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About
the State Board of Health
The State Board of
Health serves the citizens of Washington by working to understand and
prevent disease across the entire population. Established in 1889 by
the State Constitution, the Board of Health provides a public forum for
the development of public health policy in Washington. The Board
monitors the health of the people who live in Washington, and develops
policies that prevent disease, and promote and protect the publics
health. It recommends strategies and health goals to the Legislature
and Governor and regulates a number of health activities.
The governor appoints
ten members who fill
three-year terms, with the exception of the Secretary of Health, who serves
at the Governors pleasure. Local health jurisdictions are represented by a
local health officer, cities and counties are each represented by an elected
official. There are two consumer representatives, and four members
represent health and sanitation, one of whom represents the tribes.
The Board also
convenes and staffs the Governor's
Interagency Council on Health Disparities, which is charged with
developing a state action plan for eliminating health disparities by race,
ethnicity and gender. As part of this role, the Board is tasked with
helping the Council assess the availability of culturally appropriate health
literature and linguistic services.
The Board's Mission
The Board's mission
is to provide statewide leadership in developing and promoting policies that
protect and improve the public's health.
This mission is
achieved by:
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Reviewing and
monitoring the health status of all people in Washington;
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Initiating and
supporting policy development, analyzing policy proposals, providing
guidance, and developing
rules;
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Promoting system
partnerships; and
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Fostering public
participation in shaping the health system.
The Board's Vision
The Board's vision is
that the health and safety of all people in Washington will improve.
Board Members and Staff
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