King County Mental Health Advisory Board

2008 Community Legislative Priorities

Agenda for next meeting

• Agenda (DOC) Available one week prior to meeting.

2008 Meeting Minutes

• January (DOC)
• February (DOC)
• March (DOC)
• April (DOC)
• May (DOC)
• June (DOC)

2007 Meeting Minutes

Note: Some minutes are in .pdf format. For help opening pdf files please click here.

• January (doc)
• February (doc)
• March (doc)
• April (pdf)
• May (pdf)
• June (pdf)
• July (pdf)
• August (no meeting held)
• September (doc)
• October (doc)
• November (doc)
• December (doc)

The King County Mental Health Advisory Board is currently seeking new members for voluntary, unpaid positions. This statutory citizen’s advisory board advises the King County Executive and the King County Council on County-funded services to seriously emotionally disturbed children and chronically mentally ill adults. The Mental Health Advisory Board provides policy direction, prioritizes and advocates for service needs, oversees evaluation of services, and provides public information.

Interested citizens need not be involved in the mental health field, although an interest in improving the lives of persons with mentally illness is necessary. Racial/ethnic minorities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The Mental Health Advisory Board meets the second Tuesday of every month from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.   Prospective candidates should be able to devote a minimum of ten hours a month to board activities. Appointments are made for three-year terms.

For more information about serving on the Mental Health Board contact Rhoda A. Naguit.

Background
The King County Mental Health Advisory Board was created by King County Council Ordinance #141 passed on September 12, 1969 and amended by Ordinances #2867 in 1976 and #10560 in 1992. The creation of the Board was brought about by legislative mandates identified in the Community Mental Health Services Act of 1967 (RCW 71.24). The law authorizes the King County Executive to appoint a mental health advisory board to assist in the development of plans and policies for the operation of the county mental health program.

Composition
An amendment to the original ordinance established a maximum number of 17 volunteer citizen members. The law requires that the Board be broadly representative of the demographic characteristics of the county and of the persons served by the public mental health program. Ethnic and cultural minority representation is actively sought. Parents and recipients of services are particularly encouraged to apply. The Board also strives to achieve broad countywide representation. See: Map of King County Council Districts. Length of term is three years, renewable once.

Qualifications
All interested residents of King County are encouraged to apply. The primary requirement for membership is an interest in improving the lives of persons with mental illness served by the publicly funded community mental health system. Applicants must be willing to donate approximately ten hours per month on Board business and regularly attend Board meetings.

Meetings
The King County Mental Health Advisory Board meets on the second Tuesday of the month from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Members are also expected to serve on one committee of the Board; committee meeting days and times vary but all committees meet once monthly for approximately one and one half-hours. Members must allow adequate time to review materials in advance of meetings to be prepared to participate in discussions.

Committees:
There are five committees of the Mental Health Advisory Board:

• Executive Committee: The Executive Committee is comprised of the chair and vice chair of the King County Mental Health Advisory Board (KCMHAB) and the chairs of the KCMHAB committees. The Executive Committee meets, in person or via conference call, the first Tuesday of each month to provide updates and to set the agenda for the full committee meeting.
• Nominations Committee: An ad hoc committee charged with recruiting and nominating new board members. They meet as necessary when vacancies are created to review nominations of interested individuals, interview candidates, and present the name(s) of prospective board members to the full board for its consideration. Committee members are appointed by the Chair of the KCMHAB.
• Legislative Advocacy and Public Affairs Committee: This is a joint committee of the KCMHAB and the King County Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Administrative Board. They focus on 1) legislative advocacy with state and local elected representatives on shared issues of concern in the areas of mental health and substance abuse funding and service delivery; and 2) public education on accessing services and stigma reduction. The committee meets monthly and the community is welcome.
• Quality Council : The Quality Council is comprised of members of the KCMHAB and members of the community. A total of 11 persons serve on the Quality Council including Board members, representatives from the mental health provider network, consumers, advocates, and family members. The Council focuses on quality of care issues, client satisfaction, access to care, and service outcomes. They meet monthly and the community is welcome.
• Recovery Initiatives Committee: This committee was established by a Board vote on January 13, 2004. Recommended activities included: making recommendations related to the Recovery Ordinance; making recommendations to the internal recovery work group and the Board regarding recovery initiatives for King County; and review policies and provide recommendations to the Board regarding recovery model implementation in King County.

• King County Quality Council
• Legislative Advocacy and Public Affairs Committee

By-Laws
Download By-Laws for the Mental Health Advisory Board (PDF).

Functions
The Mental Health Advisory Board has structured its focus on access and quality of mental health services, and its role and scope of work will cover the following areas:

1. Advise the King County Executive and King County Council on mental health policies.
1. Review and evaluate mental health needs and services in King County.
2. Review plans as required by the State Mental Health Division.
2. Review Ombuds reports from the MHCADSD regarding system trends, outcomes, quality indicators, and client satisfaction, and based on results, recommend further study or changes as necessary.
1. Review and forward Quality Council recommendations to the KC MHCADSD.
2. Monitor and ensure access to quality, comprehensive, and culturally competent and language appropriate mental health services for adults and children.
3. Provide education and information to the residents of King County.
1. Provide leadership in gathering and conveying information on system change issues.
2. Provide leadership in destigmatizing mental health.
4. Legislative Advocacy
1. Develop and advocate for joint legislative priorities with the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Administrative Board.
2. Jointly host the annual Community Legislative Forum
3. Participate in annual Legislative Human Services Day in Olympia and the NAMI of Washington Mental Health Advocacy Day to advocate for legislative priorities.
4. Participate in phone, letter, email advocacy as needed throughout the year for board priority legislative issues.
5. Liaison Duties
1. Build relationships with service provider boards, Chief Executive Officers, and clients
2. Provide information on Mental Health Board activities to Provider Boards
3. Collect information and build knowledge on issues for the provider agencies

For more information contact:
Rhoda A. Naguit, Confidential Secretary/Staff Board Liaison
Department of Community and Human Services
MHCADSD 401 5th Avenue, Suite 400
Seattle, WA� 98104

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