The King County Board of Health is expanding in 2023 to include more members of the community it serves.
Applications to join the Board are welcome from King County residents who share a commitment to public health principles and addressing racism as a public health crisis, including public health and health care providers, people with experience with public health programs, residents who are working to address health inequities, and others who have permits with Public Health.
Applications are due June 30, 2022.
Open houses to learn more
To learn more, please visit our website and join us at one of our online open houses via Zoom on Saturday May 21, 2-3:30 p.m. or Tuesday May 24, 6-7:30 p.m.:
About the Board
Currently there are 8 elected officials and 3 health professionals on the board. The expanded Board will include 8 elected officials and 8 non-elected people who represent the public, healthcare, and other community stakeholders.
The Board of Health has several responsibilities. Its mission is to advocate for the preservation, promotion, and protection of public health. It works to prevent the spread of disease, set local public health regulations and some fees and licenses, and enforce state and local public health laws. The Board does not have budget authority.
Past Board activities have included passing a regulation banning trans fats in restaurants, regulating e-cigarettes, and establishing a medicine take-back program.
The Board issues guidelines and recommendations. For example, the Board issued guidelines for a model tobacco-free parks policy to promote a tobacco-free experience for visitors to all King County parks.
The Board also creates resolutions to express support for policies or strategies. For example, The Board passed a resolution encouraging the Washington State Legislature to address climate change and its health impacts, with a focus on communities disproportionately impacted by health inequities.
The Board takes a racial equity approach to its work and expects its members to be committed to racial equity and ending the impacts of racism on health.
Board member expectations
- Attending and participating in monthly meetings held on the third Thursday of each month at 1pm
- Nonelected members shall have the ability to vote except on legislation pertaining to fees
- Participation in subcommittees as needed
Compensation
Board members who are not being compensated for their participation through their employer will be paid $225 for each full board meeting they attend, not to exceed $225 per month.
Visit the website to learn more about the roles and responsibilities of the Board of Health and the application process.
Originally published 5/13/22