Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Behavioral Health topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Behavioral Health Council bylaws updated to align with county Access & Opportunity language guidance
Summary
Behavioral health leaders presented technical language updates to the council’s bylaws to comply with the Office of Access and Opportunity language guide; staff said the changes are not material to council structure and will be returned for board adoption Jan. 6.
Washington County staff presented proposed amendments Dec. 16 to the Behavioral Health Council bylaws to align board‑facing documents with the county’s recently adopted Access & Opportunity language guide. Nick O’Cone, division manager for behavioral health, said staff revised wording flagged by the Office of Access and Opportunity and that the document was reviewed and approved by the Behavioral Health Council on Oct. 24.
What changed: Staff characterized the edits as language updates intended to conform bylaws to the county’s adopted language guidance and stated there were no material changes to council size, roles or decision‑making authority. The council remains a 15‑member advisory body created under state statute to advise the behavioral health division.
Board reaction: One commissioner said they were disappointed to see some words removed from the document (for example, the removal of the term "diversity" and edits involving "gender identity"), and asked for clarification on the rationale and context for the changes. Chair Harrington clarified that the language guide flows from a board decision adopted earlier and that staff are updating committee bylaws across the county to meet that guidance.
Next steps: Staff said they will return to the board on Jan. 6 with the final bylaws for consideration and noted the changes were the result of a multi‑year subcommittee process and subsequent Office of Access and Opportunity review.
