HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 09141993 - 1.163 PUBEIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL 0(3
HEALTH
ADVISORY BOARD
Members:
FRECEIVED
Scott Anderson August 12, 1993
Doris Copperman 18 qCarlota Dunhower 19..3Joseph M.Haley
Vicki HarringtonIOARD OF
An Hatchettckson The Honorable Board of Supervisors CONTRA cos A co ISCJRs
Michele Jackson P
Richard J.Jackson Contra Costa County Administration Building
Edith Loewenstein 651 Pine Street
Bessanderson McNeil
Julio Mendoza Martinez, CA 94553
Dorothy Oda
Carolyn Robinson
Mary Rocha Dear Board Members:
Jean Siri
Inh Sooksampan SUBJECT: MEDI-CAL ADVISORY PLANNING COMMISSION
Curtis A.Timmons
William Vega
Mary Anne Morgan
The Public and Environmental Health Advisory Board (PEHAB) is
Executive Assistant to the writing with recommendations about establishing the Medi-Cal Advisory
Public&Environmental Health Planning Commission (MAPC). PEHAB appreciates the Board's
Advisory Board foresight in estab- lishing the MAPC. It can potentially provide an
effective avenue for community input into the Health First plan.
At its last meeting, PEHAB identified elements that will be essential to
constituting a Commission that truly represents the diverse needs of the
County's Mddi-Cal population. Mechanisms will need to be put in place
to ensure that its membership represents the regional ethnic and gender
diversity of the County, and reflects gender blance. Members will need
to be committed to health care issues and informed about the Health
First Proposal, and assertive in advocating for the needs of the
community they represent. The recruitment and selection process needs
to be open and democratic, and structured in a way that ensures
appointment of members with these qualifications.
PEHAB has several recommendations which will help create an effective
and broadly representative Commission:
1. Publicize the application period, and include an opening and
closing date for acceptance of applications.
2. Publish the complete list of applicants.
3. Establish specific goals for achieving regional and ethnic diversity
among members that will closely mirror the County's 1990
demographics, as described in PEHAB's Health Status Report.
Contra Costa County
Health Services Department
597 Center Ave.,Ste.200
Martinez,CA 94553
(510)313-6715
FAX (510)313-6721
CC CAO - O. C-1 e-
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4. Establish written criteria for member selection, including:
• Residence in a given region of the county;
• Demonstrated commitment to the community the applicant
will represent;
• Demonstrated credibility within the represented
community;
• Demonstrated interest in health care issues for low income
communities, and knowledge of the Health First Proposal;
and
0 Ability to make the necessary time commitment to
participate.
Bessanderson McNeil has been nominated to serve as PEHAB's
representative on the Commission. She is an excellent example of a
nominee possessing the skills and commitment necessary to be an
effective advocate for her community.
PEHAB also. requests that the Board take whatever action is possible to
encourage and require the mainstream plan to establish a similar citizen
Advisory Commission. The role such a group can play in quality
assurance and oversight cannot be overstated and will be just as
important in the mainstream as the local plan.
We appreciate the Board's vision and leadership in recognizing the
critical role the community must play in this effort if it is to be
successful. We urge you to consider the above outlined actions and look
forward to your response on this matter.
Sincerely,
O _
ulio Mendoza, D.D.S. / Jean Siri
Co-Chair, PEHAB Co-Chair, PEHAB
JM:JS:MAM:ah