HomeMy WebLinkAboutPacket Health Board Jan 31 2023Whatcom County
Council as the Health Board
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360) 778-5010
Meeting Agenda
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
10 AM
Council Chambers / Hybrid Meeting
HYBRID MEETING (PARTICIPATE IN -PERSON AT 311 GRAND AVENUE SUITE
101, SEE REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT
www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil, OR CALL 360.778.5010)
COUNCILMEMBERS
Barry Buchanan
Tyler Byrd
Todd Donovan
Ben Elenbaas
Carol Frazey
Kaylee Galloway
Kathy Kershner
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Dana Brown -Davis, C.M.C.
Council as the Health Board Meeting Agenda January 31, 2023
Call To Order
Roll Call
Announcements
Individuals who require special assistance to participate in the Council's meetings are asked to contact
the Council Office at 360.778.5010 at least 96 hours in advance.
Public Comment
Public Health Advisory Board (PHAB) Update
Strategic Plan — Health Board Involvement
Department Reorganization and New Name
Healthv Children's Fund
Meeting Review and Proposed Agenda for Next Meeting
Other Business
Adjournment
Whatcom County Page 2 Printed on 41712025
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
AS THE
HEALTH BOARD
10:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue
(if virtual: www.whatcomcounty.us/loinvirtualcouncil)
AGENDA
Meetin_g Topics
1. Roll Call
2. Public Comment
3. Public Health Advisory Board (PHAB) Update
4. Strategic Plan — Health Board Involvement
5. Department Reorganization and New Name
6. Healthy Children's Fund
7. Meeting Review and Proposed Agenda for Next Meeting
fjilLWhatcom County
HEALTH
Department
Pages Time
no paper 10:00-10:05
no paper 10:05-10:15
no paper 10:15-10:25
pages 2-3 10:25-10:55
pages 4-6 10:55-11:10
page 7 11:10-11:20
no paper 11:20-11:30
HEALTH BOARD
Discussion Form
AGENDA ITEM #4
PRESENTERS:
BOARD ACTION:
January 31, 2023
Strategic Plan — Health Board Involvement
Erika Lautenbach
❑ Action Item ❑ Discussion Q FYI - Only
Following the development of the 2023-2027 Strategic Plan last year, Health Department
leadership and staff created a comprehensive list of year one objectives. These objectives are
categorized within the four strategic priorities: Community Partnerships and Engagement,
Organizational Infrastructure, Workforce Development, and Quality Management. Below is a
high-level overview of significant 2023 projects or initiatives, but is not inclusive of the many
individual or program level projects that will also contribute to the strategic plan priorities. Areas
for potential Health Board involvement are indicated with an asterisk below.
Community Partnerships and Engagement:
• Re-name/re-brand Health Department
• Finalize Healthy Children's fund implementation plan and develop contracts/RFPs*
• Align and coordinate workplans of boards and commissions; review bylaws to include
stipends, remote attendance, and other benefits to volunteers*
• Create a Behavioral Health fund balance plan and conduct stakeholder engagement*
• Provide support and technical assistance for Jail/behavioral health ballot measure*
• Conduct a vulnerability assessment of populations most impacted by climate events*
Organizational Infrastructure:
• Develop and implement a Health Department Equity Plan*
• Implement EnerGov electronic permitting system
• Adopt EPIC EMR for clinical programs
• Hire Policy, Equity, and Evaluation positions
• Launch ART program
Workforce Development:
• Update Workforce Development Plan
• Hire Workforce Development position
Re-establish Mentoring Program*
Create paid internship program*
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• Expand office space by moving staff from Girard to 104 Unity; moving staff from
Chestnut to Division
• Continue succession planning, burnout prevention/mitigation, learning and development
opportunities, leadership development efforts
Quality Management:
• Launch the new Performance Management Plan with program -level performance
measures
• Publish first Annual Report to the community highlighting programs, services, and
impact*
• Complete Re -accreditation with National Public Health Accreditation Board*
• Collect data and draft 2024 Community Health Assessment*
• Build Environmental Health capacity and service to support unsheltered populations
EQUITY CONSIDERATIONS
(include data or information about how topic impacts or could impact equity,
including racial equity)
Key strategic work in 2023 will incorporate equity, including the Equity Plan, the Behavioral
Health Plan, and work relating to Healthy Children's Fund implementation. Workforce
development initiatives will include opportunities for hiring staff that better reflect the diverse
populations in Whatcom County, and training and practice to provide more inclusive and
trauma -informed services.
BOARD ROLE / ACTION REQUESTED
Briefing and identification of potential areas for Health Board participation or leadership.
