The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday honored the more than 160 people who serve on the advisory committees, task forces and councils that advise the county's Health Department.
“These are people who have other lives, jobs, other places to be,” said Health Department Director Joanne Fuller. “You all chose to develop policy, evaluate programs, look at best practices, listen to the community needs and help us respond to those needs.”
The celebration coincides with National Public Health Week which President Barack Obama noted highlights issues like: affordable healthy foods, the health effects of climate change, social justice and quality healthcare for everyone.
“Each one of you deserve our deepest thanks for the time and commitment you’ve shown in helping to improve the health of our community,” said Chair Deborah Kafoury.
Honored were members of the:
Community Budget Advisory Committee
This committee helps to ensure that the Health Department’s financial investments align with its mission and strategic priorities.Chairs: Ana del Rocío Valderrama and Josué Peña-Juárez; Members April Johnson, Lori Stegmann, Mai Vang, Nafisa Fai and Nancy Ramirez Arriaga.
Community Health Council
This council provides leadership and governance for the county's community health centers: including primary care, dental, early childhood services, school-based health centers and pharmacy services. Chair: Harold Odhiambo; members Amy Anderson, Ruth Duran, Robyn Ellis, Isabel Gonzalez, Bonnie Malone, Pedro Sandoval Prieto and Wendy Shumway.
Adult Mental Health and Substance Abuse Advisory Council
This council makes recommendations to the Multnomah County Mental Health and Addiction Services Division about the adult system of care. The council ensures that consumers and their families can provide input on mental health and addiction services available in their community. Chair: Amy Anderson; members Ryan Hamit, Cheryl Lewis, Tressa Kovachevich, Michelle Moore, LaKeesha Dumas, Shon Pruitt, Wendy Shumway, Nancy Griffith, Tashia Hager, Dave Kohler, Kathleen Roy, Brad Taylor, Victoria Taylor, Rai McKenzie, Robert Fentress, Tam An Tran, Kate McIntyre, Katelyn Bessette, Julie Ibrahim, Carolyn Anderson, Kevin Fitts, June Howard Johnson, Colleen Orr, Merni "Samm" McCrary and Debra "Tess" Hubbard.
Multnomah County Public Health Advisory Board
This board provides broad stakeholder input from a variety of community sectors on work related to reducing health inequities and improving population health in Multnomah County. Chairs: Charles Tauman and Kristina Narayan; Sam Chase, Sandra Clark, Audrey deCoursey, Gerald Deloney, Bertha Ferran, Scott Fogarty, Suzanne Hansche, Royal Harris,Tram Hoang, April Johnson, Marie Knight, Clifford Meeks, Michelle Dunlop-Petty and Barbie Shields.
Nurse Family Partnership Advisory Council
This council seeks to capture the voice and experience of clients and community partners to help Multnomah County’s Health Department with enrollment efforts, referrals, and stakeholder engagement for the Nurse Family Partnership program. Chair: Jeanette Perez-Cordero; members Casie Hirst, Mayra Salceda, Arie Roskott, Teresa Maxwell, Jasmin Cross, Josefina Hernandez, Ester Palacios,Erica Salas Umana, Denise Johnson, Lindsay Wills, Taylor Killen, Maura White, Phylicia Jackson-Lockett, Bethany Achen and Alice Perry.
Healthy Birth Initiative Community Action Network
This network’s mission is to build on community assets to reduce social and life-course problems that contribute to poor birth outcomes and infant mortality within the African American community in Multnomah County. Coretta King, Lacarla Brown, Meagan Pelatt, Shaneeka McKinney, Shaquila Roach, Shavantee Scott, Tholanda Newborne, Martha Lewis, Tracey Lowe, Denise Johnson, Eleanor Myrick, Alesha Johnson, Ronnie Meyers, Mariotta Gary-Smith, Julie Reeder, Kamesha Robinson, Renee James, Royal Harris, Benny Carson, Time Holbert.
ACHIEVE Coalition
Action Communities for Health, Innovation and Environmental Change, also known as the ACHIEVE Coalition, was formed in 2009 to conduct community assessments to help improve health equity through policy implementation. Their focus rests on tobacco education, nutrition policies, affordability and access to healthy food, and encourages physical fitness. Chair: Yugen Rashad; members Mel Rader, Kelly Clarke, Emily Bowers, Brian Monberg, Katie Sawicki, Adejoke Babatunde, Charles Robertson, Eca Etabo Wasongolo, Kamesha Robinson, Nafisa Fai, Nina Phillips, Corliss McKeever, Shante Johnson, Lessie Williams, Pastor W.G. Hardy, Willie Chambers, Zev Nicholson, Ann Gilbert, Adelle Adams, Dina DiNucci, Betty Izumi, Jenny Holmes,Kimmy Figueroa, Mariah Taylor, Susan Vanthof, Stacey Humphrey, Harvey Rice, Jeffrey Showell, Rachael Banks and Tameka Brazile.
Vector Control and Code Enforcement Advisory Committee
This committee is a group of nine citizens appointed by the Multnomah County chair to provide recommendations to the Health Department's Vector Control and Code Enforcement programs. Chair: Debbie Porter; members Ruth Jones, Linda Caradine, David Lenhart, Austin Bennington, Tim Wessels and John Cowan.
Food Service Advisory Committee
This committee’s primary purpose is to assist, advise, and foster collaboration with Multnomah County Health Department and Board of County Commissioners on food-related matters that affect the dining public, food service providers, and the restaurant industry. Chairs: Judy Craine and Margaret Vattiat; members Caitlin Burke, Rachel Clark, Jae Douglas, Eric Sopkin, Christie Sweitz, Jodi Taylor, Sherry Fox-Hames, Matthew Hoffman, Michelle Hurn, Ruth Jones, Jason Brandt and Ginger Rapport.
HIV Services Planning Council
This council is dedicated to improving the quality of life for those infected and/or affected by HIV/AIDS, and to ensuring that members of our community play lead roles in planning and assessment of HIV resources. Chairs: Alison Frye and Tom Cherry; members Jay Anderson, Maricela Berumen, Matt Birkeland, Emily Borke, Katy Byrtus, Carlos Dory, Greg Fowler, Drew Gadbois, Shaun Irelan, Lorne James, Toni Kempner, Julia Lager-Mesulam, Heather Leffler, Jonathan Livingston, Chaela Manning-Ferguson, Toni Masters, Sara McCrimmon, Jeremiah Megowan, Guy Michelson, Scott Moore, Jace Richard, Michael Thurman and Sarah Wetherson.