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HomeMy WebLinkAbout15-0319-26R - BOHSTATE OF WASHINGON COUNTY OF JEFFERSON BOARD OF HEALTH RESOLUTION OF THE JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH RESOLUTION NO. 15-0319-26R REGARDING FOUNDATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES FUNDING WHEREAS, a responsive and viable governmental public health system is essential for healthy and economically vital communities across Washington; and WHEREAS, protecting the public's health across the state is a fundamental responsibility of the state, which is accomplished through the state's governmental public health system. This system comprises the state department of health, the state board of health, local health jurisdictions, sovereign tribal nations, and Indian health programs; and WHEREAS, Foundational Public Health Services (FPHS) are core services that the governmental public health system is responsible for providing consistently and uniformly in every community in Washington; and WHEREAS, like public safety, public utilities, and other public infrastructure, there is a foundational level of public health services that must exist everywhere for services to work anywhere; and WHEREAS, the governmental public health system in Washington provides the foundation for the larger health care framework, working to prevent illness and disease while supporting the work of community partners; and WHEREAS, tracking, responding to, and preventing costly food and water contamination and disease outbreaks is essential to protecting the public's health; and WHEREAS, in 2019, the Legislature passed HB 1947, which codified the governmental public health system, the Foundational Public Health Services framework, and support to rebuild and transform public health in Washington State; and WHEREAS, the Legislature has established the Foundational Public Health Services Account, and invested $300 million in the 2026-2027 biennium to the governmental public health system to implement Foundational Public Health Services; and WHEREAS, Jefferson County Public Health's FPHS funding covers programming areas including: Assessment Reinforcing Capacity, CHA/CHIP, LifeCourse, Communicable Disease: Immunizations Outreach, Education and Response, Environmental Public Health Policy & Leadership Capacity, Strengthening Local Finance Capacity, Public Health Communications, 1 of 4 Illicit Substance Use & Overdose Response, Emergency Preparedness & Response, Social Work Support, Safe & Healthy Communities (core team), Climate Change Response, and System -Wide Data Management Improvement (core team).; and WHEREAS, Jefferson County Public Health utilizes FPHS funding to support communicable disease prevention and response activities, including disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, vaccination outreach, and coordination with healthcare providers, ensuring timely protection of residents in a geographically rural county with limited healthcare access; and WHEREAS, FPHS funding strengthens Jefferson County's ability to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies —including infectious disease outbreaks, extreme weather events, and other disasters —by supporting trained public health staff, coordination with emergency management partners, and maintenance of essential public health infrastructure; and WHEREAS, FPHS funding enables Jefferson County Public Health to address the opioid crisis through harm -reduction programs including naloxone education and distribution, mobile outreach to people actively using drugs, and field -based health services such as wound care and point -of -care testing, helping to prevent overdose deaths and reduce the spread of infectious disease in the community; and WHEREAS, Jefferson County Public Health has launched an innovative solid waste diversion and compliance assistance program that pairs Environmental Health code compliance staff with a social worker to help residents facing behavioral health challenges, including hoarding disorder, safely address solid waste accumulation and property conditions that pose public health risks, while connecting individuals to supportive services and breaking cycles of repeated violations and fines, creating a promising model for other counties addressing similar environmental health challenges; and WHEREAS, without maintaining ongoing, stable, and dedicated funding for core public health services, our communities are left unprepared for emergencies like hazardous air from wildfires, vulnerable to the spread of communicable diseases like measles, and unprotected from health threats such as contaminated drinking water; and WHEREAS, the Governor has proposed a reduction of $29 million in the 2026 Supplemental Budget; and WHEREAS, supporting core public health services today is critical to keeping communities healthy, strong, and resilient to threats and emergencies for future generations; NOW, THEREFORE, THE BOARD OF HEALTH OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, WASHINGTON, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Whereas Clauses are Findings of Fact. The Jefferson County Board of Health hereby adopts the above "Whereas" clauses as Findings of Fact. Section 2. Purpose. The purpose of this resolution is to encourage the Washington State Legislature to encourage greater financial support for Foundational Public Health Services. 2 of 4 Section 3. Call upon the Washington State Legislature. The Jefferson County Board of Health calls on the Washington State Legislature to recognize that public health is essential, to maintain Foundational Public Health Services funding and to fix vapor tax errors that support the Foundational Public Health Services Account, to support core services in all communities, and allow public health to continue to rebuild its statewide system with added efficiency. Section 4. SEPA Categorical Exemption. This Resolution is categorically exempt from the State Environmental Policy Act under WAC 197-11-800 (19). Section 5. Effective Date. This Resolution shall take effect and be in full force immediately upon passage by the Board of Health. (SIGNATURES FOLLOW ON THE NEXT PAGE) 3 of 4 APPROVED and ADOPTED this _(f2' day of 4teaCA4, 2026 ATT T--; Glenn Gilbert, Date Clerk of the Board JEFFERSON COUNTY OF HE XII Monica MickHager, Chair "` City oI rse d Amanda Grace, ice Chair Other Community Stakeholder Approved Telephonically Greg Brotherton, Member JeffeR'15udley-Nolette, ounty Commissioner District 3 Member Jefferson County Commissioner District 1 Celeste Dybeck, Member Representative Heidi Eisenhour, Member Jefferson County Commissioner District 2 Approved Telephonically Dr. Kees Kolff, Member Public Hospital District Commissioner Approved Telephonically Gabrielle Vanwert, Member Consumer of Public Health APPRO FD AS TO FORM: 0. C. 24, 2024 Philip C. Hunsucker, Date Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney 4 of 4