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The Governor's Interagency Council on Health Disparities
The Governor's Interagency Council on Health Disparities
(the Health Disparities Council) was established by the Legislature in 2006
when it passed, and the Governor signed,
Substitute Senate Bill 6197.
The Health Disparities Council
is charged with the following tasks:
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Action plan: By 2012, create a state action plan
for eliminating health disparities by race/ethnicity and gender in
Washington State. The Council's work
plan and timeline to develop the action plan is available.
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Advisory committees: To help with its work, the
Council is required to establish advisory committees to address specific
issues. The Council's advisory
committee charter is available.
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Language barriers: The Council must--after
holding hearings and conducting research--issue recommendations for
improving the availability of culturally appropriate health literature
and interpretive services within public and private health-related
agencies.
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Communication: The Council is charged with
promoting communication among state agencies and between state agencies
and communities of color, the public sector and the private sector to
address health disparities.
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Information gathering: Through public
hearings, inquiries, studies, and other efforts at information
gathering, the Council will work to understand how the actions of state
government ameliorate or contribute to health disparities.
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Health impact reviews: Collaborate with the
State Board of Health
in the development of health impact reviews requested by the Governor or
the Legislature.
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Regular updates: The Council must update the
Governor and the Legislature on its progress regularly. Its 2009
progress report is available.
Membership and Staffing:
The Council has 17 members: a
chair appointed by the Governor; representative of 14 state agencies, boards
and commissions; and two members of the public. It is staffed by the State
Board of Health with support from the Office of Financial Management.
Additional Information:
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