Consider and take appropriate action on the appointment of four (4) new members to the Austin/Travis County Public Health Commission Board of Directors. (Commissioner Travillion)
Staff Report & Agenda Item Details
On February 22, 2022, the Commissioners Court adopted a Resolution directing the County Executive for Travis County Health and Human Services to work in collaboration with the City of Austin to create a Joint Austin/Travis County Public Health Commission (ATCPHC) to identify existing gaps in the overall public health services and programs in order to address health disparities within our community.<br><br data-pasted="true">The Commissioners Court approved the initial appointments to the Public Health Commission on Tuesday, February 28, 2023. <br><br>The Commission is made up of nine (9) appointees and four (4) ex-officio members. The appointees represent individuals and organizations—including representation from a broad range of health and human services agencies and interests--best positioned to provide expertise by profession, organizational affiliation, or lived experience. The ex-officio members are the Local Health Authority and leadership (or designee) from Austin Public Health, Travis County Health and Human Services, and Central Health.<br><br>The Public Health Commission has experienced some turnover and City Council and the members of the Court have approved new appointments. <br><br>Recently, we’ve had four members who, for personal or professional reasons, have resigned their membership in the Commission. Therefore, the ex-officio members vetted over 55 membership applications received by the City of Austin Clerk’s Office and interviewed nine candidates in person; and, now recommend the City of Austin City Council and the Travis County Commissioners Court appoint <strong>Hanan Alwan, Lamanda Ballard, Stephanie Helfman, and Dr. Shannon Jones</strong> to fill the four vacancies on the Austin/Travis County Public Health Commission Board.<br><br>The Commission is composed of nine (9) regular members who serve staggered four-year terms, with four (4) or five (5) members, as appropriate, jointly appointed each even-numbered year by the Council and the Commissioners Court.