With a recently adopted resolution, the Island County Board of Health has committed to taking into consideration the root causes of health disparities in the policymaking process while ensuring that underrepresented voices guide the development and implementation of these policies.

In a press release, Island County Public Health Director Shawn Morris explained that health is influenced by more factors than mere traditional health care. The factors include economic development, access to education, relationships, reliable and affordable housing, access to healthy food and more.

“The resolution reflects a transformative approach to public health,” Morris said in the press release. “This approach centers key factors that influence health, well-being, and quality of life, including the conditions in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship and age.”

In an interview, Morris said the resolution was workshopped with the Community Health Advisory Board and the Board of Health in 2023.

The resolution instructs all governmental and public agencies in the county to work collaboratively in developing policies that prioritize the health and wellbeing of the community while advancing equity and justice.

“It’s essentially a call to action to think about health implications when making policy decisions and when staff are making policy recommendations,” Morris said.

For example, the resolution may help guide the Island County Comprehensive Plan update and the Community Health Assessment. The resolution also emphasizes the need to include input from underrepresented groups. This could mean making community advisory board meetings more accessible or visits to underrepresented communities.

“This wasn’t prompted by complaints,” Morris said. “It really was more of a proactive measure.”

Assessment Supervisor Taylor Lawson said the county is working on a community health assessment and an improvement plan to learn about health disparities from the perspective of people living in Island County.

Some of the main drivers of health disparities include lack of affordable housing and the limited access to health care providers, especially for specialty care that requires long commutes to the mainland.

Lawson invites residents to participate in the community health assessment. Those interested can reach out to Lawson at t.lawson@islandcountywa.gov or by calling 360-678-7936.