Blog

Update: Liz hosted a discussion session on September 15 with many current and interested partners to review the updated compact, linked here. Watch the full discussion, and a highlight version here.

The summer 2021 Partner Retreat was one of our most important yet, as North Sound ACH and partners embark on a new journey together. When North Sound ACH was first established and united more than 60 partner organizations together under the Medicaid Transformation Project (MTP), that way of collaborating was new too.

Our focus for the summer 2021 retreat was to share bright spots over the last year, and introduce new projects and a future framework, particularly a set of agreements for a collaborative action network. 

Attendees shared many wonderful stories of innovation and silver linings, such as the mobilization of telehealth at the beginning of the pandemic. A rep from Planned Parenthood said they had been talking about implementing telehealth for two years, but when COVID hit, they were able to enact the technology in nine days, with the help of North Sound ACH.

From the post-event survey, the majority agreed that collaboration and sharing of bright spots in small groups was the highlight of the first day. Participants shared that hearing from other organizations about their projects helped them feel connected, hearing about the happiness created when we serve others even during challenging times.

Christine Sundholm from Ideal Option said collaboration is what she finds most exciting, “pushing” herself to find collaborations where she may not usually look for it. They have begun working with Safeway as a way to reduce barriers and get their addiction treatment services to folks.

Rosalinda Guillen from Community 2 Community has been working in Whatcom and Skagit counties to bring attention to issues impacting farmworkers and their families for decades, and said having people of color working at and leading North Sound ACH was important for her and the Promotoras working on the ground to feel comfortable reaching out and collaborating.

On August 11, North Sound ACH also introduced a new learning and knowledge platform to accompany resources on our website. Through a tour of the site, partners saw the start of a curated library of resources, an interactive and participatory site to explore and discover new knowledge. This site is open for anyone to browse and suggest resources to build the library!

The second day we dove into the proposed set of agreements for the next stage in our collaborative action network, what we’re referring to as a regional compact. Liz Baxter, North Sound ACH, Allan Fischer, United Healthcare, Glenn Puckett, Delta Dental, and Ben Young, C3 Coalition, led a discussion telling the story of where the ACH started, the Medicaid Transformation Project (MTP), and more than 18 months planning next steps into the future.

The compact, revised since being shared in draft form, includes a set of commitments, guiding principles, and our framework for creating change. Small group discussions followed about the proposed agreement, and surfaced questions about next steps from attendees.

Many attendees were excited for a path to continue their work in equity. Partners want some assurance that the things they work on are the things that are valued by people accessing services, and they want to look for new ways to bring the ‘table’ to others, instead of only inviting others to a table that already exists.

Others asked how this could help create support for regional partners working in similar areas, for example Community Resource Paramedics in fire and EMS departments. Workforce capacity came up quite a bit — reflecting how much workloads have increased due to COVID-19, and organizations are feeling stretched to commit staff to new areas.

Everyone wants to know about funding — what will it look like without the structure of the MTP? 

Partners shared their own stories of how North Sound ACH was able to provide quick financial support for COVID-19 response, how smaller agencies and organizations often seen as “statistically insignificant” to a lot of funders feel recognized and supported by North Sound ACH, and partners want access to flexible, responsive funding to continue.

While partners asked about sustainability of funding, this is what the Board has grappled with for 18 months, resulting in approval of the future state (shared with partners in February 2021.) We know how critical discussions are around available dollars, but there is a lot that has been accomplished with no funds – the distribution of two million masks for example. 

Our belief is that a regional entity that is focused on capacity building, bringing partners together to learn and act, and bringing investors to the region is a compelling role for North Sound ACH. Liz asked partners for patience around the funding question, which we know is hard for everyone. But until we know what partners are willing to do, and have the capacity to take on, it’s hard to talk about dollars. Dollars alone won’t fill empty positions or help ease the burden of stressed staffing.

This fall there will be one-on-one meetings with each interested organization to talk about what happens next as we look toward 2022. We’re no longer captive in the MTP project box, but there are opportunities ahead in partnership with the Health Care Authority and the Department of Health – but like the past five years, the ACH doesn’t do the work alone, it is in partnership with you.  

