The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutPacket Health Board Apr 1 2025Whatcom County Council as the Health Board COUNTY COURTHOUSE 311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105 Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 (360) 778-5010 Meeting Agenda Tuesday, April 1, 2025 10 AM Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers JOINT HEALTH BOARD/PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY BOARD MEETING - HYBRID MEETING (PARTICIPATE IN -PERSON, SEE REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil OR CALL 360.778.5010) COUNCILMEMBERS Barry Buchanan Tyler Byrd Todd Donovan Ben Elenbaas Kaylee Galloway Jon Scanlon Mark Stremler CLERK OF THE COUNCIL Cathy Halka, AICP, CMC Council as the Health Board Meeting Agenda April 1, 2025 Call To Order Roll Call - Health Board Roll Call - PHAB 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. This committee meeting is also noticed as a meeting of the Whatcom County Council, with the agenda limited to committee business. Public Comment Special Presentation 1. AB2025-271 Update from Health Director and Health Officer 2. AB2025-278 Presentation from the Executive Office regarding the process to fill the Health and Community Services Director position 3. AB2025-274 Presentation from the Joint Public Health Advisory Board/Health Board Structure Working Group Other Business Adjournment Whatcom County Page 2 Printed on 71812025 • Whatcom County COUNTY COURTHOUSE 311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105 Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 (360)778-5010 • Agenda Bill Master Report File Number: AB2025-271 File ID: AB2025-271 Version: 1 Status: Presented File Created: 03/18/2025 Entered by: nervin@co.whatcom.wa.us Department: Health Department File Type: Presentation Assigned to: Council as the Health Board Final Action: 04/01/2025 Agenda Date: 04/01/2025 Enactment #: Primary Contact Email: cramont@co.whatcom.wa.us TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM: Update from Health Director and Health Officer SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE: None HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE Date: Acting Body: Action: Sent To: 04/01/2025 Council as the Health Board PRESENTED Attachments: Whatcom County Page 1 Printed on 7/8/2025 • Whatcom County COUNTY COURTHOUSE 311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105 Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 (360)778-5010 • Agenda Bill Master Report File Number: AB2025-278 File ID: AB2025-278 Version: 1 Status: Presented File Created: 03/20/2025 Entered by: CHalka@co.whatcom.wa.us Department: Council Office File Type: Presentation Assigned to: Council as the Health Board Final Action: 04/01/2025 Agenda Date: 04/01/2025 Enactment #: Primary Contact Email: chalka@co.whatcom.wa.us TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM: Presentation from the Executive Office regarding the process to fill the Health and Community Services Director position SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE: None HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE Date: Acting Body: Action: Sent To: 04/01/2025 Council as the Health Board PRESENTED Attachments: Staff Memo Whatcom County Page 1 Printed on 7/8/2025 WHATCOM COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE County Courthouse 311 Grand Ave. Suite #108 Bellingham, WA 98225 tGpM CO s� Gym MEMORANDUM To: Whatcom County Council / Board of Health From: Satpal S. Sidhu, County Executive Aly Pennucci, Deputy Executive/Administrative Services Director Kayla Schott-Bresler, Deputy Executive Re: WCHCS Leadership Plan Date: March 24, 2025 Satpal Singh Sidhu County Executive On March 19, 2025 there became a vacancy in the position of Whatcom County Health and Community Services Director ("Administrative Director" under WCC 24.01.040). This memo provides clarity on both the immediate and longer -term steps for filling this vacancy. Please note that the steps for filling this vacancy with a regular director may be adjusted based on input from our professional recruiter, as well as stakeholders. Plan immediately upon separation (effective 3/19) Dr. Amy Harley, WC Health Officer, assumes the powers and duties of the administrative director. Assistant Director Charlene Ramont provides administrative and operational support to Dr. Harley. Upon the separation of Erika Lautenbach from County employment (effective March 19, 2025), Dr. Harley, WC Health Officer, will assume the powers and duties of the Administrative Director. Assistant Director Charlene Ramont will provide operational and administrative support to Dr. Harley. As outlined in WCC 24.01.040(B) and RCW 70.05.040, if no administrative director is appointed, the Health Officer, under the direction of the County Executive, assumes the responsibilities of the Administrative Director. This ensures continuity of operations for WCHCS. Dr. Harley has indicated that she is graciously willing to assume this role temporarily. The next step is to appoint an interim administrative director until a permanent appointment is confirmed by the County Council. Interim Plan until a regular administrative