Cross-posted from Public Health Insider
Families, caregivers, teachers, and our entire community have reason to be hopeful following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation of the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5-11.
Independent panels of vaccine experts found the vaccine to be highly effective at preventing COVID-19 and no serious safety concerns were identified. As a result, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency use authorization for the Pfizer vaccine for this age group last week. Read more here.
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New Teams feature: MyHub streamlines SharePoint, Teams management
The new Teams feature MyHub rolls out to all King County employees Nov. 5, giving you a convenient one-stop-shop for managing your Teams and SharePoint workspaces…and creating new ones!
MyHub provides a personalized experience that simplifies navigation and lets you quickly find and organize your favorite workspaces. Plus, MyHub lets you submit requests for new SharePoint and Teams sites directly to your department’s SharePoint administrator, eliminating the need for a Helpdesk ticket.
No action is needed on your part; the MyHub icon will automatically appear in your Teams window, in the left-hand navigation bar. Learn more at What is MyHub?. For assistance, Executive branch employees can LiveChat with KCIT Helpdesk. Employees not in the Executive Branch can contact their department IT support.
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Badges required to access upper floors at King Street Center
Beginning enxt week, employees headed to King Street Center will need to scan their ID badge in the elevator for access to floors two through eight of the building.
The change, effective Monday, Nov. 8, comes as part of preparations for the new King County Customer Service Center, planned at King Street Center in 2022. Badges have already been coded for access, so there are no additional steps for employees to take.
Elevator use for public access will remain open for floors A, B, and the lobby (floor 1). If you have questions or concerns, please contact the Facilities Management Division Customer Care Services Team at 206-477-9400 or CustomerCareServices.FMD@kingcounty.gov.
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Domestic Violence Advocates build meaningful relationships with survivors
October was Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and in observance, it is important to highlight the work King County is doing to support survivors of domestic violence in King County.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, on average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the U.S., resulting in over 10 million people each year. Here in our region, in 2020 the number of domestic violence-related felony charge referrals, the most serious legal filing, did not decrease, despite temporary court closures, the statewide stay at home orders and social distancing guidelines. A data dashboard compiled by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (PAO) and Public Health – Seattle & King County, shows that from April to August 2020 there were over 100 domestic violence protection orders filed, and the highest call volume from King County residents to the National Domestic Violence Hotline was from April to July.
To address this need, the PAO includes a Domestic Violence (DV) Unit, staffed by DV Victim Advocates, who work with individual survivors to review their cases and navigate the criminal system. Read about the advocates here.
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KingCare Select members: Choose your Primary Care Provider
A Primary Care Provider (PCP) can make a big difference in your health by delivering continuity of care. This means you and your PCP establish a partnership over time to achieve the best possible health outcomes.
Next year, if you are enrolled in the KingCare Select medical plan, you must choose a PCP and let Regence know who you selected by calling them at 888-367-2112, by visiting regence.com/pick-a-pcp, or emailing cs@regence.com.
Read more here.
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Supporting veterans and military organizations through the 2021 Annual Giving Drive
As part of the 2021 Annual Giving Drive, we are highlighting nonprofits whose work supports organizations committed to veterans and military issues. These and hundreds of nonprofits are participating in this year’s Annual Giving Drive. Click here to find out more.
Check out previous expos and get addtional information on the Employee Giving Program page.
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King County employees launch Disability Affinity Group
The King County Disability Affinity Group hosted an official kick-off and held its first informational session on October 25.
The launch of this new affinity group (aka employee resource group) is an important piece in furthering the County’s commitment to disability equity, and reaching our True North, “Making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive.”
Read more here about the Disabilty Affinity Group.
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Self-compassion and compassion for others: A Balanced You webinar
As the days get shorter and darker, and the stress of the pandemic continues, it is important to show love and compassion to ourselves and to others.
Join Balanced You for a live, interactive webinar as we talk to two experts who will share ideas and techniques to keep your mind, body and spirit in a good place this winter.
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Burnout, Compassion Fatigue, and Resiliency for Managers and Supervisors
For more than 18 months, we’ve been working under the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the mental health and well-being challenges, people are experiencing symptoms of burnout and compassion fatigue.
