Community Engagement

Air Quality Is Community Care – Be Ready For 2025!

July 9, 2025 by Elle Prax Leave a Comment

As summer rolls in, so does the wildfire season here in the Pacific Northwest. While we can’t predict exactly how much smoke we’ll get, we can take steps to protect ourselves and our loved ones. This guide will help you get prepared, understand the risks, and know where to find reliable information.

Download our Breathe Easy, Be Ready flyer by clicking here!

What’s in Wildfire Smoke?

Smoke contains a mixture of:

– Particulate matter (PM2.5)
– Carbon monoxide
– Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

These pollutants are commonly found in wildfires, prescribed burns, wood stoves, and even certain indoor sources. The tiny particles in smoke (PM2.5) are so small they can sneak past your body’s defenses, getting deep into your lungs and your bloodstream.

How Smoke Affects Your Health

Prolonged exposure to inhaling smoke can lead to inflammation and aggravate pre-existing health issues like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and heart disease. Some other symptoms you might notice are:

– Burning eyes or a scratchy throat
– Coughing, headaches, and fatigue
– Wheezing, shortness of breath, or chest pain
– Asthma attacks or irregular heartbeat
– Mental stress and anxiety

While smoke affects everyone, some people are more vulnerable, including:

– Children and older adults
– Pregnant individuals
– People with asthma, heart disease, or other health conditions

Children, whose lungs are still developing, and older adults, whose immune systems may be weaker, are at higher risk. Pregnant individuals also need to be cautious as smoke exposure, and its harmful particles entering the bloodstream, is linked to fetal development. People with preexisting medical conditions may also experience worsened symptoms due to the added strain on their cardiovascular system.

Focus on Your Indoor Air Quality

Taking the time to focus on indoor air quality can make all of the difference in reducing exposure during smoky days. Here are a few simple ways to do that:

– Use HEPA portable air cleaners
– Change your HVAC filters regularly (use MERV 13 or higher, if your system allows)
– Make a DIY box fan filter (easy, affordable, and effective!)
– Avoid activities that create indoor smoke, like burning candles or frying food

Quick Tips to Reduce Smoke Exposure During a Wildfire

✅ Stay indoors as much as possible
✅ Keep windows and doors closed
✅ Use air filtration tools like HEPA filters or DIY fan boxes
✅ Check your HVAC system and upgrade filters if needed
✅ Follow air quality updates in your area

Stay Informed – Save these websites!

*Washington Smoke Blog – Your go-to for air quality and wildfire updates across Washington
*WA Dept. of Ecology Clean Air Agencies Map – Find your local clean air agency
*EPA Smoke-Ready Toolbox – Resources for communities preparing for wildfire smoke
*AirNow Wildfire Guide – Health advice and real-time smoke maps

Wildfire smoke is a part of life here in the PNW—but with a little planning, you can breathe easier and stay healthier. Share this info with friends, stock up on filters, and keep your space clean and safe. Here’s to a safer, healthier summer!

Educational Materials

– Download the flyer
– Download the social media post
If you have questions or would like to share wildfire resources please reach out to Vanessa Diaz at Vanessa@NorthSoundACH.org

Apple Health extended coverage to end

March 29, 2023 by North Sound ACH staff Leave a Comment

During the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), the Health Care Authority (HCA) extended coverage for all Apple Health (Medicaid) clients. This extension is now ending due to the Consolidated Appropriation Act (CAA) of 2023, and clients’ extended coverage will be affected. The HCA estimates 300,000 clients around the state may no longer qualify for Apple Health, but may be eligible for other insurance coverage.

HCA is resuming normal eligibility beginning April 1, 2023. Clients will receive a renewal notice prior to the end of their renewal period sometime over the next 12 months, based on a client’s renewal date.

Anticipated timeline for the end of the extended coverage:

Now – April 2023: clients can report a change (status, income, address, etc.)

April 2023 – April 2024: the HCA processes redeterminations

June 2023 – May 2024: some individuals and families will transition to other medical coverage.