New and current partners are encouraged to set up a meeting with North Sound ACH leadership to ask questions about the compact and learn about the different levels in which they can be involved.

We ended our session on August 11 with a poem that was shared by Candice Wilson, Executive Director of the Lhaq’temish Foundation. Powerful words, pushing us to not just say what we are committed to, but to actually show our commitments in actions as we look forward. We’ll share it here, and hope you will join us on the next phase of our journey toward making North Sound a region where all community members feel they are nourished, connected, safe and can experience well-being. 

We look forward to next steps with you!

Tribal Relations of the North Sound Accountable Community of Health

Candice Wilson – Lhaq’temish Foundation

How accountable are you as a partner?
To foster change, to be the catalyst of hope and prosperity
To create space to grow, to be a trusted convenor
Do you acknowledge Coast Salish People? Or do you just say you do? 
Do you know where the Lhaq’temish territory is? Or do you even know who the Lhaq’temish people are?
Can you name the eight tribes of the North Sound? Or do you just know some of the tribes?
Are you a catalyst for change in Tribal communities? Or do you just think you are?
Do you invest in sharing resources with Tribal communities? Or do you just work with what you got?
Do you know about any of the elevating or emerging issues in Tribal communities? Or do you just wait for someone else to bring it up?
Do you foster informed action with Tribal communities? Or do you wait for them to do something?
Do you build capacity with Tribal communities? Or do you just connect within your network?
Here’s how you can be that change, because being different makes the difference:
Acknowledge Lhaq’temish territory
Since time immemorial, Lhaq’temish people are people of the sea
Honor Tribal sovereignty
Lummi
Nooksack
Samish
Sauk-Suiattle
Stillaguamish
Swinomish
Tulalip
And Upper Skagit
Treaty Rights
Point Elliott Treaty
The Treaty of Mukilteo
Sharing resources
Government to Government
The trust responsibility is between the United States and Tribal Nations
Civil society
Self-governance, self-determination, and sovereignty
Elevating and emerging issues
National Congress of American Indians
U.S. Department of Interior
Informed action
Civic engagement
Census
Voting
Tribal endorsements
Local elections
Building capacity
Northwest Washington Indian Health Board
Northwest Indian College
Northwest Indian College Foundation
Lummi Community Financial Development Institution
White Swan Environmental
Se’Si’Le
Children of the Setting Sun Productions
Lhaq’temish Foundation
What will these outcomes be?
Targeted Universalism
We belong
Restore health and wellness in Tribal communities, and revitalize the teachings and traditions of the people
Che Shesh Whe Wheleq Sen* 
Hy’shqe Siam**
Thank you

*we come from survivors of the great flood” in Xwlemi Chosen (Lummi language)
**Thank you, respected people” in Xwlemi Chosen

North Sound ACH continues to expand the team! We welcomed three people this month, and promoted two staff to new roles. 

In August we welcomed: 

• Natalie Esparza as the Communications Coordinator. They bring five years experience in creating new and innovative ways in connecting information and resources to those who wouldn’t normally see or pay attention to it.
• Marco Morales as Rural Health Project Manager, having most recently worked in Mount Vernon Schools as a Migrant Graduation Specialist and at Northwest Educational Service District 189 as an Educational Advocate. 
• Rocio Castillo-Foell as Workforce and Health Education Project Manager. Rocio has nearly two decades of experience in public health, health education, and community engagement, including campaigns for disease prevention, health promotion, and the operation of informative health workshops in Mexico, Canada, and the United States.

Read more about Natalie, Marco, and Rocio, and the rest of our staff bios here.

Two team members also advanced into new roles: 

Vanessa Diaz, an administrative associate since 2019, is now Project Manager for COVID response. “I am excited and looking forward to being able to serve the North Sound Region in a greater capacity. The collaborations between North Sound ACH, and community partners is essential to moving the work forward.”

