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Recommendation to  Initiate an Island County Children's Commission

July 17 2006      

   INTRODUCTION

The Island County Community Health Advisory Board (CHAB) serves in an advisory role to the Island County Board of Health.  They were established by Island County Code in 1992 to assess and prioritize the  health needs of Island County residents; develop policies, procedures, and plans to address health issues; and assist in assuring the identified needs identified are met for  Island County residents.  CHAB is composed of 21 adult and 8 student members. They are appointed by the Board of Health to represent all regions and systems of Island County.  As part of their advisory role, they also listen to and represent the public’s health concerns, research community-based best practices, influence decisions and recommend health policy, facilitate new health partnerships or new health-focused initiatives, educate the public and other community agencies about health concerns, and recommend health improvement projects & programs to the Island County Health Department.

BACKGROUND

In 2003, CHAB initiated a new community health assessment process that began with investigation of a wide range of health data pertinent to Island County residents.  Numerous health issues were discussed and a prioritization process was used to develop a list of the top 3-4 health issues in Island County.  The top health priority to emerge was the need for Early Childhood Education/Support and Parent Education.  Over one third (35%) of Island County households have children under age 18 (U.S. Census, 2000).  A special report addressing the issue was published and distributed throughout the county and a Health Action Team was formed to explore the issue and research community-based practices that might address the issue.  Since that time, many more early childhood education options exist in Island County, however, other issues specific to Island County children and youth continue to arise.  CHAB believes it to be very important to have an Advisory Board focused solely on children’s issues. 

On February 24, 2006, the CHAB Children’s Commission Work Group called together over 50 children and youth serving agencies to share current data on Island County children and youth, discuss services that have gone away and gaps in the child/youth/family services in Island County, celebrate new services, and seek input from agencies on their perceptions on the status of children and youth in Island County.  At that meeting, the CHAB Children’s Commission Work Group shared their findings on the benefits of county-based Children’s Commissions and inquired whether other agencies would support the concept of an Island County Children’s Commission.  There was much support for the concept.  Since then a Case Statement has been developed and numerous Island County agencies and organizations have “signed on” in support of CHAB’s recommendation to start a Children’s Commission in Island County.  The Case Statement, which explains the purpose and activities of a Children’s Commission, is attached and provides more detail on the role for a county-based Children’s Commission and the activities they might undertake.

 CHAB RECOMMENDATION TO ISLAND COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH

Recommendation:  The Island County Board of Health should initiate an Island County Children’s Commission whose mission is to provide oversight and action on behalf of Island County’s children and youth. 

Recommended Actions:

1. Through county ordinance, establish an Island County Children’s Commission in 2007.
2. Initially we recommend the commission be staffed through the Island County Health Department through the creation of a new position to be paid out of the General Fund starting in 2007.  Ideally we would recommend the commission be staffed by a 1.0 FTE but believe a .5 FTE would be adequate for initially staffing such a commission.
3. Recruit Children’s Commission members from the whole of Island County, following a system of member recruitment similar to those used by CHAB and EHAT.
4. Starting in the spring of 2007, begin to hold monthly meetings of an Island County Children’s Commission.

ADDENDUM: 

ISLAND COUNTY CHILDREN'S COMMISSION OFFICIALLY ESTABLISHED ON 
17 SEPTEMBER 2007 BY THE ISLAND COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.

 MEMBERS OF THE CHAB-CHILDREN’S COMMISSION WORK GROUP

updated 04 April 2008
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