Public Health Modernization Community Engagement

Washington County Public Health (WCPH) is responsible for developing a Modernization Implementation Plan (MIP) by 2025 (HB 2965) that details how the Public Health Division will apply the foundational capabilities established under ORS 431.131 (Foundational capabilities) and implement the foundational programs established under ORS 431.141 (Foundational programs) as required by ORS 431.417 (Distribution of moneys to local public health authorities). As part of the development of the MIP, Public Health System Goals for the 2021-2023 biennium public health modernization funding included the following: Goal 1: Protect communities from acute and communicable diseases through prevention initiatives that address health inequities. Goal 2: Strengthen and expand communicable disease and environmental health emergency preparedness, and the public health system and communities’ ability to respond. Goal 3: Protect communities from environmental health threats from climate change through public health interventions that support equitable climate adaptation. Goal 4: Plan for full implementation of public health modernization and submission of local modernization plans by 2025. WCPH received funding to make progress on the development of three plans in collaboration with community partners. The three plans are: 1. A local or regional all-hazards preparedness plan 2. A local or regional climate adaptation plan 3. A local or regional health equity action plan Additionally, community partner engagement for these plans will need to have intentional alignment with WCPH’s process for developing the 2024 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). All four of these plans must engage community in understanding needs, identifying priorities, and developing strategies to reduce health inequities and include accountability metrics. WCPH is looking for a consultant who can support with the following work areas: 1. Review of existing literature documenting Washington County communities’ strengths, needs, and experiences (examples are included in Appendix A, along with a glossary of terms) and development of a summary of key takeaways as a starting place for engagement. 2. Development of a community engagement plan that centers the needs of the three modernization plans and the CHIP as described above, as well as the information already gathered through other engagement activities. 3. Engagement of the Public Health Advisory Council, CHIP Leadership Team, and CHIP Committees to inform the development of the engagement plan, as well as in the implementation. 4. Implementation of the community engagement plan, including management of the following aspects and logistics of engagement: planning activities, ensuring accessibility for participants, providing food for in-person events, procuring and distributing incentives for participation, and ensuring that engagement activities are culturally and linguistically responsive and trauma-informed. 5. Data collection through engagement activities, analysis of data and reports of key takeaways, development of graphics to include in the CHIP, and recommendations for development of the three PHM plans. The consultant must be qualified and able to reach diverse communities across Washington County, including immigrants and refugees, people who speak languages other than English, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, people living with disabilities, people with addictions or mental health issues, and people experiencing houselessness.