New openings on ABCs: Community Health Council, Public Health Advisory Council

Clackamas County Commissioners are seeking interested residents to serve on county Advisory Boards and Commissions (ABCs). These ABCs offer residents the opportunity to become very involved in specific activities and the goals of Clackamas County.

Individuals interested in this opportunity can apply online or via a paper form that can be obtained from the Public & Government Affairs Department by calling 503-655-8751.

Community Health Council

The Council currently has openings for 13 additional members, comprised of consumers, patients, and clients only. The Council oversees operations, budgets, and quality measures at the Health Centers clinics throughout the county. Per federal requirements, the Council must be composed of a majority of patient members, therefore current patients (or their guardians) will be given priority to join the Council to maintain compliance. The Council conducts business through public meetings that are held from 5:00 pm to 7:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month in the County’s Development Services Building in Oregon City.
Note: Due to COVID-19, meetings are held in a virtual format until further notice.

Council members are not required to have expertise in healthcare, but should be interested in improving the quality of care and patient experience in the Health Centers. Council members should be comfortable working with a diverse group of people and willing to reach consensus on various topics and make recommendations to Health Centers Leadership and the Board of County Commissioners. Individuals who represent all geographic areas and demographics are highly valued by the Council.

Application deadline is Feb. 1, 2023. For more information, contact Juliana Danforth at jdanforth@clackamas.us. 

Public Health Advisory Council

Clackamas County Commissioners and the Clackamas County Public Health Division are seeking interested residents and/or those who work in Clackamas County, to serve on the Clackamas County Public Health Advisory Council (PHAC). Those who represent a following category are encouraged to apply:

• Business: Chamber of Commerce, business owner or employee, industry, agriculture, technology, economics, etc.
• Education: Public and private Pre-school – 12th grade, alternative setting, community college, higher education, special education, home school, etc.
• Community: faith-based, community volunteers and advocates, parents, care givers, professional staff, foster parent, senior citizen, human services recipient, etc.
• Health Care: direct care provider, health care system staff or administration, health care advocate, specialized care staff, dental and behavioral health representatives, etc.

Serving on PHAC offers individuals the opportunity to become involved in public health related activities and address the priority community health improvement goals of Clackamas County.  The purpose of PHAC is to: 

• Advise the Clackamas County Board of County Commissioners and Public Health staff in the development of activities, strategies, and priorities to achieve community health improvement goals.
• Review and develop reports, planning documents and publications. Make funding and policy recommendations to assure alignment with public health goals and standards.
• Link public health programs and services to the broad cross-section of populations throughout the county.
• Promote public health initiatives and activities. Participate in community education and engagement.
• Deliberate as an ethics committee. Review and discuss community-based public health ethics issues occurring within the county.
• Advocate for policy and system changes that improve the health of communities in Clackamas County. Optional activities could include providing oral or written testimony, helping to identify coalitions of support for health policy, and participating in legislative activities.

Special attention and detail are focused on racial and health equity, trauma-informed approaches, climate conscious strategies and health across the life span. 

The Public Health Advisory Council currently has five open positions in the areas of Business, Education, Community and Health Care.  PHAC is made up 16 members who either live or work in Clackamas County. PHAC members will serve staggard 3-year membership terms, for a maximum of two terms or six years. 

The Council meets 6 times per year, every-other month. PHAC members are strongly encouraged to attend either committee meetings or other activities coordinated by the PHAC. Each PHAC meeting is generally 90 - 120 minutes in length and one hour of meeting prep may be needed. Day time and evening meetings are scheduled to try and accommodate members’ availability. Meetings are currently being held virtually via Zoom, PHAC will go to a hybrid format of Zoom and in-person meetings when possible. All members of the Council will serve without compensation.  However, positive life-work practices that are available to welcome community members (e.g. meeting during evening hours, meals, mileage reimbursement, etc.) will be considered on a case by case basis.

Proactive recruitment efforts will be made by existing Council members and Public Health staff to solicit new members from high priority geographic areas, priority populations, and a variety of industries within the county. Priority will be given to individuals who come from rural settings, individuals who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), represent the aging and/or disabled population, faith-based, and LGBTQIA+ community. The Council is looking for members that are representative of the county’s diverse populations and ideally will represent different ethnicities, religious beliefs, geographic locations, socioeconomic statuses, physical abilities, career experiences, educational backgrounds and/or other diversities and be able to participate consistently. 

Application deadline is Feb. 15, 2023. For more information, contact Susan Berns-Norman at susanb@clackamas.us.