If you receive Apple Health (Medicaid):

Make sure your contact information is up-to-date at www.wahealthplanfinder.org
Watch for renewal notices and take timely action to keep your coverage

Find a free Navigator at these locations:

Sea Mar Community Health Center https://www.seamar.org/open-enrollment.html
- Skagit: Concrete Clinic and Mount Vernon Clinic
- Snohomish: Everett, Marysville, and Monroe clinics
- Whatcom: Bellingham and Everson Clinic
Skagit Valley Hospital and Cascade Valley Hospital
- call 360-424-2613 or email exchangeinfo@skagitregionalhealth.org
Unity Care NW
- Bellingham and Ferndale clinics (360) 788-2669
Community Health Center of Snohomish County
- (425) 789-2060 and https://apple-health.chcsno.org/
Providence Health and Services (425) 261-4009
Resource Corporation of America (425) 263-8750

If you are a healthcare or community-based organization:

The HCA is seeking community organizations and influencers to act as volunteer Apple Health ambassadors. Ambassadors will work to ensure that Apple Health clients have the information and resources needed to maintain coverage at the end of the continuous coverage requirement period.

How can you spread the word? You can share information at work with coworkers and clients, at your next church service, community event, or school event. You can use their social media toolkit (https://www.hca.wa.gov/assets/free-or-low-cost/end-of-phe-social-media-toolkit.pdf) with approved posts you can share on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. North Sound ACH is also developing a social media tool kit that you are welcome to use.

March 27

The HCA is hosting monthly webinars for Ambassador updates – find dates and registration at https://www.hca.wa.gov/about-hca/programs-and-initiatives/apple-health-medicaid/apple-health-ambassador-program

Find more information at these links:

Search for Navigators by zip code and by language https://www.wahealthplanfinder.org/HBEWeb/Annon_DisplayBrokerNavigatorSearch.action?brokerNavigator=NAV
Learn more about Apple Health and the end of the public health emergency https://www.hca.wa.gov/about-hca/programs-and-initiatives/apple-health-medicaid/apple-health-and-public-health-emergency
Help Apple Health recipients report a change in other languages https://www.hca.wa.gov/free-or-low-cost-health-care/i-need-medical-dental-or-vision-care/update-my-income-or-address-report-change

Desfibrilador y Primeros Auxilios – Lopez Island features CPR class in Spanish

March 14, 2023 by Megan Stephenson Leave a Comment

In winter 2023, Lopez Island Family Resource Center (LIFRC), United General #304, and La Cima Lopez hosted a Spanish language CPR/AED/First Aid training on Lopez Island.

The Hispanic community on Lopez Island shared with Karina E. Cerda Aguirre, who works with LIFRC, that there was a great need to have this type of knowledge, due to events that had occurred.

“This course was a great success since all the people who took it here on López are very happy and grateful since some of them wanted to have it before, due to their own incidents, family or friends, and having taken it gave them great security and confidence,” Karina shared. “We believe that these courses make all of us and our community stronger!”

_{A student practices CPR at the Spanish class at Lopez Island Family Resource Center. Provided by LIFRC.}

After obtaining support from the Lopez Island Family Resource Center, organizers wanted to include the La Cima youth leaders since they speak both languages, and because they showed great interest in taking the course and helping people too. Gabe Evenson of United General #304 was the instructor.

Most Hispanic families on Lopez could not take other CPR classes, due to lack of 100% understanding of the English language, but if it were offered in Spanish, they would be happy to participate and learn important skills to keep our community safe and healthy. It also provided confidence and empowerment to Hispanics knowing that they are included in this type of opportunity.

LIFRC hopes to offer another class on Lopez, and involve people from other San Juan Islands. They hope that someone on Lopez will become a certified CPR trainer in Spanish so more people can be trained. And that they will have bi-lingual, bi-cultural, Spanish speaking community members work for Lopez EMS someday.

Karina added her thanks to North Sound ACH and our network of partners. “Without your help, we cannot carry out many of our projects with the Latino community of Lopez.”

