HomeMy WebLinkAboutHealth Board June 11 20191 Whatcom County Council
2 Joint Meeting of the Health Board and Public Health Advisory Board
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4 June 11, 2019
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6 CALL TO ORDER
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8 Council Member Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m. in the
9 County Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
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11
12 ROLL CALL
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14 Health Board
15 Present: Barbara Brenner, Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Todd Donovan, Carol
16 Frazey, and Satpal Sidhu.
17 Absent: Rud Browne
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19 Public Health Advisory Board
20 Present: (Barry Buchanan), Sterling Chick, Lindsey Krras, Rachel Lucy, and Chi-
21 Na Stoane
22 Absent: Les Seelye and Barbara Juarez
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24 OPENING
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26 Holly O'Neil, Facilitator, introduced the process and welcomed attendees.
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28 Meeting attendees introduced themselves and described their backgrounds and the
29 health issue in which they are interested.
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31 O'Neil described the agenda, guidelines, and outcomes for the meeting.
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33 YEAR IN REVIEW
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35 Stoane described achievements that include the Food System Committee,
36 Community Health Assessment, the Ground -level Response and Coordinated Engagement
37 (GRACE) project, increased funding for foundational public health services, prohibition
38 against vaping in public areas, services for immigrant families, resolution for full funding for
39 crisis stabilization services and needle exchange program, and the secure medical return
40 program funded by pharmaceutical companies.
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42 2019 HEALTH POLICY AGENDA PRIOIRITIES
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44 Regina Delahunt, Health Department Director, gave a staff report on Whatcom
45 Working Toward Well -Being, housing and homelessness, and the impact of economic
46 insecurity on families and children.
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48 Board members and attendees discussed looking at public health issues through the
49 lens of incarceration prevention; rates of prenatal care in Whatcom County; outcomes and
50 data; and poverty and abuse as threats to the well-being of children.
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Joint Health Board & Public Health Advisory Board, 6/11/2019, Page 1
1 PANEL - STORIES FROM THE COMMUNITY
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3 O'Neil introduced three panelists:
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5 Andrea Northey, Opportunity Council Homeless Outreach Team (HOT), spoke about
6 experiences working with the homeless and the need for a variety of different housing and
7 shelter options.
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9 Emily O'Conner, Lydia Place Executive Director, spoke about experiences serving
10 homeless families with children, the challenges they face, and the need for a flexible system
11 that can serve everyone in need.
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13 Chris Wiebe spoke about her experiences as a single parent of children, one of whom
14 had cerebral palsy, and the economic challenges that resulted, including a loss of dignity,
15 confidence, and hope. Solutions will come from people who have experienced these
16 challenges.
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18 Board members and attendees discussed the need to develop a culture where people
19 have support systems from others and involving the cities.
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21 (Clerk's Note: the Boards took a 15-minute break.)
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23 POLICY - WHAT IS IT, WHY IT MATTERS, AND HOW WE CAN DO MORE
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25 Board members and attendees defined the importance of policy and what policy
26 could achieve.
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28 Lucy referenced and read from the packet on a presentation regarding Health Policy
29 Leadership, including the health impact pyramid.
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31 Board members and attendees divided into small groups to discuss and report on the
32 discussion of either:
33 0 What are examples where we've made healthy choices easier as a county,
34 . Locally, what kinds of public policy interventions are we open or closed to
35 pursuing, or
36 0 How can we improve the way we advance policy through formulation,
37 implementation, and modification?
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39 POLICY ROAD MAP FOR THE YEAR AHEAD
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41 Lucy stated that the work done today will inform the staff and advisory board going
42 forward.
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44 Board members and attendees discussed the status and next steps for:
45 . The child and family action plan
46 . Immigrant family health plans
47 • And priorities from the Community Health Improvement Plan
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49 PUBLIC COMMENT
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51 Jennifer Johnson, Skagit County Director of Public Health, spoke about the effective
52 collaboration among Whatcom County's Board of Health, Public Health Advisory Board, and
53 public health staff.
Joint Health Board & Public Health Advisory Board, 6/11/2019, Page 2
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CLOSING COMMENTS
Board members and attendees described the benefits of today's work session.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at approximately 12:00 p.m.
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Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
23, 2019.
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Joint Health Board & Public Health Advisory Board, 6/11/2019, Page 3