Executive Constantine thanks retiring Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention director John Diaz and names successor

Executive Constantine announced that John Diaz, Director of the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention (DAJD), will retire in late June following a distinguished three-year tenure that included unprecedented changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. A former Seattle police chief, Diaz joined DAJD as interim director in April 2019 and assumed the director position that August.

Executive Constantine has appointed Juvenile Division Director Allen Nance to take over the role. Read the full announcement here.

KCTV celebrates Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander month

There’s a saying in Vietnamese, “Uống nước nhớ nguồn” that translates to “when you drink from a river, remember its origins.” Throughout the month of May, KCTV will feature local AANHPI leaders each week to see how their past is connected to the present.

This week features Rachel Yang, a Korean-American chef and James Beard nominee that co-owns the Relay Restaurant Group, which includes the popular Joule and Revel restaurants. You can see the YouTube video here and Facebook video here. 

Watch for upcoming features including artist Erin Shigaki, writer and UW Professor Shawn Wong, and UW Professor Raissa DeSmet and students from the Southeast Asian Pasts and Futures (SEAPF) program. There will also be a live online viewing event at the end of May where we will be watching all of the features together -- details coming soon.

How King County businesses help protect public health and the environment through our Industrial Waste program

Cross-posted from Clean Water Stories

Staff at the King County wastewater treatment plants do an excellent job of cleaning wastewater, but not all types of waste can be filtered out during the treatment process.

The Industrial Waste Program is in charge of preventing pollution from entering the wastewater system in the first place.

That’s also where local business can make a difference. By making sure that they only send wastewater to the County system that meets the standards set to protect the environment, businesses play a big role in keeping our waterways clean. Read the full story here. 

March and April Operators of the Month

Cross-posted from Metro Matters

They are as unique as the people they meet with everyday when behind the wheel of their coaches:

A tennis coach. A bowler. Another who started driving for Metro to help pay for school. A retired banker who now regrets telling the bus drivers who got him to work to “hurry up.” And those who started driving buses after being told they would be good at it.

They are part of a group of transit operators with more than a century of experience at Metro. Click here to meet the Metro Operators of the Month for March and April 2022.

Mental Health Month “Back to Basics” webinar

As we work toward coming back from the pandemic, we need to get back to basic conversations around mental health.

Join Karla Clark, Balanced You Employee Health Specialist, and a panel of experts to discuss how we have normalized the conversation around mental health, strategies for dealing with mental health for ourselves and our loved, ones and resources available.

•  Wednesday, May 18 from 1 to 2 p.m. Register here.

Mental Health First Aid@Work 2022 schedule

Back by popular demand, Balanced You is once again offering Mental Health First Aid@Work trainings in 2022.

Mental Health First Aid@Work is designed for all audiences and covers how to: 

• Identify the impact of mental health challenges and recovery on the well-being of adults in the workplace. 
• Recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health challenges and how they impact the workplace. 
• Explain and practice the Five-step Mental Health First Aid Action Plan (ALGEE). 
• Discuss appropriate methods of self-care for individuals in the workplace. 

View full training schedule here or sign up for an upcoming training:

• Wednesday, May 11 from 1 to 5 p.m. Register here.
• Tuesday, May 24 from 8 a.m. to noon. Register here.
• Friday, June 17 from 8 a.m. to noon. Register here.

Immunocompromised? You may be eligible for this medication to help protect from COVID

Cross-posted from Public Health Insider

If you or someone you know is at higher risk from COVID-19 because of a compromised immune system, pre-exposure prophylaxis (also called PrEP, available as the product Evusheld) can help to protect from severe disease.

When taken before infection or exposure, Evusheld helps your body fight the coronavirus and avoid getting really sick or needing to visit the hospital. Find more information here.

Where to get your COVID-19 home test

With COVID-19 cases slowly but steadily rising in our region over the past month, now is a good time to check your family’s supply of at-home rapid COVID-19 tests.

It’s important to test if you have symptoms and before indoor group gatherings—especially if high-risk people are going to be present. If it’s time to restock, there are several convenient options to get additional free test kits. Click here for more information.

Changes coming to King County COVID-19 testing sites

Cross-posted from Public Health Insider

As King County COVID-19 case rates have fallen from the Omicron peak earlier this year, and as the availability of free rapid self-test and community testing options have increased, demand at King County COVID-19 test sites has significantly declined.

In order to better align with demand and transition to long-term testing solutions, Public Health – Seattle & King County will end its operations of our Tukwila, Federal Way and Auburn COVID-19 testing sites. The last day of King County operations for the Federal Way and Tukwila testing sites will be Friday, May 27, and the last day of King County operations for the Auburn site will be Wednesday, June 1. Click here to read more.

Free community events this week, featuring King County 911

Don’t miss these free local events! KCIT’s 911 outreach team will hand out coloring books, pens, and reusable bags that teach kids how and when to call 911 in case of an emergency. Stop by and say hello!

• Columbia City Farmers’ Market  – 3631 S. Edmunds Steet in Seattle on Wednesday, May 11  from 2 to 7 p.m.
• U District Farmers’ Market – 5031 University Way N.E. in Seattle on Saturday, May 14 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Teddy Bear Clinic – 24611 116th Avenue S.E. in Kent at the Fire Headquarters, Station 74 on Saturday, May 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring your teddy bear or favorite stuffy in for a check-up! Kids can spray water from a firehose and climb on a real fire engine. The first 400 kids will receive a teddy bear from Warm 106.9.

Administrative Professionals Casual Conversations

In the next Adminstrative Profesionals Casual Conversations, Chantal Mees, Leadership Development Educator in the Department of Human Resources, will answer questions and bring insight to what it means to be a leader – and how to grow foundational skills through leadership trainings at King County.

Administrative Professionals are indispensable, wearing many hats in their unique roles. Be an impactful contributor by leading from wherever you are, now and in the future.  

• Tuesday, May 24 from noon-1 p.m. Register here.

Mindfulness Classes

Mindful Parenting: We'll bring the lens of mindfulness to bear on what some say is the "world's hardest job", helping you meet the joys and challenges of parenting.

• Wednesday, May 11 from 3 to 5 p.m. Register here.

 Mindful Movement: An hour of gentle, guided movement appropriate for all bodies.

• Monday, May 23 from 2 to 3 p.m. Register here.

Mindful Communication: When we communicate mindfully, every interaction is fresh with opportunity and open to discovery. 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.

• Wednesday, May 25 from 2 to 4 p.m. Register here.

Protecting your assets with insurance

Insurance is more than just a safety net. It's part of your overall financial strategy. In this My Secure Advantage class, you'll learn the importance of vehicle, property, life, and other common forms of insurance.

The goal for this webinar is to equip you with the information you need to assess the right coverage for your life and assets. You'll also receive tips and best practices for shopping around and getting the best rates.

• Thursday, May 26 at 9 a.m., register here, or at noon, register here.

Featured Job: 911 Communications Specialist