LWVSJ Observer Corps | Board of Health December 10, 2025

||| FROM NECIA QUAST for LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS |||

The Accountable Communities for Health resumed its CEO search. The Community Collaboration Committee provided $100,000 for the dental access program. The North Sound Behavioral Health Organization is working on a behavioral health emergency co-response program with the Sheriff’s Office. The NW Regional Council is looking for state funding to extend the pilot program for home healthcare that saves money. Overall health funding is very challenged by federal cuts and state fiscal problems.

Dozens of youths from prevention coalitions on three islands described their programs. Orcas high schoolers in Next Generation Youth did a confidential survey of students and used the data to help kids and the community understand substance use is much lower than perceived. This helps lower the pressure kids may feel to fit in. For example, 87.5% of youth had not vaped in the last month. They run activities to strengthen connection and belonging. The Lopez Youth Health advocates surveyed kids to find out what activities they wanted to take part in and when, creating opportunities for youths to get together, hang out, and get information from trained peers, who also provide training to middle schoolers. On San Juan Island, middle school kids themselves are taking the lead in helping kids feel a sense of belonging and learning tactics withstand pressure. All three groups have been trained in peer-to-peer education.

The county health department runs a small county-wide prevention program, but funding is now challenging. Federal grants are encumbered by unacceptable requirements impacting the LGBTQ community. The county will use opioid settlement funds to support some programs for next year, as prevention is an allowable use of the funds. Similar issues are impacting emergency management funding, and many are looking to the state to challenge the legality of these conditions.

The County Health officer briefed the board on avian flu in the county where both wild waterfowl and at least one back yard flock have tested positive across the county. There have been no cases of human infection though those exposed to infected birds could be at risk, which for now is deemed to be low. Dead domestic fowl should be reported to the State Dept. of Agriculture and wild birds to the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Council Member Fuller spoke to the challenges that are being felt in the county with the withdrawal of two insurers leaving only one which does not have contracts with all local providers or with many providers in nearby counties. That insurer has concluded a contract with Island Health so Orcas residents can get covered service at the Orcas clinic. She contacted the University of Washington to address this issue for the Lopez clinic and reached out to the State Insurance Commission and governor’s office about the impact on county residents.

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan organization encourages informed participation in government. The Observer Corps attends and takes notes at government meetings to expand public understanding of public policy and decisions. The notes do not necessarily reflect the views of the League or its members.