‘Listens’ team helps community recover

September 21, 2022 by Megan Stephenson Leave a Comment

When a natural disaster or other extreme event hits a community, there is often an immediate response – neighbors and strangers donating their time, money, household goods and shelter, jolted into quick action out of compassion. This happened last fall, when Whatcom and Skagit counties experienced catastrophic flooding that impacted thousands of people and displaced over 500 households.

But a less visible response to these disasters is long-term recovery – such as, after the flood waters have receded. After surviving a disaster, individuals and communities experience trauma and stress, and need help recovering emotionally and mentally, in addition to home repair and replacing items lost.

The North Sound Listens team, a partnership of North Sound ACH and the Health Care Authority, provides peer support and crisis counseling to our neighbors impacted by the November 2021 floods and its aftermath. They are on the ground and on the phone, talking to folks Monday through Friday, in English and Spanish.

“Just to have someone listen to your story, that makes a huge difference for survivors,” said Nicole Donovan, program manager for North Sound Listens. The five-person team – Donovan, Maria Santos, Mario Morales, Cindy Harrington, and Tonya Bieche – was formed in April 2022, as part of North Sound ACH’s plan to support rapid community response in emergency situations.

*North Sound Listens team, from left: Maria Santos, Nicole Donovan, Mario Morales, Tonya Bieche, and Cindy Harrington.*

North Sound Listens is one part of a multifaceted recovery – they work with many other organizations in the community, as well as city, county, state, and federal agencies to try and coordinate the needs of impacted residents. At different stages in recovery, some people need case management – case managers coordinate resource referrals, help with paperwork and recovery plans, schedule volunteers to assist in house repair or other needs. Other times, people need someone like Maria, Mario, Cindy, and Tonya to just listen.

Maria, who has also worked as a homeopathic health and wellness coach, said she asks open ended questions and lets the person she’s visiting lead the conversation. Building trust takes time, and acceptance of help is not always immediate. But the team are present at community spaces, like the Nooksack Food Bank, as well as making regular follow up visits or phone calls, and Maria said this has helped the community to open up to her and her teammates.

Mario has previous experience in emergency management and security, and said that without other agencies and coordination, the North Sound Listens team can’t do the work that they do; everyone sharing resources is what it takes, he said. The North Sound Listens team works with organizations such as the Whatcom Long Term Recovery Group (formerly Whatcom Strong), Opportunity Council, Community Action of Skagit, Nooksack Food Bank, American Legion, Ferndale Community Services, among others.

A lot of community members that the North Sound Listens team meet downplay what they’ve been through, expressing that they don’t want to ‘take from the pie’ of resources, Tonya said, and the others agreed they see this as well. But by expressing their needs and giving attention to their mental health, they are actually building the pie for everyone. “Asking for what you need is a strength, it makes everyone better and stronger,” Tonya said.

*Mario Morales and Maria Santos hit the streets.*

If you or someone you know has been impacted by the November 2021 floods in Whatcom or Skagit County and needs someone to talk to, call (360) 935-0105. The team is available 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, but you can leave a message in any language and someone will return your call. You can also email NorthSoundListens@northsoundach.org.

Read more about the 2021 flood recovery:

The flooding of Everson, Washington by NBC News

Neighbors of Swift Creek displaced by asbestos by Cascadia Daily News

North Sound Accountable of Health invierte en la formación de intérpretes médicos

September 12, 2022 by Natalie Leave a Comment

El año pasado, North Sound Accountable Community of Health (North Sound ACH) desarrolló una encuesta sobre el acceso lingüístico para recopilar datos sobre los idiomas que se hablan en la región de North Sound y comprender mejor cómo apoyar a las organizaciones regionales en proporcionar servicios lingüísticamente y culturalmente apropiados en los servicios sociales y de salud.

Los datos recopilados en la encuesta destacaron oportunidades para aumentar los servicios en idiomas distintos al inglés. En la primavera de 2022, North Sound ACH inició un proyecto piloto para brindar oportunidades de capacitación a personas bilingües y multilingües para incrementar el acceso a la interpretación médica, una necesidad identiﬁcada de la fuerza laboral en North Sound.