director is selected Assistant Director Charlene Ramont is appointed as Interim Administrative Director until a regular appointment is confirmed by the County Council The Executive will appoint Assistant Director Charlene Ramont as the Interim Administrative Director until a regular appointment is confirmed by the County Council. Although WCC 24.01.030(A) provides the Executive with authority to appoint a regular administrative director, it is silent on the process for selecting an interim director. Following advice from our legal counsel, the Executive will present Charlene Ramont for interim appointment confirmation to the County Council on March 25, 2025. If confirmed, Charlene will serve as the Administrative Director until a regular appointment is made. Office 360 778 5200 Fax 360 778 5201 TRS 711 Charlene Ramont has extensive experience in public health leadership, operations, planning, and project management. Since September 3, 2024 she has served as Assistant Director of the Whatcom County Health & Community Services Department. Before joining Whatcom County, Ms. Ramont worked for the Public Health Department of Shasta County California for over 19 years. She held increasingly responsible roles there, culminating in four years as Deputy Director. Ms. Ramont earned her Masters in Public Health from State University of New York in Albany; and Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Additionally, to support the transition, the Executive's office is augmenting resources within WCHCS. Jill Boudreau, Senior Policy & Project Manager in the Executive's Office, will provide specialized assistance to WCHCS for the Healthy Children's Fund and other policy and management needs. Doug Merriman of Merriman Consulting, LLC, will support WCHCS with high-level budgeting functions. DRAFT PLAN: Aaaointment of Reeular Administrative Director aosition The County will initiate a comprehensive recruitment process for a new administrative director. The Executive's office will serve as the lead party in the recruitment process. Below is an outline of the key steps we will take to conduct a search and make a regular appointment for the vacant WCHCS Administrative Director position. We are collaborating with Whatcom County Human Resources to engage a recruitment consultant who will advise on the process and assist with the administrative aspects of recruiting for a director -level position. This outline is informed by and incorporates the policy for filling a vacancy in the Health Officer distributed to Public Health Advisory Board (PHAB) in October 2024 by the former Administrative Director and current Health Officer and to fulfill requirements outlined in WCC and applicable state law provisions' This is just an initial draft and will be updated as we get input from stakeholders and engage a professional recruiter. 1. Review and Redraft Job Description: o Solicit feedback from the WCHCS Management Team, PHAB, BOH, WCHCS staff, and other stakeholders on the skills and experience desired in the new Administrative Director. 2. Solicit Feedback on the Recruitment Process: o Present the revised job description to the BOH, PHAB, and WCHCS staff, and solicit feedback on the recruitment process. 3. Request Appointment of PHAB and BOH Members for Review: o Request that PHAB and BOH appoint members to formally review the revised job description and ensure it aligns with the needs of the department. 4. Post the Job Widely: o Ensure broad visibility by posting on the county website and affiliated/industry sites. 1 Citations: RCW 70.05.040; RCW 70.46.140; WCC 24.01.030, 0140, 060 WHATCOM COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE County Courthouse 311 Grand Ave. Suite #108 Bellingham, WA 98225 Satpal Singh Sidhu County Executive o Notify PHAB and other stakeholders that it is posted and encourage it is further disseminated to potentially interested parties. 5. Screen Initial Candidates: o Executive's Office/HR Consultant conducts phone/virtual screenings to assess candidates' understanding of the role and their qualifications. Create list of candidates to move on to next round of interview. 6. Conduct Internal Interviews: o The Executive's Office or HR consultant will coordinate internal interviews, which will include representation from Department staff. o The Executive's Office or HR consultant will create a list of candidates to be interviewed by a community panel, which will include County Council/BOH/PHAB designees, and other relevant stakeholders. 7. Convene Community Panel: o The Executive's Office, in coordination with the Chair of PHAB and BOH, will solicit nominations for members to serve on the community interview panel. 8. Final Candidate Recommendations: o After the interviews, PHAB members on the panel will provide recommendations for the top candidate(s) to the Executive's Office and BOH. The Executive's Office will also gather feedback from all participants on the various interview panels. 9. Final Interview and Appointment: o The Executive will conduct a final interview with the recommended candidates and forward the appointment for confirmation by the County Council. 