents preserve their Apple Health insurance

Cross-posted from Public Health Insider

Thousands of King County residents who have health insurance through Apple Health risk losing coverage in coming months. Public Health—Seattle & King County and its partners in the community are leading an effort to help them take action in time.

Beginning this spring, many clients will need to verify that they’re still eligible for Apple Health. The good news: There are options for people to keep health insurance coverage – if they act in time.

Learn more and download the flyer here. 

Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. It is recommended that adults age 45 to 75 get screened for colorectal cancer. Cancer screenings can be lifesaving when cancer is found early and when it may be easier to treat.

Colorectal cancer screening tests may be covered by your health insurance without a deductible or co-pay. If you are 45 or older, talk to your Primary Care Provider about a screening. Learn more about symptoms and questions to ask your doctor here.

March 28 is Diabetes Alert Day

Lower your risk for diabetes with Omada. Prediabetes is a serious condition caused when your blood sugar levels are higher than normal. It increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

King County offers Omada, a free program that provides proven, one-on-one support to help prevent type 2 diabetes and related health issues. Find out if you qualify for Omada’s Diabetes Prevention or Diabetes Management program on the Omada website.

Balanced You self-care webinar: A discussion on financial wellness

April is Financial Literacy Month and is the time of year many of us are thinking about how to save more money, plan for vacation, and even retirement planning. Join Balanced You for a live conversation with financial expert William Wesley from My Secure Advantage (MSA) to learn about strengthening your financial wellness.

• Thursday, April 6 from 1 to 2 p.m. Register here.

StormFest is seeking volunteers

StormFest is an outdoor learning event for sixth and seventh grade Highline School District students using STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and stormwater lessons for hands-on learning. At this outdoor event, students learn about their local watershed, sources of pollution, and engineering solutions to prevent stormwater pollution.

The application deadline to volunteer is May 8.

Check out this past StormFest video to see how students interact with environmental education. Volunteers gain experience in best practices for environmental education and interacting with students from a variety of cultures. Bilingual station educators and interpreters will be paid stipends. Eligible employees can use leave for volunteer hours.

 For more information and to apply, click here.

Featured Job: Peer Bridger (Social Services Specialist)