Join the Balanced You team for the interactive training Burnout, Compassion Fatigue, and Resiliency for Managers and Supervisors to earn the signs of burnout and compassion fatigue, as well as practices for building resiliency.
You can also schedule a training for your department, division, or team with Balanced You.
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PeopleSoft authentication changes
The PeopleSoft system is streamlining its authentication method on Nov. 20 to exclusively use King County network credentials.
What does this mean for employees? Starting Nov. 20, employees will be prompted to login to PeopleSoft using the same method used across the County for applications, like SharePoint, using their King County email and network password. Employees will no longer be prompted to use the PeopleSoft login screen, but instead be prompted using the King County Single Sign On authentication screens. Employees may also be asked to verify their identity on first time login using the new method.
Using King County network credentials provides a better user experience and is as easy as 1, 2 and you’re in! For questions, please check out the quick reference guide for more information.
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COVID-19 vaccination clinics for King County employees
In November, King County is hosting five COVID-19 worksite vaccination clinics open to all employees and family members ages 12 and older. All three vaccine types – Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson – are expected to be available.
The clinics are intended to support employees who are in the process of completing their initial COVID-19 vaccination series to comply with the Executive’s vaccination mandate.
In addition, COVID-19 booster shots will be available to those who are eligible. Although not currently required, booster shots are recommended and encouraged for specific populations, including people who work in occupational or institutional settings that put them at high risk for COVID-19.
Walk-ins are welcome, but you can schedule a time for your preferred vaccine. Click here to learn more.
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Training Spotlight:
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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 the next session is
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Staying Steady – Online – As leaders we are often balancing multiple priorities and demands. This year has been especially difficult in finding ways to stay steady ourselves and ensure the wellbeing of our teams, especially as we continue with Future of Work planning, re-entry anxiety at home/work, and racism as a public health crisis. Join us for an interactive session that focuses on prioritizing your wellbeing as a leader and supporting your team with strategies to build a sense of stability and resiliency, to work more effectively. Sessions are free and are offered monthly. The next session will be:
Please visit our King County Eventbrite website and our Learning and Development 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.
New internet browser feature protects sensitive personal information
Starting the week of Nov. 8, Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome browsers will prompt employees to manually select an appropriate destination folder when downloading files, instead of automatically saving to your “Downloads” folder.
This new feature is intended to help King County employees protect sensitive personal information (HIPAA, CJIS, etc.) and correctly manage public records. Edge gives users the additional option to simply “Open” files to view in a separate browser tab, eliminating the need to save files. This change applies to all Executive branch employees; no action is needed on your part to upgrade your browser.
If you have questions, please submit a request to KCIT Helpdesk.
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When you need help fast, Live Chat is where it’s at
Did you know that IT Helpdesk tickets increased 300% this year? To keep up with demand, KCIT is training additional staff to support the popular new “Live Chat” feature that can quickly resolve your technology issues. Executive branch employees can log into the KCIT Helpdesk and click the Live Chat button. As the name implies, Live Chat quickly connects you with a real live person – a KCIT expert who can remotely look at your computer to diagnose the problem.
“Live Chat is hands-down the fastest way to work with our tech support team,” says James Marsh, KCIT Customer Support Manager. Of course, you can still submit a ticket in the Helpdesk portal to report an issue, or enroll in King County’s self-help password reset tool. “Even with the increased volume, we close nearly every ticket on time – over 600 tickets a day – but we know customers will have a smoother experience submitting tickets through the Helpdesk or using Live Chat,” says Marsh.
Remember: when you need help fast, Live Chat is where it’s at!
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Pet of the Week: Princess
Hi, my name is Princess! I'm a two-year old short hair Tabby. I earned my name by being a big diva. My sassy side comes out whenever I feel like it. I would prefer to live in a home with adults only who can respect my space and stay calm.
You can find out more about me and my other friends on our website at www.kingcounty.gov/adoptapet. Note that RASKC has moved to adoptions by appointment only. If you have more questions, you can contact RASKC via phone at 206-296-787 (PETS) or email pets@kingcounty.gov.
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Featured Job: PPM II - Best Starts for Kids School Based SBIRT Prevention Specialist
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King County Headlines
Kids and the COVID-19 Vaccine: We Answer Questions from Children and Families in our Community - Cross-posted brom Public Health Insider
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