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North Sound ACH

North Sound Accountable Community of Health

North Sound ACH staff

North Sound ACH announces incoming CEO

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Arlesia Bailey to succeed Liz Baxter as the organization’s leader on July 1, 2026


After a thoughtful search and interview process, the North Sound Accountable Community of Health (ACH) Board of Directors has selected Arlesia Bailey to be its next Chief Executive Officer. North Sound ACH is a nonprofit organization serving a five-county region in Northwest Washington which supports a diverse array of partners and organizations to meet the health, social, and other needs of community members so they can thrive.

Arlesia Bailey (left) will succeed Liz Baxter on July 1, 2026 at North Sound ACH. 

Arlesia has been part of North Sound ACH’s leadership team since March 2024, when she joined as the Chief Transformation Officer, leading work across the region’s five counties – Snohomish, Skagit, Island, San Juan, and Whatcom – spanning Medicaid waiver implementation, health-related social needs, and care coordination, with a focus on sustainability as conditions change. The Board’s decision reflects confidence in Arlesia’s leadership, deep commitment to health equity, and ability to guide the organization into its next chapter while staying grounded in North Sound ACH’s mission to advance community health and well-being throughout the region. She will officially assume the role of CEO on July 1, 2026.

Our regional partners are facing a tough economic climate along with reductions in public health and social services. Arlesia brings transformational leadership, with 30+ years at the intersection of healthcare, public systems, and community which will serve North Sound ACH and our network of partners well. She understands the importance of relationships among and with partners, especially with the tribes in the North Sound region – those relationships and shared wisdom have shaped North Sound ACH for the last 10 years.  

Prior to joining North Sound ACH, Arlesia served as a senior leader at Seattle Children’s, where she led major health equity investments, including the expansion of primary care into historically under-resourced communities. She is also a co-founder and partner of weAVS Collective, a health equity and social justice consulting firm that supports health systems nationally. Arlesia resides in Seattle and has served on the boards of Wellspring Family Services, Seattle Youth Recreation Foundation, and is a member of the Rotary Club of Seattle.

Arlesia often introduces herself first as “Charley, Geneva, and Marie’s granddaughter.” The stories and lived experiences of her grandparents — all of whom migrated north from the Deep South — profoundly shaped her understanding of community, resilience, and inequity. Their influence continues to guide her commitment to centering community voice, disrupting inequities, and improving health outcomes for all people.

There will be a thoughtful transition between outgoing CEO Liz Baxter and Arlesia, who already have a strong working relationship. “I cannot have imagined a better candidate for this role,” Liz shared. “North Sound ACH and its partners are very special and knowing that the work and relationships are in good hands means so much. We had incredible candidates, and to have Arlesia be the Board’s selection is inspiring. She will lead the organization into its next chapter and I’m excited to see what comes next.” 

“Arlesia brings the experience, relationships, and values-centered leadership needed to guide North Sound ACH into its next chapter,” shared Board Chair Kevin Riley.

The Board and staff also expressed deep appreciation for Liz, the founding CEO of North Sound ACH. “On behalf of the Board of Directors, I also want to express our deep gratitude to Liz Baxter for her visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to this organization and region,” said Kevin Riley. “Liz helped build North Sound ACH from the ground up and established a strong foundation rooted in partnership, equity, and community trust. We are grateful for her leadership and for her support in ensuring a thoughtful transition into this next era.”

For more information, please contact us at Communications@NorthSoundACH.org.

Partner Spotlight: Homage Senior Services

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Homage Senior Services is Snohomish County’s largest provider of services for older adults and people with disabilities! Services provided include including mental health support, food and nutrition, care coordination, transportation, and minor home repairs.

“At Homage, we want more people to know about our Care Coordination Program, especially our Health Home services—a Medicaid-funded program designed to support individuals living with chronic conditions. Through this program, we work one-on-one with clients to help them manage their health, access vital community resources, and improve their overall well-being. Our approach is person-centered, holistic, and deeply rooted in building long-term, trusted relationships,” shared Krissie Dillin, Director of Social Services at Homage.

“We’re in a season of building—and one of the things we’re most excited about is the opportunity to grow our Health Home Care Coordination services to reach more people across our community. In particular, we are hoping to build a meaningful partnership with the Tulalip Tribe. We believe that through mutual respect, trust, and collaboration, we can bring personalized, culturally informed care coordination to tribal members who are navigating chronic health challenges. We know we have a lot to learn, and we’re ready to listen, show up, and work together,” shared Dillin.

