HomeMy WebLinkAboutHealth Board-PHAB Jun 2 2026Whatcom County
Council as the Health Board
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360)778-5010
Minutes - Final
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
11 AM
Hybrid Meeting - Council Chambers
JOINT HEALTH BOARD/PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY BOARD MEETING -
HYBRID MEETING - ADJOURNS BY 12:00 P.M. (PARTICIPATE IN -PERSON, SEE
REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil, OR
CALL 360.778.5010)
COUNCILMEMBERS
Elizabeth Boyle
Barry Buchanan
Ben Elenbaas
Kaylee Galloway
Jessica Rienstra
Jon Scanlon
Mark Stremler
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Cathy Halka, AICP, CMC
Council as the llealth Board Minutes - Final June 2, 2026
Call To Order
Health Board Chair Jon Scanlon called the meeting to order at 11:01 a.m. in
a hybrid meeting.
Roll Call - Health Board
Present: 5 - Elizabeth Boyle, Barry Buchanan, Ben Elenbaas, Jessica Rienstra, and Jon
Scanlon
Absent: 2 - Kaylee Galloway, and Mark Stremler
Roll Call - PHAB
PHAB Members Present: Alan Lifson, Joni Hensley, Carl Isom -McDaniel, Mike Cohen, Michelle Gillig, Sterling
Chick, Deb Shawver, Robyn Phillips-Madson, Rachel McGarrity, Markis Dee Stidham, Amelia Vader, Ashley
Thomasson, Guy Occhiogrosso, Chris Kobdish, Kendra Cristelli, Jon Scanlon, Amy Harley, and Meg Lelonek
Announcements
Public Comment
The following people spoke:
• Ryan Bowman
• Natalie Chavez
Hearing no one else, Scanlon closed public comment.
Special Presentation
AB2026-411 Update from the Health Officers
Amy Harley, Health Officer, stated that Meg Lelonek's last day is June
12th.
Meg Lelonek, Health Officer, introduced a presentation on the 2025
Healthy Youth Survey. She stated that the Healthy Youth Survey is a
statewide survey of about 200,000 kids every two years in grades 6, 8, 10,
and 12. Survey results help schools identify areas of need by indicating
changes in behavior over time; it also provides useful data to state agencies,
county prevention coordinators, community coalitions, and others. Lelonek
stated that youth prevention efforts are focused on upstream solutions,
which try to prevent first use of illicit drugs or alcohol. She said that one of
the things doctors and hospitals have been seeing recently are substance use
related disease and disease related to alcohol induced liver injury. She
stated that prevention saves money over time. Lelonek stated that the survey
Whetcom County Page I Printed on 6/29/2026
Council as the Ilealth Board Minutes - Final .lime 2, 2026
results show that youth are using fewer illegal drugs, smoking less, and
drinking less alcohol. They are also reporting feeling less anxious and
depressed, all of which are encouraging signs.
Joe Fuller, Whatcom County Health and Community Services (WCHCS),
provided an overview of the survey data, which has been administered since
2002. He said that 4,565 students in Whatcom County participated across
seven school districts. Survey topic areas include mental health, social
media and screen time, fitness, nutrition, and more. Fuller stated that the
survey used to be administered in even years but was switched to an online
format during the pandemic and is now administered in odd -numbered
years.
Fuller proceeded to share data from the study and discuss study findings
with Health Board and PHAB members.
This agenda item was PRESENTED AND DISCUSSED.
2. AB2026-412 Update from the Public Health Advisory Board Chair
Joni Hensley, PHAB, stated that PHAB had an amazing retreat recently. She
shared that the monthly meetings have changed, and the next meeting will be
on July 9.
This agenda item was PRESENTED.
Other Business
Adjournment
There was no other business.
The meeting adjourned at 12:04 p.m.
The County Council approved these minutes on June 23, 2026.
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