King County launches new safety plan for downtown campus

King County has launched a new plan to create a safe, more welcoming environment around County facilities in downtown Seattle.

The Civic Campus Safety Plan brings new and augmented resources to King County’s downtown Seattle footprint – bordered by 3rd Avenue, Yesler Terrace, James Street, and Sixth Avenue – with the goal of making the central campus a welcoming space where every person can thrive.

Click here for more information about the plan and the expanded services.

Meet the City Hall Park Neighborhood Outreach Team

While downtown, you may come across people in blue coats assisting our unsheltered neighbors around City Hall Park. These people are part of the City Hall Park Neighborhood Outreach Team, a one-of-a-kind program funded through the Behavioral Health and Recovery Division within the Department of Community and Human Services. 

The area around the park has historically lacked outreach and resources. When City Hall Park reopens, the City Hall Park Neighborhood Outreach Team will be there, and be part of the process of engaging with the community and responding to King County staff in the area. Click here to read more about this effort. 

Celebrating our 911 staff during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week

This week we are recognizing King County’s 911 Communications Center employees and the KCIT employees who support the 911 system during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, Sunday, April 10 through Saturday, April 16.

911 Communications Center employees are the primary link between people who desperately need help and the people who provide it. More than half a million people rely on the County’s call receivers, dispatchers, and other personnel who answer and dispatch calls, as well as other services. Read the full story here.

Thank you for participating in the 2022 Employee Engagement Survey

Message from Whitney Abrams, Chief People Officer

This year more than 63% of employees spoke up in the survey. Now your feedback, comments, and results are being reviewed and analyzed and we will share more detailed information and next steps with you in May.

Read the full announcement here. 

Big Backyard 5K is June 5

Founded in 2010, the Big Backyard 5K (also known as the BBY5K), is a community run/walk showcasing and benefitting King County Parks.

Proceeds from the BBY5K benefit King County Parks, supporting maintenance and operations of facilities and recreational resources. Over 12 years, more than 12,000 runners and walkers have gathered to raise over $75,000 for King County Parks. 

​This year’s event is on Sunday, June 5, and celebrates our ability to gather together again with a simple approach to fun and fitness.

Click here to find out more and register.

Upcoming mindfulness events

Self-compassion: Learn how to befriend yourself, especially when things are tough.

• Friday, April 15 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Register here.

Emotional Resilience: Feeling overwhelmed? Worn down by serving others? Develop in-the-moment tools to decrease stress by cultivating mindfulness and compassion. 

• Wednesday, April 20 from 2 to 4 p.m. Register here.

Mindful Communication: Mindful Communication helps us break down the complex process of communication, increase awareness of what's really going on, and bring greater clarity and kindness to our interactions.

• Thursday, April 21 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Register here.

Balanced You webinar: Tips on nutrition and exercise for kids, April 20

Many parents face the same challenges when it comes to balancing nutrition and exercise for kids. Common questions include: "what if my kid is a picky eater?" and "how much exercise should my kids do per day?"

Join us for a one-hour virtual conversation on ways to get kids excited about food and exercise. For those with children at home, there will be a mini-movement session for the whole family during the webinar!

• Wednesday, April 20 from 1 to 2 p.m. Register here. 

Getting and keeping good credit, April 28

Credit scores influence personal finances in more ways than most people realize. Whether it’s your auto insurance premium or the interest rate on your mortgage, you want your credit score to be deemed “excellent.”

In this webinar, My Secure Advantage (MSA) financial experts will discuss the criteria that determines 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, April 28 at 9 a.m., register here, or noon, register here.

Adminstrative Professionals Day is April 27

Register here to attend the virtual recognition and celebration of administrative professionals on Wednesday, April 27 at noon.

Event details will be provided. All King County employees are invited to attend. For more information, visit www.kingcounty.gov/administrativeprofessionals.