They’re always looking for partners who believe that health is about so much more than doctor’s appointments. It’s about connection, culture, community, and care. “We would be honored to collaborate with the Tulalip Tribe, and to work hand-in-hand with tribal leaders, healthcare providers, and family members to offer care coordination that is respectful, responsive, and rooted in relationship. Our goal is never to replace what’s already working—but to support and walk alongside,” shared Dillin.

They would also like to recognize Lillian Kirungi, one of their Care Coordinators, who brings compassion, cultural humility, and deep knowledge of community resources to her role. Lillian’s ability to build strong relationships with clients and advocate for their needs has helped many individuals achieve greater stability in their health and daily lives. One recent success story involved a client struggling with multiple chronic conditions including mental illness and social isolation. Through our Health Home services, our team was able to help connect the gentleman with our Senior Companion Program, and establish a health action plan that is practical and driven by small goals. As a result, the client’s health has improved and he is working on his social skills with the Care Coordinator so he can reach his ultimate goal of making a new friend! It’s moments like these that remind us of the power of person-centered care.

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Partner Spotlight: Kulshan Community Land Trust

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Kulshan Community Land Trust is a housing organization, providing permanently affordable homeownership opportunities to low- to moderate-income community members in Whatcom County.

They broke ground on a new 18-home neighborhood of beautiful, permanently affordable, energy-efficient homes near amenities and public transportation this month! LaFreniere Court will be finished in spring 2025. Check out the Bellingham Herald article by clicking here.

KulshanCLT executive director Rose Lathrop speaks at the LaFreniere Court groundbreaking on March 6. Photo provided by KulshanCLT

They are looking for language access collaborators and community outreach connections to help make sure their services are accessible to every population in Whatcom County. Contact Molly McKinney-Holcomb at molly@kulshanclt.org to get connected!

The KulshanCLT staff team (AKA the gnomes for homes) officially breaks ground. Photo provided by KulshanCLT.

KulshanCLT is also hosting their annual fundraiser on May 14 at the Bellingham Yacht Club. Featuring a live jazz trio and dinner from Storia Cucina, they hope to see you there! Get your tickets by May 2, click here.

ACH Goes To The Legislature

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On March 6, Cynthia Andrews and Marco Morales traveled to Olympia for the Washington State Public Health Association Legislative Day to meet with our representatives and senators across the North Sound region, and share with them some of the exciting collaborative work that is happening across their legislative districts with North Sound ACH and our partners.

Rep. Julio Cortez of District 38 with Innovation Initiatives Manager Cynthia Andrews and Community Engagement and Advocacy Program Manager Marco Morales.

“I was reminded that the work of democracy and civic engagement is work that takes active participation, and that our advocacy in things we care about have real implications for the policy decisions that our elected officials make that ultimately impacts us all. We saw people from all walks of life in the Legislative Building, of all ages and lots of children. There must have been a children’s advocacy group in the Legislative Building that day because there were so many kids around. This was really heartwarming to witness as it was a reminder that participation in our democracy takes many forms. Voting, marching, and advocating at a human level with those who the adults get to vote for when the children are not yet able to. I encourage everyone who has the opportunity to make the drive down to Olympia to make it, and share what is important to you with the people that represent us all.” – Marco

“It was a productive visit to the Washington State Legislature, despite the busy atmosphere on the floor. Mario Morales and I were amongst thousands of people visiting Olympia that day. Many were touring, lobbying and some were looking for answers and comfort. Representatives April Berg and Julio Cortez, along with Senator John Lovick, graciously carved out time from their demanding schedules to meet with us. Their willingness to engage, even amidst the legislative flurry, demonstrated their commitment to constituent interaction and their dedication to addressing the concerns of those they represent.

Rep. Julio Cortez of District 38 with Innovation Initiatives Manager Cynthia Andrews and Community Engagement and Advocacy Program Manager Marco Morales.

“We sat in the Senate gallery watching the vote on education bills and were somewhat amazed when they stopped the session to stand and honor elementary school students and their accomplishments. We will most likely return before the session ends on April 27. In the meantime we’re keeping in contact and following the progress of bills that affect our region.” – Cynthia

CEO Search Launches

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The Seventh Generation Principle is shared by many Native American nations and tribes, which emphasizes the importance of thinking ahead and making decisions that will benefit future generations. North Sound ACH has benefited greatly from learning from the eight tribes in the North Sound, upon whose land we sit and work.

With that in mind, Liz has let us know that it’s time to begin the search for the next CEO for North Sound ACH. There will be opportunities for partner engagement as we launch the search, please see below to learn more about the recruitment and search committee processes. You can view the job description here on our website, and hope that you will share it within your networks. We are working with Diversity Recruiters to manage the search, a firm we worked with in a prior successful search. We anticipate the search process taking approximately six months.

