HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter of Support School Based Health Center (SBBHC) - 052824 of CoNMNissj Board of County Commissioners
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.181/ING S Kate Dean,District 1 Heidi Eisenhour,District 2 Greg Brotherton,District 3
May 28, 2024
To: SBHC Grant Application Review Committee
From: Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners
RE: Jefferson County Public Health's SBHC application
Dear SBHC Grant Application Review Committee:
The Jefferson County Board of County Commissioner's (BOCC) writes to you in full support of the
Jefferson County Public Health's proposal to the Department of Health for School Based Health
Center(SBHC) operational funds.
These funds will be used to continue services provided in our SBHCs at a time when demand is
high,particularly for behavioral health services.
Increased funding will help our SBHCs better serve populations historically underserved. Jefferson
County is a rural community with high rates of poverty and limited access to health care. These
funds will support our SBHC goal of reaching students at increased risk of poor outcomes due to
lack of access to care, including: ESL students, homeless students, students in foster care, students
with exceptional education needs, BIPOC and LGBTQ+youth.
Jefferson County's SBHC staff work closely with community partners to inform their service
model. A few examples include:
• The County Commissioners participate in three Prevention Coalitions in the County where
SBHCs interact with healthcare and behavioral health providers as well as law enforcement,
school staff, and community members.
• Our SBHCs have an advisory committee with many of the same partners above to ensure
that community efforts are coordinated.
• Our Community Health Assessment and resulting Community Health Improvement Plan
(CHIP) has a working group focused specifically on prevention of youth suicide. Our
SBHCs play an integral role in this work group along with many other community partners.
We strongly support this grant application and its focus on reducing health disparities for youth
who are most likely to struggle to find access to age-appropriate, youth-friendly services that are
sensitive to their particular needs.
Phone(360) 385-9100 Fax (360) 385-9382 jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us
Jefferson County BOCC will continue to be a strong partner in ensuring that these clinics are
supported financially and operationally through the general fund support we provide to Jefferson
County Public Health and through robust participation in the specific efforts listed above.
Caring for vulnerable youth is a high priority for this BOCC always, but especially now, given the
large
impacts that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on our youth. We strongly urge you to partner with
Jefferson County Public Health in funding our highly-valued SBHCs.
We look forward to working with you to eliminate health disparities in our community, and to
achieving health equity throughout our county.
Sincerely,
Jeff son County Commissioners 1
Kate Dean , ' Heidi Eisenhour, Chair reg Brotherton
District 1 District 2 District 3
2