10. Council Confirmation o Council will consider the Executive's appointment and ideally confirm. Deputy Executive Schott-Bresler will be the main point of contact if there are questions regarding next steps. Office 360 778 5200 Fax 360 778 5201 TRS 711 Whatcom County • Agenda Bill Master Report File Number: AB2025-274 File ID: AB2025-274 Version: 1 File Created: 03/18/2025 Entered by: nervin@co.whatcom.wa.us Department: Health Department File Type: Presentation Assigned to: Council as the Health Board Agenda Date: 04/01/2025 Primary Contact Email: JScanlon@co.whatcom.wa.us TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM: COUNTY COURTHOUSE 311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105 Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 (360)778-5010 Status: Discussed and Motion(s) Approved Final Action: 04/01/2025 Enactment #: Presentation from the Joint Public Health Advisory Board/Health Board Structure Working Group SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE: 10 HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE Date: Acting Body: Action: Sent To: 04/01/2025 Council as the Health Board DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED Attachments: Memo, Presentation Whatcom County Page 1 Printed on 7/8/2025 TO: Whatcom County Council as Board of Health FROM: Whatcom County Board of Health/Public Health Advisory Board Structure Working Group CC: Public Health Advisory Board DATE: March 28, 2025 RE: Whatcom County Board of Health/Public Health Advisory Board Structure Recommendation This memo transmits to the Whatcom County Council and Board of Health (BoH) a recommendation and findings on the structure of the Whatcom County Board of Health, as called for by Motion at the October 29, 2024 Joint Board of Health/Public Health Advisory Board (PHAB) meeting. It outlines the inputs, and processes, that resulted in the Working Group's recommendation below. The Working Group met eight times between November 2024 and mid -February 2025 to gather, synthesize, and develop preliminary recommendations. Tasks undertaken by the Working Group to inform development of its recommendation included: • Gathering and synthesizing data including previous reports and statutes; • Conducting interviews with six county Boards of Health;' • Collecting and reviewing high level input from digital community survey (162 responses) that was open from January 14th-February 7th; and, • Discussing initial and final recommendations with PHAB and integrating input into final recommendation. On February 13th, PHAB received an initial briefing on the Working Group's preliminary recommendations and provided feedback to the Working Group. Additional feedback was provided by PHAB members to the Working Group on February 141h, along with individual discussions with some PHAB members. At its March 6, 2025, meeting after robust and thoughtful discussion, PHAB unanimously approved the following recommendation. ' Clark, Chelan -Douglas, Kitsap, King, Thurston, Snohomish 1 1 P a g e Recommendation on Structure of the Whatcom County Board of Health Pursuant to RCW 70.05.035, expand the Whatcom County Board of Health to include: • Other elected officials from jurisdictions within Whatcom County • Public health experts —professionals with specific training in promoting and improving the health of populations Expansion should follow the provisions of RCW 70.05.035 which specifies membership requirements. The Whatcom County Board of Health and County Council should establish a joint workgroup with the Board of Health and Public Health Advisory Board members to ensure the Public Health Advisory Board's duties under Whatcom County Code 24.01.051 continue. Based on the inputs listed above, the Working Group believes that enacting the recommendation through the addition of healthcare and population health professionals provides a broader array of knowledge and expertise to directly and more quickly inform decision -making of the Board of Health. It will bring a wider community perspective to the work of the Board through the addition of people with lived experiences, tribes, and cities, enabling direct communication and engagement with the community. The recommendation is reflective of the majority of the online community survey respondents' feedback (76 percent). In making this recommendation, the Working Group and PHAB urge the Board of Health and the Whatcom County Council to maintain the duties of PHAB as written in Whatcom County Code 24.01.051 as the Board is expanded. The codified duties of PHAB include the following: 1. Use a health equity framework to conduct, assess, and identify the community health needs of the jurisdiction, and review and recommend public health policies and priorities for the local health jurisdiction and advisory board to address community health needs; 2. Evaluate the impact of proposed public health policies and programs, and assure identified health needs and concerns are being met; 3. Promote public participation in and identification of local public health needs; 4. Provide community forums and hearings as assigned by the local board of health; 5. Establish community task forces as assigned by the local board of health; 6. Review and make recommendations to the local health