The Washtenaw County Health Department is seeking individuals who live and/or work in Washtenaw County to apply for a Steering Committee that will prioritize public health issues and take action to improve conditions that support health and well-being. Community members, local health system and hospital representatives, and other local organizational representatives are encouraged to apply. Apply or nominate someone you think would be a good candidate at this link.
“We need to include community voices in every step of our decision making,” says Ellen Rabinowitz, health officer at the Washtenaw County Health Department. “By listening to and working with community members who are most impacted by health inequities, we can better work towards our goal of making Washtenaw County a place where everyone has the opportunity to live their healthiest life.”
The Steering Committee is part of the Health Department’s updated community health assessment and planning process. The new process is built on a national model for improving public health through community-wide strategic planning, called MAPP (Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships). What makes MAPP unique is that it is a community-owned process that brings together a wide range of people, groups, and organizational partners to create change. The Health Department chose to use MAPP because it encourages community engagement and emphasizes health equity in all phases so that action is focused on addressing unfair and unjust differences in health.
The Steering Committee will be comprised of 10 to 16 people. Members should be able to provide diverse perspectives on health in the community and be committed to improving the health of Washtenaw County residents. Diverse membership in terms of, but not limited to, race/ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, ability, and geography is key to the success of this process. Members must be at least 15 years old and should live and/or work in Washtenaw County.
Members will commit to participating on the Steering Committee for two years. This commitment includes spending eight hours a month on committee activities. Part of this time will be dedicated to steering committee meetings and trainings. Monthly meetings are planned for the first year, and four meetings are planned throughout the second year. Members who are not already being compensated by their employer or an affiliated organization for their participation will be compensated $25 an hour by the Health Department for an estimated three to four hours a month, covering time spent at meetings and trainings.
Applications are due Friday, March 29, 2019. Community members can fill out the application for themselves, or use it to nominate someone else.