ISLAND COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH - JANUARY 11, 1999
MINUTES OF MEETING
The Island County Board of Health convened in Regular Session at 11:15 a.m., on January 11, 1999, in the Island County Courthouse Annex, Coupeville, Wa. Board of Health Members present included Mike Shelton, Chairman; and Wm. F. Thorn, Member; Wm. L. McDowell, Member, was absent. Also present were: Roger Case, M.D., Tim McDonald, Health Services Director; Keith Higman, Environmental Health Director; Jan Dahl, Assessment Coordinator; and Marshall Bronson, CHAB; and Peggy Tennant, representing the Island County/Stanwood Community Public Health & Safety Network.
CHAB REPORT
On behalf of the Community Health Advisory Board (CHAB), Marshall Bronson summarized some of the key CHAB accomplishments in 1998, including:
In January, formed coalition with the community network and the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Advisory Board, with the basic focus "supporting youth";
Youth Summit held in May, with some 121 attendees, from which 14 community imperatives were developed to be in place in the community to support youth, and 11 community groups are currently working on these imperatives
Ground-breaking took place for the Camano Health Care Center, and an imperative developed for putting together a resource directory and arrange for a VISTA volunteer receptionist
CHAB/CHAT joint retreat held in October, with a decision made to study a recommended
expanded Board of Health, to be put together in a reasonable format and presented to the Board of Health at a future time; and a plan for the replication of CHAT in other areas of the county
In March 60 youth helped to identify community assets and CHAB voted to revise by-laws to add youth members [5 members now; hope to have 8 altogether on the CHAB; 2 of the 8 represent Camano]
A speech "Citizen Participation in Public Health was given by Dr. Herb McDonald – CHAB would like that to be presented to the Board of Health next month
Developed a plan to revitalize new member orientation
Dr. Case has been continually updating the CHAB Web page; there is also a CHAT Web page
Medically Underserved Areas – 8 CHAB members wrote individual letters, in addition to letter from the Board of Health, Hospital Board, Hospital Administration, Representative Dave Anderson; and Representative Metcalf’s Office is tracking the issue.
Mr. McDonald advised that the Bureau of Primary Care was studying responses, some 800 letters regarding MUA’s, and believed it would take some time to come up with a work plan to integrate those responses appropriately. Representative Metcalf’s Office will stay on task to make sure that Island County’s interests are represented, and Senator Patty Murray’s Office is also interested in this issue and has arranged to meet in the near future with Mary Margaret Haugen and Island County Health Department staff to discuss the issue.
Commissioner Thorn requested a commitment for some interim status reports on that issue.
With respect to an update regarding the three task groups that had been formed by CHAB,
communications, vision and expanded Board of Health, Mr. Bronson indicated those three task forces were developed in November, designed to start working in January. Jan Dahl added that the plan for the task forces was to meet in January, with a report in May to be shared at the June meeting.
Peggy Tennant, discussed some issues of the Central Whidbey imperative group. The group, in late July early August 1998, looked at the first imperative "intergenerational community center" and discussed whether it was a building or a program with consensus it is programming and not a building. The imperative was re-worked to be: "We must have intergenerational community activities in Central Whidbey". Toward that end, a preliminary job description was prepared for an individual who would do the organizing, etc., preliminary budget and started a fund-raising plan for solicitation of community agencies for a 3-year pledge. The group is negotiating with the Central Whidbey Youth Coalition to serve as the umbrella 501C-3 organization to house the employee. The group will meet again the end of this month. The group, in partnership with the Island County – Stanwood Community Public Health and Safety Network, Coupeville Farmer’s Market; Coupeville High School National Honor Society, Big Brothers-Big Sisters, and with grant funding from Washington Coalition for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, put on Children’s Day in Central Whidbey on October 10th, that reached over 300 children. They are in the process of looking into a Youth Performers Showcase late Spring.
Commissioner Thorn observed the one very central theme from the four areas: need for community programs or facility, or both, and suggested where there is a parallel in imperatives it might be useful for those four imperative groups to get together all focused on a single issue.
He suggested too the possibility of considering a VISTA volunteer to do the work being considered.
Ms. Tennant confirmed that in fact that occurred on a regular basis, noting everyone agreed, the
more minds to an issue the better. Toni Marthaller attends those meetings representing CHAT.
The involvement of all Camano process people is very important and that continues to be worked out. The group also thought about the use of VISTA volunteers, or Americorps; it is all in process at this time. Key to the Central Whidbey group is that the individual know the community.
Chairman Shelton saw as a huge step forward the group’s recognition that a community center is not necessarily a "building".
Meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m. The next regular meeting is scheduled for February 8, 1999, at 11:15 a.m.
BOARD OF HEALTH
ISLAND COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Mike Shelton, Chairman
Wm. L. McDowell, Member
Wm. F. Thorn, Member