County Board of Health’s sets priorities, introduces JEDI

Toward bolstering the collective impact of work being done here, Thurston County's Board of Health (BOH) has identified strengthening community partnerships as one of its primary goals for the year 2024.

Board members engaged in discussions aimed at setting clear and actionable objectives during a strategic planning session on February 13.

The session was facilitated by Dr. Jen Freiheit, Assistant Director of Thurston's Public Health & Social Services.

“The whole key purpose of today is to quickly do a mini strategic plan,” said Freiheit. “[The goals] will be on schedule, and it'll be very actionable.”

Before the planning session, board members were asked to complete a survey to gauge their priorities.

Among the key goals identified were:

• establishment and enhancement of community partnerships
• promotion of innovation through evaluation, research, and quality improvement
• assessment and monitoring of population health
• development of a trusted brand with increased visibility

Dr. Freiheit emphasized that while these goals were highlighted, they do not diminish the importance of other projects. Rather, the focus is on ensuring that these key objectives are met within a two-year timeframe.

"The strategic plan serves as an internal guide for the Board of Health," explained Dr. Freiheit. "It is a document led and driven by you, the members, to steer our collective efforts in the right direction."

The survey also revealed that Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) were the top values of the board, followed by Innovation or Open-Mindedness and Communication.

Following discussions on aligning goals and strategies, the board aims to translate these priorities into actionable plans that contribute to the broader organizational objectives.

A detailed work plan is expected to be developed and reviewed at next month's meeting, aligning with the overarching goals of the organization.