I want to thank Liz for the thoughtful way she is approaching this pivotal transition, and for her extraordinary tenure from the early days with two staff, to where we are today: post pandemic and growing with a new Medicaid waiver. Liz continues to advocate for a stronger network of regional partners, working together to innovate in their work today, in ways that result in a transformed region for the next generation and beyond.

– Cheryl Rasar
Board Chair

“It is such an honor to shepherd the work of North Sound ACH and its partners, leveraging resources to strengthen the work across the region. Over the next six months, I’m looking forward to helping the board identify an incredible leader ready to carry this work and grow opportunities to make this a region where all feel they belong.”

– Liz Baxter

There are a few ways that you can participate in the search for the North Sound ACH CEO.

  • Read updates in newsletters and emails, and share the job posting within your personal and professional networks. Investment of time = 3 hours
  • Respond to online surveys regarding interview process design options and creation of sample interview questions. Investment of time = 3 hours
  • Participate on an interview panel. This will require consistent commitment to prep sessions, debrief sessions, and the interview sessions, which will be virtual and in-person. Investment of time = 8-10 hours
  • Participate on the formal search committee. This will require commitment to attend roughly 10 meetings (primarily virtual) over the course of late November – early April. The tasks that the committee will engage in are as follows: design interview process, review top six candidate profiles and select who will be invited to interview, participate in 1-3 round of interviews. Investment of time = minimum of 20 hours, not to exceed 40 hours over four months. 

If you would like to learn more about these opportunities or want to be considered for the search committee or interview panel, please send an email to Nicole Leckband at Diversity Recruiters (nicole@diversityrecruiters.com). The deadline for consideration is Wednesday, November 27, 2024.

From left, Board Chair Cheryl Rasar, CEO Liz Baxter, CEqO Hallie Pritchett, COO Nicole Willis, and CTO Arlesia Bailey.

You’re Not Alone: A Message of Support and Hope

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Guest Post written by Kevin Riley, of Mount Baker Presbyterian Church

Trigger warning – This post will be vulnerable and long, so I have broken it up so it’s easier to read through. 

May 2, 2024

Tonight like most nights I opened my Facebook app to just kinda see what everyone was up to. The first post that popped up was one of our local community pages. 

I instantly read that there was a female in a mental health crisis and law enforcement was requesting help from every agency possible – helicopters, boats, firefighters, and more. 

The individual in crisis was on the Deception Pass Bridge. A place of extreme beauty and wonder and, on the other hand, a morbid darkness as well. Many people have taken their lives jumping from that bridge. I’ve even, when I was younger, stood there and thought about it a time or two. 

The person in crisis did jump. Her lifeless body was picked up by a boater who happened to be there and rushed to land, where they tried CPR and other life-saving measures. Unfortunately, she did not survive the fall. 

When I hear of someone who has taken their own life it sends a visceral feeling through my body, followed by a wave of emotion and gut wrenching empathy for the person that succumbed to the moment of desperation, finally losing the fight they fought for so long. 

Some of these fights are public; some are private and unexpected – think Robin Williams. 

I myself am a suicide survivor and I know that darkness all too well. The embarrassment and emotional toll, along with the stigma of having a mental health diagnosis is imprisoning and debilitating at times. 

And no matter how hard and far you run from it, it is inescapable. And, without proper treatment and support, can be life ending as we see at the beginning of this post. When you step into the darkness and find yourself in that place it never truly goes away. 

From about the age of 13 to 35 I tried to control my mental health through the use of illicit substances, and after nearly 10 years of not addressing my mental health in sobriety and having my CPTSD and complex trauma, triggered in debilitating ways that led to daily panic attacks, I finally trusted the people around me that were speaking life into me and sought after some providers that could help me with my issues. 

For the first time since my suicide attempt in 2009, I am currently working with prescribing providers and a trauma therapist in pursuing the healing that I have been afraid of for so long. 

Will this work fix everything? No, I don’t believe that it will. But I do truly believe that if I trust those who love me and lean into what the providers are doing to try to help me, life can be enjoyable. 

So I put this all out there, in a forward step of vulnerability. Along with the admission that sometimes I struggle, but now I know that I do not have to struggle in silence alone. 

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. And mental health-related concerns are a whole lot more common than you would think. I am here to say that if you are somebody who struggles, you do not have to do it alone. 

May 2 is also the National Day of Prayer, and my prayer today is for those who struggle with mental health, that they could overcome the stigma that is in the world and open their hearts to reaching out for help, and invite people in to help them in the healing process.

If I can find hope, health, and healing you can also.

Call me – I’d love to do life with you –

Kevin Riley