Other News
Apr 11, 2024: Community Meeting: Sea Level Rise Adaptation for Outer Bay and Agate Beach Areas on Lopez Island
Mar 11, 2024: Queers in Unexpected Places: Searching for (and Finding) Gender and Sexual Non-Conformity in the Rural and Early PNW
Mar 7, 2024: DRAFT Richardson Marsh Preserve Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
Dec 5, 2023: County Council Member Jane Fuller and Senator Liz Lovelett to Host Public Meeting on Lopez
Nov 3, 2023: County and Town Send Open Letter to State Officials Regarding Impacts of Poor Ferry Service
Sep 29, 2023: Conservation Land Bank Announces Special Meeting to Discuss Watmough Bay Preserve Addition
Sep 14, 2023: The mobile dental van is coming to Lopez! // ¡La camioneta dental móvil ya llega a López!
Aug 22, 2023: San Juan County Adopts 32-Hour Work Week in the Name of Fiscal Health, Recruitment, and Islander Wellness
May 25, 2023: Recap of Lopez Neighborhood Meeting Regarding the Relocation of Public Works Facilities
May 23, 2023: District 3 Councilmember Jane Fuller Opens Office on Lopez and Hosts Community Conversation
Apr 17, 2023: Give Lopez Starts April 17th - A two week fundraiser benefiting 15 Lopez Island Non-Profits
Sep 22, 2022: Interim Watmough Preserve Addition Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
LWVSJ Observer Corps Notes: Board Of Health Feb,
Feb 22, 2024
By League of Women Voters of the San Juans
San Juan County Board of Health February 21, 2024
LWVSJ Observer Corps*: Board of Health February 2024
The Board introduced new member Richard Geffen of the Friday Harbor Town Council. The current chair and vice chair Cindy Wolf and Christine Minney were re-elected for 2024.
Mark Tompkins said the Accountable Communities for Health (ACH), which is working on the next Medicaid waiver under which ACHs, will coordinate care and fund prevention activities in Washington state. Some prevention projects funded by the North Sound ACH will make presentations to the Board of Health in April or May. In March the superintendents of the three County hospital districts will present reports to the Board of Health.
In other committee reports, Cindy Wolf has replaced Jane Fuller as representative to the North Sound Behavioral Health Organization. Jane Fuller is the new Chair of the Northwest Regional Council, which will have its first Board meeting in April. Richard Jury is the County representative on the regional opioid abatement body that will distribute any funds from opioid settlements. Jury reported that state legislator Ramel said the state budget will include an additional $150 million this year for behavioral health.
Ellen Wilcox presented an overview of the results of the recently completed Community Health Assessment. San Juan County has the oldest population in the state and the least affordable housing. Most county residents think this is a good place to live. The top concerns affecting health identified by the community were mental health, housing, and access to care. Of the 5% of the County population that is Spanish speaking 36% have limited English and this community faces the greatest barriers to getting health care. Women of all ages are far more likely to live in poverty than men in the county. Binge drinking and smoking are serious and growing problems. Unreliable ferry transport has made accessing care harder. The full report can be accessed at: https://sanjuancountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/29397/2023-San-Juan-County-Community-Health-Assessment
The Human Services department reported its 2023 results. Senior Services provided information and assistance to over 1000 County residents and delivered 37,000 hot meals. Dementia is a growing issue needing support services. The Community Wellness Program funded mental health counseling for 246 residents. Seventy caregivers got support services and training. The County was able to provide over $100k in extra assistance to schools to address shocking levels of mental health needs among students. Fortunately, student mental health is beginning to improve. The County will be looking at ways to access more Medicaid money to serve underinsured residents.
*The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan organization encourages informed participation in government. The Observer Corps attends and takes notes at government meetings to expand public understanding of public policy and decisions. The notes do not necessarily reflect the views of the League or its members.
The Board introduced new member Richard Geffen of the Friday Harbor Town Council. The current chair and vice chair Cindy Wolf and Christine Minney were re-elected for 2024.
Mark Tompkins said the Accountable Communities for Health (ACH), which is working on the next Medicaid waiver under which ACHs, will coordinate care and fund prevention activities in Washington state. Some prevention projects funded by the North Sound ACH will make presentations to the Board of Health in April or May. In March the superintendents of the three County hospital districts will present reports to the Board of Health.
In other committee reports, Cindy Wolf has replaced Jane Fuller as representative to the North Sound Behavioral Health Organization. Jane Fuller is the new Chair of the Northwest Regional Council, which will have its first Board meeting in April. Richard Jury is the County representative on the regional opioid abatement body that will distribute any funds from opioid settlements. Jury reported that state legislator Ramel said the state budget will include an additional $150 million this year for behavioral health.
Ellen Wilcox presented an overview of the results of the recently completed Community Health Assessment. San Juan County has the oldest population in the state and the least affordable housing. Most county residents think this is a good place to live. The top concerns affecting health identified by the community were mental health, housing, and access to care. Of the 5% of the County population that is Spanish speaking 36% have limited English and this community faces the greatest barriers to getting health care. Women of all ages are far more likely to live in poverty than men in the county. Binge drinking and smoking are serious and growing problems. Unreliable ferry transport has made accessing care harder. The full report can be accessed at: https://sanjuancountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/29397/2023-San-Juan-County-Community-Health-Assessment
The Human Services department reported its 2023 results. Senior Services provided information and assistance to over 1000 County residents and delivered 37,000 hot meals. Dementia is a growing issue needing support services. The Community Wellness Program funded mental health counseling for 246 residents. Seventy caregivers got support services and training. The County was able to provide over $100k in extra assistance to schools to address shocking levels of mental health needs among students. Fortunately, student mental health is beginning to improve. The County will be looking at ways to access more Medicaid money to serve underinsured residents.
*The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan organization encourages informed participation in government. The Observer Corps attends and takes notes at government meetings to expand public understanding of public policy and decisions. The notes do not necessarily reflect the views of the League or its members.