The Island County Board of Health convened at 11:15 a.m. on March 9, 1998, in the Island County Courthouse Annex, Coupeville, Wa., beginning at 11:15 a.m. Board of Health members present included: Wm. L. McDowell, Chairman; Tom Shaughnessy, Member and Mike Shelton, Member. Others Present: Tim McDonald, Health Services Director; Roger Case, M.D., Health Officer; Jan Dahl, Assessment Coordinator; Dr. Herb McDonald, representing the CHAB Representative(Community Health Advisory Board); and Tony Marthaller, Public Health Nurse..

By unanimous motion the Board appointed Michael Unruh, Coupeville, to fill a current vacancy in Position #2 on CHAB, with a term to March 8, 2001, and Ken Harrison, Oak Harbor, to fill a current vacancy in Position #20 with a term running until March 8, 2000.

Dr. Herb McDonald reported youth as the priority focus for CHAB this year and at the March 3 meeting CHAB moved into its youth program with vigor involving 40 school youth in the meeting, most from middle and high schools, from South, Central and North Whidbey, with adult representatives from Camano Island. The group broke into geographical areas; the kids talked and CHAB members listened. Kids were surveyed individually and asked three questions:

In general, Dr. McDonald reported that the kids had a very positive attitude towards their community and generally feel that in most instances their parents and communities were behind them. The data received is being reviewed and will come up with positive recommendations along with other information to support the County’s youth. CHAB discovered a lot of programs but the right kids just do not know about or how to access the program, and communication needs to be improved between the programs and the kids. CHAB hopes to expand the dialog with the youth. working up to a May 9^th summit which the Board of Health will be invited to, involving CHAB, youth, parents and other organizations. As far as any one or two things that really stood out from the responses of youth surveyed, Dr. McDonald heard they are bored sometimes and wish there were gathering places where they could be kids and still be monitored, and they felt that things such as cigarette smoking and drugs sometimes were just something kids do more out of boredom than out of interest in those vices. Interests expressed had to do with sports and other activities.

Ms. Marthaller facilitated the Oak Harbor group at the CHAB meeting and two things most interesting to her were that the youth identified the Navy as a resource for them because it brought diversity into the community and identified beauty and recreational areas as well as organized youth activities as assets for them.

Tony Marthaller reported from a CHAT retreat held on February 20^th, for four hours, with 40 community members broken down into four top theme areas: safety;

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supporting youth; healthy rural environment; and health care. Each group identified community imperatives as follows:

1. preserve the rural environment by identified and preserving critical natural, cultural and historical resources
2. promote responsible environmental citizenship
3. protect and preserve water resources

1. establish a voice for youth
2. establish caring and committed relationships between adults and youth
3. establish an accessible community center.

1. disaster plan specifically for Camano Island be established, starting at an overall level and down to a family level
2. road and pedestrian safety
3. home safety inspections

4. concern and desire for more active involvement with the Sheriff’s Department

1. comprehensive Camano Island health center
2. central and very comprehensive information referral system
3. adequately trained health care providers

She will be reviewing the notes from the retreat and put them into summary format to be provided to the Board. At the next CHAT meeting, they will begin looking at what the priorities are, with the goal to create and then begin to implement a community plan.

Meeting adjourned at 11:35 a.m. The next regular meeting

is scheduled for April 13, 1998, at 11:15 a.m.

BOARD OF HEALTH

ISLAND COUNTY, WASHINGTON

Wm. L. McDowell, Chairman

Tom Shaughnessy, Member

Mike Shelton, Member

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