Purpose & Role  

The Community Voices Council (CVC) is an up to 30-member council chartered by the Better Health Together (BHT) Accountable Community of Health (ACH) Board of Directors. This group was created to elevate the voices of community members who are or who have been Medicaid beneficiaries, uninsured, or have experienced barriers to care as a result of their identity, income, race, or ability, and to support them in taking an active role in improving their own health and that of their family, friends, and neighbors. The CVC can make project recommendations to the Board and will evaluate BHT’s accountability to community members.  

CVC members possess an inclusive and collaborative workstyle. Membership comes with a time commitment of 2-8 hours per month. Members will be compensated for their time and/or reimbursed for expenses incurred.

Vision  

The CVC believes no one in the BHT region should experience a difference in access to care as a result of their identity, income, race, or ability.  

Goals  

Provide guidance and feedback to Better Health Together networks, including but not limited to;  

  • BHT Board and Board Committees  

  • Regional Health Improvement Plans  

  • Regional Health Inventory and Assessment  

  • Evaluate BHT’s Health Equity goals   

  • Spokane Collaborative Group  

  

CVC Member Roles & Responsibilities  

We ask for 2-8 hours of time a month from our Community Voices Council Members.     

Expectations Include:  

  • Come prepared (including any assigned readings), attend, and participate in bi-monthly or monthly Community Voices Council Meeting (in person in Spokane or via phone/computer). Meetings are scheduled for the third Tuesday of every month from 11:30am-2pm.   

  • Engage with community groups/members regularly, and bring back information and questions to the monthly council meetings   

  • Attend and complete required trainings, such as Leadership Training, Equity Trainings, and Community Health Worker training (paid for by BHT)  

  • Miss no more than three meetings a year.  

  • Support BHT’s Commitment to Anti-racism  

Ad Hoc Expectations include:  

  • Attend other BHT and community meetings.   

  • Evaluation and reporting to ensure BHT is accountable to our community members  

  • Identify opportunities to improve population health in the BHT region and advocate for preventive care practices  

  • Help support the design of transformative change and equity projects and benchmarks to Community Health Collaboratives  

  • Maximize engagement of those enrolled in Medicaid and/or experiencing health disparities  

  • Provide advice to help BHT link the community’s medical and non-medical services to overcome barriers to health  

  • Review cross sector data to explore key drivers, identify shared measures, evaluate impact, and prioritize investment  

  • Provide link back to community members to aid in achieving the BHT’s mission  

  • Provide direct feedback to BHT Board during community comment portion of the Board meeting.  

  • Participate in and provide feedback on equity related trainings and projects  

 

Interested in Joining the CVC?  

We are currently recruiting for new members! The CVC is a group of community members and leaders who represent the diversity of the broader BHT regional community. CVC has representatives from community groups reflecting the Black, Indigenous, people of color, social, ethnic, and geographic diversity of the region, and representatives with lived experience including but not limited to racial discrimination, homelessness, jail transitions, foster care, disability, mental health, 2SLGBTQIA+, and substance use disorder challenges, economic instability, and difficulty navigating the healthcare system.  

CVC members have a working knowledge of programs, services, and community networks that help overcome barriers. Understanding both factors: barriers and programs position members to make suggestions for better health processes resulting in improved health outcomes and patient experiences.  

  You are a good fit for this council if:  

  • You want to be an active part of making your community healthier  

  • You have first-hand experience including but not limited to racial discrimination, homelessness, jail transitions, foster care, disability, mental health, 2SLGBTQIA+, substance use disorder challenges, public education, economic instability, and difficulty navigating the healthcare system.  

  • You like to talk to people in your community about what issues are affecting them 

  • You like to come up with ideas for solutions that help your community and neighbors 

  • You are invested in an integrated and anti-racist healthcare system 

If selected, members are offered a monthly stipend of $100, by check or gift card, for attending the monthly meeting and reimbursement for travel expenses and child care. 

 

To Apply: 

You can apply online by clicking here!

Or email us for a paper application at heather@betterhealthtogether.org.