Heather McGuinness, a Project Manager at North Sound ACH since 2017, is now the Public Health Liaison. “I am honored to take on this role after four years at North Sound ACH. I’ll be collaborating with local health jurisdictions, state agencies and others, to ensure that efforts to advance equitable well-being across the region are aligned. This is a key part of ‘what’s next’ for North Sound ACH, as we move beyond the Medicaid Transformation Project and grow into a learning, advocacy, and collaborative action network.”

We’re excited to keep growing such an amazing team. Join us in congratulating them in their new roles!

Jose Ortiz has been working with the Tri-Parish Food Bank for more than 30 years — as a recipient, an organizer, and now as a volunteer (and husband of its current director). “For me it’s very rewarding, it’s been part of my life, and the life of my family,” he said. Ortiz said the food bank used to serve 200-300 families. Since the pandemic, it is now serving 2,200 families, and have given out 100,000 masks and bottles of hand sanitizer. Every Saturday, cars line up for food, toiletries and diapers – and now, every few weeks, a COVID-19 vaccine.

“Today’s a special day here at the Tri-Parish Food Bank. We’re running the food bank like we normally do, but we’re also doing vaccination,” Ortiz said on June 12.

Connecting through Skagit County Public Health, the Tri County Food Bank hosted a mobile medical team from Bird’s Eye Medical (BEM) out of Pierce County.

“I like that this drive-thru clinic was in addition to another need servicing the community,” said Shelley Kelly, RN and EMS director at BEM. “Personally I enjoy traveling and serving communities. Even if we only reach a few people on a specific day, it’s very rewarding.” The clinic gave 23 COVID vaccines on June 12. 

Ortiz’s day job is director of the Farmworker Center through Catholic Community Services, and is a CCS Regional Network Builder. The Center provides rental assistance, immigration services, and food assistance to migrant workers and their families. Before the pandemic, the Center also provided classes such as sewing, computer skills and Spanish language, and provided a space for families to gather. 

Ortiz has strongly advocated for help for the migrant farmworker community, hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, “I got together with other leaders in the community and we put pressure on the governor, and the government, and we were in the media… and just [kept] putting pressure on the local health department [for assistance], but now we all work together,” Ortiz said. “At first I had to raise my voice and the concerns about our community but your organization [North Sound ACH] and others have done a great job working together and bringing services especially to the most needy.”

More information:

Tri-Parish Food Bank; Saturdays 10am to 3pm @ 935 Peterson Road, Burlington WA (in the St. Charles Catholic Church parking lot)

People seeking food do not need to get out of the car. They just drive up and volunteers put the food in the car.  All state mandated safety guidelines are followed, meaning all are required to wear masks and social distancing is enforced. No ID required.

The Tri-Parish Food Bank is a cooperative effort of St. Charles Catholic Church in Burlington, Sacred Heart Catholic Church in La Conner, and Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Mount Vernon. Each week many volunteers ensure that nutritious food is available to anyone who needs it.  Additional partners are Skagit Community Action Agency, Northwest Harvest, and Food Lifeline. (from St. Charles website)

Catholic Community Services (CCS) Network Builders & Pop-Up Vaccine Clinics

The CCS Regional Network Builders have coordinated with state and local public health departments and community groups/churches to offer pop up vaccine clinics across Western Washington. Mary Wahl, another CCS Network Builder in the Northwest region, coordinated a special vaccine clinic last month at the CCS Farmworker Center in Mount Vernon. The pop up vaccine clinic on June 12 was the second one hosted at the Tri-Parish Food Bank and they hope to continue to administer vaccines there every other week. The next vaccine distribution at the Tri-Parish Food Bank will be on June 26. (from Catholic Community Services)

Bird’s Eye Medical

If there is a community in need of a mobile clinic please reach out to your local health department or the ACH to inquire about scheduling a clinic. You can also reach out to Bird’s Eye Medical directly at (360) 688-7044. They want to help with vaccination efforts. (from BEM Project Manager Marshall Bishop)

COMING SOON!

North Sound ACH will also be partnering with Medical Teams International to provide mobile vaccine clinics. This is occurring through a project supported by Kaiser’s community benefit program, adding one more tool to augment the great work occurring across the region. Please reach out to us at Communications@NorthSoundACH.org for more information.