Power to the people

Concerned about the level of disconnect between government programs and the community those programs serve, county health officials want to put the "public" back in public health.

With an initial payment of $175,000 from a three-year federal grant in hand, Island County's environmental health program starting an overhaul of the way it does business, according to Keith Higman, Island County's environmental health director.

Specifically, the plan is to get county residents more directly involved in decision making regarding health-related policies and regulations. Through a proposed community advisory board, for instance, the public will be able to address issues of local concern, whether they be about the quality of drinking water or preparedness for bioterrorist threats.

"It's about sharing power and community process," Higman said late last month. "Shouldn't people have some say in what it is we do here?"

The grant, dispensed by the Centers for Disease Control, was awarded earlier this year for the county's work on implementing the federal government's Protocol for Assessing Community Excellent in Environmental Health, or PACE, program.

PACE helps communities develop of health priorities, assess those priorities and then related policies. It is also intended to boost service in 10 "essential services," including monitoring health status, assuring a competent workforce, developing policies and plans that support community efforts, and outreach with community-based education.

To administer the program, the health department has hired two new employees, including project coordinator Celine Servatius, a former environmental health officer at NAS Whidbey.

Part of implementing PACE is creating standards to judge the effectiveness of both existing and new public health programs. PACE's main goal, however, is to keep the public involved in health department's decision-making process. It encourages program decisions that are science-based rather than emotionally driven.

"Emotions play an enormous role when you're dealing with environmental issues," Higman said.

Island County's health department was the only county in the nation to receive one of five total PACE grants. The went to cities and states.

As a small, rural county in the midst of retooling its program with new protocols, Higman said many counties and academic institutions such as the University of Washington, are looking to Island County's as a "flagship" program.

Higman said one PACE goal is to replace the top-down model of doing business in government. Policies and public health priorities should start with the people, rather than trickling down from federal and state governments.

"I consider myself a public servant," Higman said, noting that PACE funding is meant make environmental services more efficient in meeting community needs.

Higman said that, in his view, policy-making used to occurred in "a vacuum" between officials in the health department and the Island County's board of commissioners. Higman said he wants more of a face-to-face representation.

"What we're really talking about is changing the way we do business," Higman said.

Health department officials are currently selecting a committee of 25 to 35 community members from around Island County. Higman said this should take about two months.

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