Meets the first Tuesday monthly from 1:00 - 3:00 pm at the NSMHA Offices in Mount Vernon (117 North First Street, Suite 8).  Pre-meeting presentations and study sessions begin at 12:15 pm.

Email Jill Dace, or call 425-388-7209.

NSMHA Advisory Board Recruitment
c/o Jill Dace
Snohomish County Human Services
3000 Rockefeller Ave, M/S 305
Everett WA 98201

Fax: 425-388-3434

The North Sound Mental Health Administration (NSMHA) Advisory Board is established in compliance with the Interlocal Agreement Establishing a mental health Regional Support Network (RSN) for Island, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom Counties, executed October 1989, and in compliance with the provisions of RCW 39.34.030, RCW 71.24, and Chapter 205 Section 5, Laws of 1989.

The purpose of the North Sound Mental Health Administration (NSMHA) Advisory Board is to provide independent and objective advice to the NSMHA Board of Directors and provide independent feedback to local jurisdictions and service providers.

• Duties include:
  Advising the NSMHA Board of Directors concerning the planning, delivery and evaluation of those mental health services which are the responsibility of NSMHA;
• Providing a vehicle for public testimony regarding mental health concerns which are the responsibility of NSMHA;
• Reviewing and providing comment on all NSMHA Strategic Plans, Quality Assurance Plans, service delivery plans and budgets which relate to mental health services before such plans and budgets are submitted to the NSMHA Board of Directors;
• Assuring that the special needs of minorities, Native Americans, the elderly, disabled, children, and low-income persons are met within the plans established by the NSMHA Board of Directors;
• Conducting site visits of NSMHA service providers, special interest groups, Department of Social and Health Service (DSHS) agencies, private sector service providers, hospitals and community programs, which are designed to provide NSMHA Advisory Board members with first-hand information to provide informed recommendations to the NSMHA Board of Directors;
• Assisting NSMHA with dissemination of information to the public who reside within the five (5) counties of NSMHA; and
• Performing other duties as the NSMHA Board of Directors may require.

Board must include:

• Representatives for each county: Island, 3; San Juan, 2; Skagit, 3; Snohomish, 8; Whatcom, 5
• At least one (1) member from each county will be a voting member on that county’s local Mental Health Advisory Board
• Fifty-one (51%) percent of the membership will be comprised of consumers and family members, with at least one (1)representative from each county being a consumer.

Snohomish County is looking for new members to its delegation to the North Sound Mental Health Administration (NSMHA) Advisory Board.  Applicants need to have an active interest in issues pertaining to the public mental health system and its services to members of our community who live with chronic and/or acute mental illness.  Consumers of services, family members, and community advocates are highly valued board members, as are those representing other systems (i.e. services for the elderly, children, law enforcement, drug and alcohol services, etc.) with an interest in coordinating services.

Board members may not be an employee, contracted service provider or board member of any organization that receives funds, in any manner from NSMHA.  Employees of Snohomish County are also not eligible for Advisory Board membership.