[DOH Community Collaborative News] Be a Voice for Change!

Washington State Department of Health sent this bulletin at 08/15/2024 10:00 AM PDT

Our bi-weekly newsletter recaps our August 7 meeting and shares important news. In this edition:

Community Collaborative
Funding Opportunities
Contribute Your Wisdom
In Case You Missed It

Community Collaborative

On August 7 we enjoyed an inspiring presentation and panel discussion from Momentum and partners working to Elevate Black Wellness, discussed the Voice for Change policy training for community partners at WSPHA and more. Review the meeting notes here. Mark your calendar for our next meeting on September 11 at 3:30pm. More information to come about gathering in person following a policy training October 8 at the Washington State Public Health Association meeting (details below.)

Join the Voice for Change training! DOH is partnering with Washington State Public Health Association and community leaders on a training Tuesday, October 8 alongside the annual conference. The training is designed for representatives from organizations involved in advocating for health-related issues within their communities OR professionals who seek to better understand the legislative process and engage with policymakers to improve public health outcomes. Financial support is available to participate. If you are interested in applying, please complete the online interest form by August 31.

Recruiting through August 31! Thought Partners are community leaders who advise the Department of Health to reduce health inequities and improve health outcomes, acting as trusted messengers and bridges for the Community Collaborative and all communities facing systemic racism and oppression. We are seeking four new Thought Partners to balance the geographical representation of our current group. Interested community partners from Central and Eastern Washington are encouraged to apply by August 31. Thought Partners will serve a term through at least May 2025 and will be compensated.

View the position description and fill in the interest form by August 31.

COVID Insights! Community-based organizations were fundamental to the COVID response in our state and are just as important to ongoing recovery. The collection of Voices from the Frontlines of COVID, available in 22 languages, amplifies the voices of community-based pandemic first responders, and offers crucial insights for advancing health equity in Washington. COVID Insights (PDF) provides policy, institutional and community recommendations to support continued recovery from the pandemic. A Chorus of COVID Chapbook (PDF) offers a space for reflection through poetry and journaling, honoring the personal experiences of this unprecedented time.

Voices from the Frontlines: A Chorus of COVID

Collaborative Connections! We are reaching out to community members throughout the state to learn more about you and your interests. Please be on the lookout for an email from
Community.Collaborative@doh.wa.gov so we can create a space that meets your needs and the needs of the community(ies) you serve.

Funding Opportunities

Washington Health Benefit Exchange: Open enrollment for health and dental insurance will start again soon. WHBE is offering up to $20,000 to Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) to assist with outreach to undocumented populations across Washington state leading up to and during open enrollment (Nov 1, 2024 – Jan 1, 2025). Learn more.

Complete the application by September 6, 2024.

SAMHSA Community Based Maternal Mental Health Care Coordination: Recipients will be expected to collaborate with pregnancy and postpartum healthcare organizations, refer individuals in need of behavioral health care to the appropriate entities, and provide short-term mental health and substance use services to individuals who cannot access care.

Learn more and apply by September 9, 2024.

King County Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy: VSHSL seeks to fund Senior Health Promotion Programs that make improvements in the health and well-being of King County Seniors.

Learn more and apply by September 9, 2024.

Contribute Your Wisdom

Transportation During Emergency Events: On September 6, 2024, the Regional Alliance for Resilient and Equitable Transportation (RARET) and Emergency Transportation Provider Network (ETPN) are hosting a Tabletop Exercise for transportation problem solving during emergency events. Areas of focus are King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties but partners from any region are welcome to join.

Please register before end of day on August 23rd.

Submit feedback for the State Suicide Prevention Plan: The first draft of the 2024 State Suicide Prevention Plan is available for public comment. Please read and share it. You can also provide feedback here.

In Case You Missed it

NHPI Report: PICA-WA, with UTOPIA and community partners released the Washington State Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Community Data Report 2019-2024.

Women’s Health Report: Commonwealth Fund issued a Scorecard on Women's Health and Reproductive Care. See how Washington State is faring.

Family Leave: Washington State is celebrating 5 years of its Paid Family and Medical Leave program. Read more about the milestone and how to access this program.

Be Well WA Launches! Be Well WA is a new initiative promoting wellness and health equity for all people in Washington state. Visit the Be Well WA web site (Viva Bien WA in Spanish) for wellness activities, inclusive and budget-friendly tips, and more information related to the four BWW pillars of Health: Social connection, Emotional wellbeing, Nourishment, and Movement.

NOTE: We are working to find balance in the benefits and costs associated with translation. If you would like to share this or 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

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