Los participantes en esta encuesta son organizaciones asociadas con North Sound ACH, incluidas organizaciones comunitarias que prestan servicios a comunidades y naciones tribales en los condados de Whatcom, Skagit e Island.

La encuesta mostró que los principales idiomas para solicitar un intérprete son: español (95%), ruso (64%) y vietnamita (24%). La encuesta también informó sobre la gran necesidad de intérpretes para las personas que hablan lenguas indígenas, como el mixteco alto y el mixteco bajo, lo cual es especialmente difícil encontrar intérpretes locales con estos idiomas particulares de manera oportuna.

North Sound ACH ofreció becas para una clase de capacitación en Whatcom Community College en el trimestre de primavera de 2022; 12 estudiantes bilingües y trilingües se inscribieron en el curso de Fundamentos de Interpretacion Medica, provenientes de los condados de Skagit, Island, Snohomish y Whatcom. De los 12 estudiantes, 11 completaron la capacitación y ahora son elegibles para tomar el examen para la certiﬁcación nacional en interpretación médica. Los estudiantes que aprueben el examen serán elegibles para ofrecer interpretación médica a hablantes de mixteco, español y coreano.

Hay una diferencia entre un intérprete y un empleado bilingüe.

Rebeca Sixto era una de las alumnas, bilingüe (español e inglés), que al igual que muchos niños inmigrantes y de primera generación, ella ha estado interpretando de manera informal para su familia y miembros de la comunidad durante años, y a menudo se le pedía que ayudara a traducir o interpretar en sus lugares de trabajo. “A veces se siente como, oh Dios mío, tengo todo este trabajo que hacer,” reﬁriéndose a su experiencia al tener que traducir mientras estaba en el trabajo, pero “lo estoy haciendo para las personas que lo necesitan.” Ella menciono que siempre ha sido el tipo de persona que ayuda a las personas necesitadas. Después de tomar la clase, Rebeca dijo que aprendió que hay reglas a seguir para asegurarse de que está interpretando correctamente, especialmente en un entorno médico. Los estudiantes aprendieron sobre los estándares legales y éticos para la interpretación.

La compañera de estudios Julieta García Suárez dijo que descubrió que los empleadores a menudo quieren personas bilingües, pero no siempre se ofrece una compensación adicional por sus habilidades. “Hay una diferencia entre un intérprete y un empleado bilingüe,” dijo Julieta.

Todos los estudiantes han visto una gran necesidad de intérpretes, y muchos están motivados para tomar el examen estatal para obtener la certiﬁcación, no solo para recibir una compensación adecuada por sus habilidades, sino porque se necesitan intérpretes locales, como se demuestra en la encuesta realizada por North Sound ACH. Muchos de los estudiantes compartieron historias de ser jóvenes e interpretar para sus padres en las citas médicas, o ser la persona a quien acudir para ayudar a los pacientes de habla hispana que vienes a las clínicas donde se trabaja, o incluso si la persona necesitaba ayuda con el papeleo escolar de sus hijos. Tener intérpretes locales también genera conﬁanza en los miembros de la comunidad Latine, dijo Sixto.

North Sound ACH actualmente está buscando sitios de pasantías para los recién graduados de su programa de Interpretación Médica. A través de esta pasantía, los estudiantes practicarán sus habilidades de comunicación, traducción e interpretación, se familiarizarán con el entorno de atención médica y ganarán conﬁanza para brindar servicios de excelencia a sus clientes.

Para aquellos que ya trabajan en el campo de la atención médica, tener una certiﬁcación mejorará su capacidad para servir a sus comunidades, reducirá las barreras para los servicios de interpretación dentro de sus organizaciones y será reconocido y compense justamente por el trabajo.

Para aquellos sin experiencia en el campo de la atención médica, esta capacitación y certiﬁcación podría ser el comienzo de una carrera en la industria de la atención médica, ya que el graduado estará equipado para trabajar en organizaciones que requieren interpretación y traducción médica para sus clientes.

