Workgroups

The Community Collaborative supports workgroups to help address the health concerns of specific communities. The list of current workgroups follows. We strive to make workgroups accessible to all members of our Washington community. Compensation is available to regular workgroup members, and accessibility needs can be met upon request. To express interest or learn more, please email Community.Collaborative@doh.wa.gov.  Workgroup meetings are listed on the Community Collaborative Calendar.

Carceral Health Equity

The Carceral Health Equity Workgroup promotes the well-being of people incarcerated in response to the health harms posed by the carceral system. Workgroup members provide advice, insights, and information to help the Washington Department of Health build public health strategies to ensure that those incarcerated or detained receive equitable, comprehensive, culturally appropriate, and compassionate support for their health and well-being. The workgroup centers the voices of those currently and formerly incarcerated in all of its work with a focus on anti-racism. By addressing health disparities and championing the human rights and dignity of all those affected by incarceration, we strive to create a more just and inclusive society.

  • This workgroup welcomes new members with past or present history in carceral systems. This workgroup meets the second Tuesday of the month from 4:00-6:00 p.m. 

Disabilities, Access and Functional Needs (D-AFN)

The D-AFN Workgroup is an inclusive space for people across the state with disabilities or access and functional needs to share their pressing health concerns with DOH, get answers and influence the agency's decision-making. The workgroup is intended to center and prioritize people with disabilities and intersecting marginalized identities who experience compounded oppression.

  • This workgroup welcomes new members who have, work with or otherwise support those with disabilities or access and functional needs. This workgroup meets 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. on the third Monday of the month.

Environmental Justice Workgroup

The Environmental Justice Workgroup advances environmental justice issues at DOH. Environmental justice means everyone has equitable access to clean air, clean water and soil, protection from environmental and health hazards, and access to the decision-making processes of policies and programs that influence them. This workgroup will provide guidance on DOH-specific Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act implementation and, more broadly, elevate environmental justice and environmental health issues important to the workgroup to see if and how the DOH can take action.

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

This workgroup centers and prioritizes Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander communities experiencing vast health disparities due to data invisibility. Members share concerns and needs, leverage efforts and resources, and collaborate on community-informed strategies that are culturally rooted in Indigenous belief systems and practices.

  • This workgroup welcomes new members and is meeting as needed. Check the calendar for meeting details.

State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) Alliance

The State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) is a long-term, system wide plan to focus efforts on critical health issues facing Washingtonians. The SHIP describes how DOH and the communities it serves will work together to improve the health of all Washingtonians and is used to set statewide public health priorities. The SHIP Alliance is a group of community and public health partners who will guide the process to determine the next SHIP priorities.

  • This workgroup will begin meeting in November. Check the calendar for upcoming meetings and in-person community events in 2025.

Thought Partners

Thought Partners are community leaders who advise the Department of Health in its policies, practices and programs to reduce health inequities and improve health outcomes, acting as trusted messengers and bridges for communities facing systemic racism and oppression. DOH is accountable to Thought Partners and Thought Partners are accountable to each other and to the communities they serve. 

  • Thought Partners have been selected through June 2025 and meet regularly on a range of workstreams. Learn more.