Welcome to Skagit County

July 13, 2020

Skagit County Board of Commissioners seeks applicants for County Board of Health

The Skagit County Board of Commissioners is seeking applicants for potential members of the Skagit County Board of Health.  The Board of Health enacts local rules and regulations in order to preserve, promote and improve the public health pursuant to Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 70.05.060.  Given the increasingly complex public health issues facing Skagit County and the County’s commitment to creating solutions that improve the overall health of the community, the Skagit County Commissioners passed an ordinance to adopt Skagit County Code Chapter 12.01. Chapter 12.01 expands the Board of Health, adding two additional at-large members with expertise in health care and/or public health.

The Board of Commissioners strives to ensure the Board of Health is balanced by representing a range of perspectives and expertise.  This broader expertise will enable the Board to further identify and advance effective public health policies and strategies to foster a healthier Skagit.   

About the Board of Health

The Skagit County Board of Health, under advisement from Skagit County Public Health and the Population Health Trust Advisory Committee, continuously advances a countywide Health in All Policy approach to improve the health for all Skagitonians. Health solutions often are best identified and implemented at the local level. Therefore, the Board of Health adopts policies that create strategies and initiatives designed to address health concerns specific to Skagit County.  Broader representation will enable the Board of Health to successfully ameliorate far-reaching health issues locally.

The Board of Health partners with the Public Health Department and advises the department on proposed plans, policies and regulations. The Skagit County Board of Health holds supervision over all matters pertaining to the preservation of the life and health of the people within its jurisdiction and:

(1)    Enforces through the Public Health Officer or designee the public health statutes of the state and rules promulgated by the State Board of Health and the Secretary of Health;
(2)    Enacts rules and regulations as are necessary to preserve, promote and improve the public health and provides for the enforcement thereof;
(3)    Provides for the control and prevention of any dangerous, contagious or infectious disease within Skagit County;
(4)    Oversees the protection of the environment from damage and pollution;
(5)    Assures environmental health and sanitary measures for the protection of the public;
(6)    Focuses area efforts on a wide range of issues impacting the public’s health including:

a.       Child and family health
b.       Affordable housing and homelessness
c.       Behavioral health
d.       Developmental disabilities
e.       Prevention initiatives
f.        Senior services;

(7)    Advances strategies and programming that address social determinants of health.

Qualifications

At this time, the Skagit County Board of Commissioners is seeking one at-large Board member following application and review of qualifications.  The term of office for at-large members shall be for three years.  An at-large member should:
(a) Have at least ten years of clinical, medical or public health experience; or
(b) Have at least two years of experience as a current or former member of the Population Health Trust; and
(c) Have knowledge of public health practices from work in public health or the healthcare delivery system.

How to Apply

To apply, please prepare a letter of interest with the following information:

• Name, physical address, phone number, email address;
  
• Personal statement, including any applicable expertise and experience;
  
• Disclosure of membership in, or affiliation with, any relevant interest groups.

Send your application no later than Friday, August 14, 2020 at 4:30 pm to the Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners at commissioners@co.skagit.wa.us or 1800 Continental Place, Suite 100, Mount Vernon WA 98273. If you have questions, please email commissioners@co.skagit.wa.us or call 360-336-9300 416-1300. The Board of County Commissioners expects to make appointments in April after application review and interviews.