Community Advisory Workgroup is Underway!
Alongside community members from across the state, the HEAL Act implementation team have been meeting to discuss what environmental justice looks like in their communities, as well as provide guidance on HEAL Act implementation.
This workgroup meets monthly and includes representatives from counties and communities across the state.
Currently, applications to join the workgroup are closed. We will post any vacancies for the workgroup on this page, and on our HEAL newsletter. Subscribe to the HEAL newsletter.
Other Opportunities to Engage
School Environmental Health and Safety Standards
The Washington State Board of Health (SBOH) is conducting Rulemaking on School Environmental Health and Safety standards.
Provide written comments through February 9, 2025.
Virtual Focus Groups
The SBOH is hosting virtual focus groups throughout February. Staff will share changes in regulations for feedback from community members, families, teachers, and school staff. Each meeting will have 30 minutes allotted for each of the following rule topics:
- Indoor Air Quality
- Routine Inspections
- Construction
- Site Assessments
More information regarding these upcoming virtual focus groups will be shared on the State Board of Health's webpage.
Community Engagement Plans
The environmental justice law known as the Healthy Environment for All Act (HEAL), passed in 2020. Chapter 70A.02 RCW provides a roadmap for integrating environmental justice into state agencies. The law requires seven state agencies to create and adopt community engagement plans by July 1, 2022. For this and other parts of HEAL, agencies work closely with the Environmental Justice Council, which consists of members appointed by the Governor. HEAL states that the Environmental Justice Council will provide guidance on community engagement plans as agencies create and update them. HEAL also requires that each covered agency consider the guidance developed by the Council. See the Environmental Justice Council website for more details on the role of the Council.
Community Engagement Guide
The Council created formal guidance on community engagement plans for HEAL agencies in August of 2023 and DOH has since incorporated this guidance into our updated agency-specific Community Engagement Guide.
Or you can download the original version of DOH’s Provisional Community Engagement Plan for HEAL Act Implementation - DRAFT July 2022 (PDF).