ATTACHMENT(S)
None
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HEALTH BOARD
Discussion Form
January 31, 2023
AGENDA ITEM #5: Department Reorganization and New Name
PRESENTERS: Erika Lautenbach
BOARD ACTION: ❑ Action Item ❑ Discussion Q FYI - Only
The Health Department's budget and staffing have grown substantially due to COVID funding,
state Foundational Public Health Services (FPHS) funding, increases in existing and new
grants, Healthy Children's Fund, and GRACE and LEAD programs and staff joining the
department.
In order to accommodate the growth, maintain a high level of customer service, provide
sufficient leadership and administrative support, and prepare for additional staff through state
funding, the Health Department in late 2021 initiated a process to reorganize and right -size
operations. To that end:
• The Response Systems division was created, and behavioral health programs including
Mental Health Court and Crisis Stabilization service coordination (previously in Human
Services) were absorbed into that division.
• Community Health Division and Human Services Division merged into the new
Community Health and Human Services Division.
• The Assistant Director position was eliminated and the leader in that role became the
Financial Services Manager to have more capacity to focus on the many funding
streams, contracts, and additional funds.
• A new division, Community and Organizational Development, will be created in 2023 to
oversee all the cross -cutting staff, including the Health Information and Assessment
Team (previously reporting to the Assistant Director), Communications Team (previously
reporting to a temporary manager now only in a project -based capacity), and new
positions funded through FPHS (workforce development, equity, policy)
The Health Department has also grown in scope, including behavioral health providers, co -
responders, GRACE, LEAD, Alternative Response Team, and additional staffing in existing
programs like prevention, veteran services, and housing. These additional community services,
and the staff that support them, do not necessarily fall into some of the strict definitions of public
health work. Therefore, the Health Department intends to change its name to better reflect the
breadth of programs and services, and to be more inclusive of all staff working in the
department.
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EQUITY CONSIDERATIONS
(include data or information about how topic impacts or could impact equity,
including racial equity)
The Health Department seeks to reorganize to better serve Whatcom County residents in a
transparent, trauma -informed, and inclusive manner.
BOARD ROLE / ACTION REQUESTED
For information purposes and for Health Board members to ask questions and understand
context when positions are hired.
ATTACHMENT(S)
Health Department current organizational chart.
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Director
Financial Services
Manager
Business Office
Supervisor and Team
Administrative
Supervisor and Team
Community and
Organizational
Development Manager
HIA Supervisor and
Team
Evaluation
Partnerships and
Strategy Supervisor
Communication
Specialists
Policy
Communications
Coordinator
Equity Specialist
Workforce Development
Emergency
Preparedness and
Resilience
Response Systems
Manager
GRACE Supervisor and
Team
LEAD Supervisor and
Team
Program Manager and
Team
Transportation Specialist
ART Supervisor and
Team
Behavioral Health
Supervisor and Team
Associate Manager
Community Services
Manager
Human Services
Supervisor and Team
Housing Supervisor and
Team
Children and Families
Supervisor and Team
Results Based
Accounatbility
Associate Manager
Communicable Disease
Manager
Prevention and
Screening Supervisor
and Team
CD Supervisor and Team
Immunization Supervisor
and Team
Associate Manager
Environmental Health
Manager
OSS Supervisor and
Team
Solid Waste Supervisor
and Team
Food and Living
Environment Supervisor
and Team
Associate Manager
Health Officer(s)Office Coordinator
Blue: Existing position
Purple: New position
Grey: Future request (if
funding is available)
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HEALTH BOARD
Discussion Form
January 31, 2023
AGENDA ITEM #6: Healthy Children's Fund
PRESENTERS: Kate Dabe
BOARD ACTION: ❑ Action Item ❑ Discussion Q FYI - Only
An update will be shared on the Implementation Plan for the Healthy Children's Fund.
The Healthy Children's Fund increases and targets investments to improve the well-being
of children, families, and communities. Focus areas include:
Kindergarten readiness and early childhood well-being;
affordable, high -quality, professional, and accessible early learning experiences and
child care; and
support for vulnerable children and families, particularly around mental and behavioral
health and reducing child and family homelessness.
Advisory groups reviewed and provided feedback on an initial draft of the Implementation Plan
in January. The final proposed plan will be submitted to Whatcom County Council on February
10 for introduction on March 7. A briefing is planned for March 7 with Council considering
passage on March 21. The plan per ordinance must be submitted to the County Executive by
March 31, 2023.
EQUITY CONSIDERATIONS
(include data or information about how topic impacts or could impact equity,
including racial equity)
The Healthy Children's Fund would have a broad impact on Whatcom County's children and
families, with targeted programs for our county's most vulnerable populations who face
additional barriers, such as homelessness and access to mental health services. The
implementation plan prioritizes reaching rural areas and families of color, among other criteria.
BOARD ROLE/ACTION REQUESTED
FYI only.
ATTACHMENT(S)
None.
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