[DOH Community Collaborative] Legislative Updates, Community Input Opportunities and More!

Meeting Summary

During the May 15th Community Collaborative meeting, Thought Partners shared highlights from the recent retreat, Afghan Health Initiative shared their work on House Bill 1551 to reduce lead in cookware  and we learned more about DOH’s legislative process and potential requests for 2025.

Additionally, we heard from the Washington State Public Health Association about their desire to integrate community organization perspectives into their October conference in Yakima. Abstracts are due May 30 and WSPHA staff are ready to help with applications!  The meeting slides are here, please look for an upcoming poll for our next Community Collaborative meeting on June 26.

Thought Partners gathered in a 2-day retreat to discuss the future Community Collaborative, alongside DOH Staff and leadership.

Grant Announcements

Morgan Stanley Alliance for Children’s Mental Health will provide five awards of $100,000 each. The program seeks new or piloted projects from direct service organizations that help address the far-reaching challenges of stress, anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues in children and young adults in the U.S.

Register for a briefing session on June 6th, 2024 and submit proposals by July 8th, 2024.

Legislative Updates and Rulemaking

Behavioral Health Workforce - WA DOH is working to increase the behavioral health workforce by reducing licensing barriers and streamlining the credentialing process.  Learn more or join upcoming workshops. 

Birth Doulas - DOH is considering amendments on the definition of “culturally congruent care” and to clarify competencies for doula certification. ​ See details and share feedback on amendments for Culturally Congruent Care by June 17^th.  

Private Detention Facilities - Rules will set operational, health, and safety standards to ensure those in private detention facilities have sanitary, hygienic, and safe living conditions as required by HB 1470. Informal comments will be available through July, learn more about next steps in the process.

Community Input Wanted

This survey seeks to improve the flow of federal and state funds to CBOs serving underserved, racial and ethnic communities.  Responses contribute to a federal Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) report which will be publicly available on the SAMHSA Center for Financing Reform and Innovation website.

Asia Pacific Cultural Center is conducting a survey about childcare support needs and providers to identify who needs assistance and may be integrated into FFN (Family, Friend, Neighbor) providers.   

Washington WIC provides over $81M in nutritious food and many other services to nearly 200,000 women and children annually.  DOH is seeking public input on WIC services by June 15^th.

In Case You Missed it

The SUN Bucks Program provides $120 in food benefits for eligible children, including eligible for existing nutritional subsidies. Learn more or sign up for text updates!

It’s the season for Farmers Markets!  Learn more about SNAP Market Match can stretch access to fresh local produce at more than 100 Farmers Markets.  

SNAP Produce Match continues to add new grocery stores including new retailers in Skamania, Bremerton and Everett  

The Foundational Public Health Services Investment Report for Fiscal Year 2023 shares progress that local public health, the State Board of Health, and WA DOH have made in Foundational Public Health Services delivery and describe where this work is heading in 2024. The American Indian Health Commission (AIHC) is one of our vital system partners and you can read their report here. 

DOH’s COVID-19 Vaccine Planning and Response Team has created a Pop-Up Vaccination Clinic Guide to support local health jurisdictions, community organizations, and other immunization providers interested in holding vaccination clinics in their communities.  

Community Events

Register to join a free webinar on Catalytic Thinking by Vu Le and Hildy Gottlieb on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at 10 a.m. PT. Vu and Hildy will introduce a framework that will shift your thinking from reacting incrementally to what's wrong in our communities, to creating what is possible.

NOTE:  We are working to find balance in the benefits and costs associated with translation. If you would like to share any part of this newsletter in another language, please email Community.Collaborative@doh.wa.gov and we will work with you to translate into the language(s) needed.

Estamos trabajando para encontrar un equilibrio entre los beneficios y costos asociados con la traducción. Si desea compartir esto o alguna parte de estos materiales en Español, por favor envíe un correo electrónico a Community.Collaborative@doh.wa.gov y trabajaremos con juntos con usted para traducir.

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Updates/Information

What is the Community Collaborative? |  WaPortal.org

Website

Community Collaborative | Washington State Department of Health