jurisdiction and local board of health for an annual budget and fees; and 7. Review and advise on local health jurisdiction progress in achieving performance measures and outcomes to ensure continuous quality improvement and accountability. Notably, and subject to the County's legal analysis, these important PHAB functions are not explicitly reflected under RCW 70.05.35 under which an expanded board would be organized. While community perspective and input would be enhanced through an 2 1 P a g e expanded board, it is not definitively stated that these tasks would be undertaken or fulfilled by the expanded BoH. The Working Group and PHAB emphasize the value of this work to the Board of Health and Council. It calls on the County to expressly continue these duties, which would complement and further the work of the expanded Board of Health and Whatcom County as a whole. The Working Group thanks the County Council/Board of Health for the opportunity to serve Whatcom County through this important work. It was a collaborative and meaningful effort that resulted in a unanimous recommendation. We are grateful for the insights offered by community members and PHAB members. We look forward to engaging with members of the Whatcom County Council/Board of Health and PHAB on next steps associated with this recommendation. 3 1 P a g e Whatco County =,It- dim Health/Public Health Advisory Board Working Group Structure Recommendation Joint Meeting of Whatcom County Board of Health and the Public Health Advisory Board April 1, 2025 Presenters Councilmember Jon Scanlon Dr. Christine Espina, Vice Chair, Public Health Advisory Board Joni Hensley, BSN, RN Member Public Health Advisory Board Kelli Carroll, Chair, Public Health Advisory Board Today's Discussion Topics Grounding in Working Group charge Review changes to RCW for local boards of health ► Overview of Working Group process ➢ Learnings from other counties ➢ Sources informing recommendation development Rationale Et pros/cons ► Implications Et next steps Working Group Charge ► Analyze and recommend structure of the Health Board to the Health Board and County Council (October 29, 2024) ► Present recommendation to Health Board and the Council by the end of Q1 2025 (March) Recommendation on Structure of the Board of Health Pursuant to RCW 70.05.035, expand the Whatcom County Board of health to include: Other elected officials from jurisdictions within Whatcom County Public health experts - professionals with specific training in promoting and improving the health of populations Follow the requirements of RCW 70.05.03� which specifies membership requirements Expansion should follow the provisions of RCW 70.05.035 which specifies membership requirements. The Whatcom County Board of Health and County Council should establish a joint workgroup with the Board of Health and Public Health Advisory Board members to ensure the Public Health Advisory Board's duties under Whatcom County Code 24.01.051 continue. Recent LBOH changes Pre-2021; County Legislative Authority served as default LBOH, could pass ordinance to expand membership 2021; HB 1152 Passed, requiring local health jurisdictions to expand their local boards of health unless certain criteria met Added categories of membership including: (Slide from WSALPHO presentation, 11 /6/24) Implementing 1152... • 11 LBOHs met the criteria or were explicitly exempted from 1152 implementation • 1 Elected to move forward with expansion in 2021 (PHSKC) • 1 Required to expand after moving from district to county dept. (Snohomish) • 24 LBOHs required to expand by 2022 • 14 already had some form of expanded LBOH beyond BoCC • 10 had community members • 4 had city officials only As of 2024; all LBOH "'compliant" with 6 LBOHs with Bocc only (Slide from WSALPHO presentation, 11 /6/24) WA was the exception, now closer to norm Most local boards of health have at least one member who is a healthcare professional Percent of local hoards of health with at least one member with the following professional backgrounds Healthcare professionals Elected officials Public health training` `Prior to serving on the local board of health n=337-372 72 bl% NACCHO, 2015 Local Board of Health National Profile 10 (June 2016), https://www.naccho.org/uploads/downIoadable-resou roes/Local-Board-of-Health-Profile. pdf. (Slide from WSALPHO presentation, 11 /6/24) Workgroup Process Workgroup members representing Board of Health and PHAB met eight times between November 2024 and February 2025. Gathered and synthesized data including previous reports and statutes Conducted interviews with six county Boards of Health. Collected and reviewed high level input from digital community survey. Generated key observations. Shared and discussed initial draft recommendation with PHAB at 2.13 meeting along with individual discussions with some PHAB members. Determined draft final recommendation its 2.14 Working Group meeting informed by PHAB feedback. On 3.6, PHAB updated the language of the final recommendation and unanimously approved it as provided to the Council/BoH. Counties that Expanded their Boards of Health Quicker information access from subject matter experts "when it was only elected officials, we were missing