Snohomish County is seeking interested community members to serve on its new Board of Health.
The Board of Health’s role will be to develop, adopt and review statewide policy on public health issues such as opioids, immunizations and climate change. The board evaluates annual budget proposals, recommends new programs, and reviews health department activities. The Board meets monthly and members will be assigned to various subcommittees and ad hoc task groups.
The new board will begin serving in January 2023, when the Snohomish County Health Department begins. The current Snohomish Health District is being integrated with the county and will become the new department, and the existing 15-person Board of Health must be replaced with a new board that adheres to current state requirements. All local health jurisdictions, whether districts or departments, are required by law to have a Board of Health.
The nine-member county group will be set up to meet state requirements for public health boards. It shall include two members of the county council, one elected official from a large or medium-sized city, one elected official from a small city or town, one tribal representative appointed by the American Indian Health Commission, one representative of the health care facility, one health care provider, and two other community members who are residents of Snohomish County, at least one of whom uses health services in the county.
Applications to serve on the board are now being accepted. You can apply here. The county will continue to accept applications until all positions are filled. However, it will give the highest priority to those applications received by Friday, December 2, 2022.
“The new Board of Health needs dedicated community members to help lead Snohomish County’s public health efforts,” said Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers. “The strategic insights provided by the board are critical to saving lives and maintaining the health of our residents.”
“The Board of Health plays a crucial role in local public health services,” said health official Dr. James Lewis. “This is an ideal space for someone who is passionate about the health and wellness of their community, and we want to have their voices on board as we continue to look at how we can best serve all people in Snohomish County. This will be particularly important during the upcoming change from the Health District to the Department of Health and as we build public health capacity in the years ahead.”
To apply, visit www.snohomishcountywa.gov/6209/Board-of-Health.