En 2023, North Sound ACH continuará liderando esfuerzos con socios de la comunidad para expandir el programa de certiﬁcación e interpretación médica a personas que hablan otros idiomas identiﬁcados en la encuesta de acceso lingüístico.

Las organizaciones que estén interesadas en recibir pasantes o aprender más sobre este proyecto pueden contactarnos en team@northsoundach.org.

Rocio Castillo-Foell, Directora de Participación Comunitaria y Promoción de la Salud habla virtualmente a los participantes del programa de intérpretes. Foto por Gabriela Cardona / North Sound ACH

North Sound Accountable Community of Health invests in training medical interpreters

September 12, 2022 by Megan Stephenson Leave a Comment

Last year, North Sound Accountable Community of Health (North Sound ACH) developed a Language Access Survey (LAS) to collect data on languages spoken in the North Sound region, and to better understand how to support partner organizations in providing culturally- and linguistically-appropriate language services in healthcare and social services.

The data collected from the LAS highlighted opportunities to increase non-English language services. In spring 2022, North Sound ACH initiated a pilot project to provide training opportunities to bilingual and multilingual individuals to explore medical interpreting, an identified workforce need in the North Sound.

The participants in the LAS are North Sound ACH partner organizations, including community grass-roots organizations serving communities and Tribal nations in Whatcom, Skagit, and Island counties.

The survey showed that the top languages to request an interpreter are: Spanish (95%), Russian (64%), and Vietnamese (24%). The survey also reported the high need for interpreters for Central American Indigenous languages, such as Mixteco Alto and Mixteco Bajo, which is especially challenging to find local interpreters for those languages in a timely manner.

North Sound ACH offered scholarships for a training class at Whatcom Community College in Spring Quarter 2022; 12 bi- and trilingual students enrolled in Foundations of Medical Interpreting, coming from Skagit, Island, Snohomish, and Whatcom counties, speaking Mixteco, Spanish, and Korean. Of the 12 students, 11 completed the training and are now eligible to take the exam towards certification in medical interpreting.

There’s a difference between an interpreter and a bilingual employee.”

Rebeca Sixto was one of the students, a bilingual speaker of Spanish and English. Like many immigrant and first-generation children, she has informally been interpreting for her family and community members for years, and was often asked to help translate or interpret at her workplaces. “Sometimes it feels like, oh my gosh I have all this work to do,” she said of being asked to translate while at work, but “I’m doing it for the people that need it.” She said she’s always been the type of person to help people in need. After taking the class, she said she learned there are regulations to follow, to ensure you are interpreting correctly, especially in a medical setting. The students learned about legal and ethical standards for interpreting.

Fellow student Julieta Garcia Suarez said she found that employers often want bilingual speakers, but it didn’t always equate to extra compensation for her skills. “There’s a difference between an interpreter and a bilingual employee,” she said.

The students have all seen a great need for interpreters, and many are motivated to take the state exam to become certified – not just to be appropriately compensated for their skills, but because local interpreters are needed, as demonstrated in the LAS. Many of the students shared stories of being young and interpreting for their parents at medical appointments, or being the “go-to” person for Spanish-speaking patients when working at clinics, even if the person needed help with their children’s school paperwork. Having local interpreters also builds trust in Latinx community members, Sixto said.

North Sound ACH is currently looking for internship sites for the recent graduates of its Medical Interpretation program. Through this internship, the students will practice their communication, translation, and interpretation skills, become familiar with the healthcare environment, and gain confidence to provide excellent services to their clients.

For those already working in the healthcare field, having a certification will enhance their ability to serve their communities, reduce barriers to interpretation services within their organizations, and be recognized and better remunerated for the work.

For those with no experience in the healthcare field, this training and certification might be the beginning of a career in the healthcare industry, as the graduate will be equipped to work at organizations that require medical interpretation and translation for their clients.

In 2023, North Sound ACH will continue to lead efforts with community partners to expand the medical interpretation and certification program to individuals who speak other languages identified in the Language Access Survey.

Organizations that are interested in hosting interns or learning more about this project can contact us at team@northsoundach.org.