people in the field of public health, people with knowledge of health systems. Now there's no delay in finding expertise - we get it in real time. Board member background is more diverse than previous model. We could benefit from a public health advisory board; we would benefit from having more health experts at the table." Diversity of board composition provides a broader perspective "Electeds hear a lot of things, and people in community hear different things. Ex. one [board] member has experience with homelessness and is Black; previously it was all white. Live [experience] is helpful. Tribes experience is helpful. Broader perspective than before." IF Interview Summaries: Counties with Expanded BoF Combining elected and non -elected officials on health boards helps reduce political pressure in decision -making. The blended structure brings more public health expertise to the board through both practitioners and consumers. It enables greater tribal representation in health department operations. An expanded board appears successful based on feedback from Local Health Jurisdiction interviewees. Whatcom County Context -Sources Informin Recommendation Development WSALPHO Presentation to Whatcom County Counci BoH structure - Nov 6, 2024 Committees and Commissions Survey F± Report National Academy Medicine Report WA State After Action Report - SBOH, 2023 BERK Consulting Report (After Pandemic Response, 2022) Action report for WC Recommendation on Structure of the Board of Health Pursuant to RCW 70.05.035, expand the Whatcom County Board of health to include: Other elected officials from jurisdictions within Whatcom County Public health experts - professionals with specific training in promoting and improving the health of populations Follow the requirements of RCW 70.05.03� which specifies membership requirements Expansion should follow the provisions of RCW 70.05.035 which specifies membership requirements. The Whatcom County Board of Health and County Council should establish a joint workgroup with the Board of Health and Public Health Advisory Board members to ensure the Public Health Advisory Board's duties under Whatcom County Code 24.01.051 continue. Local Board of Health Elected Officials Non -Elected Members City & Coufity Must equal N members N members Including Tribal Representatives Required: Category 1: Category 2: Two Tribal Representatives Health Professionals Public Health Consumers Selected by American Indian Health Commission Equal distribution if divisible b]r 3 Equal distribution if divisible by 3 Lummi Nation M Nooksack Tribe RepresentativeRepresentative Choose max 1 from: - Medical ethicist - Epidemiologist - Environmental health expert -- Community health worker - Masters in public health - Kospital employee Phy5ician/05te0path - Nurse practitioner Physician assistant - Registered nurse - Dentist - Naturopath Pharmacist Choose max I from: - County resident - faced b ealth inequities - Experience with health programs - No health industry ties - Not an elected official Category 3: Community Stakeholders Equal distribution if divisible by 3 Ch005e mac 1 fr6 .. y Community organizatior. - ArmEd services member. - Business community - Environmental health regulated community Rationale for Recommendation Reflective of the majority of the online community survey respondents' feedback (76.3% supporting expansion). Provides for a broader array of knowledge and expertise to directly inform decision making by including Healthcare and public health professionals; and Community perspective and lived experience, tribes, and cities. Enables more direct communication with the community. Expands the Board's capacity to implement decisions. Ensures the duties of PHAB continue. Pros and Cons of Maintaining Existing Structure (The BoH is the County Council) ➢ Electoral accountability ➢ A body that advises the Council on matters of health and public health (PHAB) Cons.M An ➢ Lack of health subject matter experts involved in decision - making ➢ Single legislative body holds decision -making power ➢ No representation of tribes or cities ➢ Role confusion: BoH member vs. County Councilmember Implications of a Changed Structure Pending legal review, it appears PHAB may no longer be required in its current form should the structure of the current board change to include non-electeds. Legal and policy review of the statute is necessary to determine how the duties of the advisory board specified in RCW 70.,qn.14C could continue. The County Council and Board of Health will need to determine timeline and process to implement recommendations. Whatcom County Code changes will be necessary to implement recommendations and revisions to the Health Board. IF Potential Next Steps The Council/ BoH to determine whether and when it will take up the recommendation. 2. Conducting the legal and policy review of the statute is necessary to determine how the duties of the advisory board specified in RCW iu.46.14U could continue. 3. Creation of a joint workgroup to explore and inform the continuation of PHAB's duties under expanded structure. In the meantime, PHAB will on its statutory obligations by the County. continue to meet and focus until formal changes are made