Community Advisory Board

Join the School-Based Health Center Community Advisory Board
 

The application period closed Friday, February 24, 2023. Thank you to everyone who applied! We are reviewing applications and will follow up with all applicants by the end of March.
 

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is inviting Washingtonians to apply to serve on the School-Based Health Center (SBHC) Community Advisory Board.

Washington State law RCW 43.70.825 directs DOH to establish an SBHC Program. This law also directs DOH to expand and sustain SBHCs throughout the state and administer SBHC grants. It asks us to prioritize funding and programs in communities that have received limited health care opportunities or have not been served due to past policy decisions. We are working to implement this law in ways that center equity, access, and inclusion.

The SBHC Community Advisory Board will help us learn from and listen to community members from different parts of the state. This work will help us make our services equitable, accessible, relevant, and responsive to community needs.

We are looking for 8 to 10 people to serve on the Community Advisory Board (CAB), and who are:

  • Young people (ages 16-21)
  • Parents or guardians
  • School staff
  • Health care providers
  • Community members from different parts of Washington. 

We will prioritize applications from people most impacted by the lack of health care opportunities and services in our state. We especially encourage applications from individuals with these lived experiences:

  • Challenges with access to receiving health care.
  • Visible or invisible disabilities
  • Government systems, like juvenile justice, child protective services, or foster.   
  • Behavioral and mental health conditions and treatment
  • Health conditions that last a long-time and their treatment.
  • Facing barriers and discrimination related to race, ethnicity, income, gender, sexual orientation, and more.
  • Houselessness or unstable housing

Members will be compensated for their time ($50 per hour, up to $600 per calendar year).

See the El Consejo de Asesoramiento Comunitario page for information in Spanish.

About the CAB

    What will the CAB do?

    The advisory board will meet monthly from March to June 2023, then quarterly after that. We will host meetings online at a time convenient for most members.

    Members will participate in meetings to share their thoughts, ideas, and make recommendations on school-based health care and young people’s access to health care. Your work will help DOH’s SBHC program to make sure funding and activities are relevant and serve Washington’s young people.

    What are CAB member expectations?

    CAB members will:

    • Attend the first meeting in March 2023 and at least 3 other meetings in 2023.
    • Bring an equity and community-centered mindset.
    • Be open and willing to discuss topics proposed by DOH staff and meeting facilitators.
    • Share their thoughts, ideas, and recommendations on health-related topics.
    • Help us create a safe and inclusive space that welcomes voices of people from different backgrounds and identities.
    • Maintain confidentiality – not share individual details outside of the meeting space.
    • Let us know if you can’t participate in the CAB or are facing barriers or issues.

            Member Selection

            What is the timeline?

            Application timeline:

            • February 24, 2023 – Applications due
            • March 2023 – Application review and selection
            • March 20, 2023 – All applicants notified

            We will schedule meetings at times that are convenient for most members. The tentative meeting schedule is:

            • March 2023 (week of March 27) – Kickoff meeting
            • April 2023 – Meeting #2
            • May 2023 – Meeting #3
            • June 2023 – Meeting #4
            • September 2023 – Meeting #5
            • December 2023 – Meeting #6
            Who should apply?

            We encourage anyone living in Washington and interested in improving school-based health and addressing health inequities to apply. We do not require members to have direct experience with a school-based health center.

            Eligibility requirements for interested applicants:

            • Live in Washington
            • Have an interest in contributing to and improving health access and services in schools for young people in Washington.
            • Have internet and email access and be willing to use a virtual meeting platform like Zoom or Microsoft Teams
            • Have permission from a parent or guardian to participate (for applicants under 18 years)
            What is the selection process?

            We hope that lots of people apply! Here's more information about how we will choose up to 10 members from the applicants:

            • Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements and agree to all expectations.
            • Applicants must complete the online application by February 24, 2023.
            • A review committee will review applications and select members based on the following:
              • Interest in improving health care for young people.
              • Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
              • Representation from different racial, cultural, geographic, economic, and professional backgrounds.
            • We will prioritize people from communities that have not been served or lacked access due to past policy decisions.
            • We will select members based on where they live in Washington. This will help us include perspectives from different parts of the state.