VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY - COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD - AGING AND LONG TERMS CARE

Job Description

OVERVIEW

Community Advisory Committee Member - (Aging and Long Term Care - Volunteer)

Kitsap County Mental Health, Chemical Dependency & Therapeutic Courts Program

Are you passionate about strengthening mental health, substance use, and justice-related services in your community?

Are you passionate about improving behavioral health outcomes for older adults, people with disabilities, and the caregivers and families who support them?

Kitsap County is seeking an Aging and Long-Term Care representative to join our Community Advisory Committee, helping guide how funding supports critical behavioral health services for older adults, caregivers, and people with disabilities.

This is a meaningful opportunity to bring an aging, disability, and long-term care perspectiveto local behavioral health funding decisions and help ensure that the behavioral health needs of these populations are considered in community investments.

About the Committee

The Mental Health, Chemical Dependency, and Therapeutic Court Community Advisory Committee is an 11-member group that advises the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners on behavioral health needs and funding priorities.

The Committee helps guide investments in services related to:

• Mental health
• Substance use treatment
• Therapeutic courts

With a strong focus on improving behavioral health outcomes and access to services across the community, the Committee considers how funding can address gaps, strengthen service systems, and support individuals and families in need.

What You’ll Do

As a member, you will:

• Review and score funding applications for community programs
• Help recommend funding decisions to the Board of Commissioners
• Advocate for the needs of children, youth, and families
• Evaluate program effectiveness and outcomes
• Contribute to system-level planning and improvement efforts

Who Can Apply - Aging and Long-Term Care Representative

We are seeking individuals who:

Have experience, expertise, or strong involvement in aging and long-term services, including senior services, healthcare, caregiving, or aging and disability services, such as:

• Professional, lived or family experience with aging, disability, caregiving, healthcare, mental health, substance use, or long-term services and supports
• Understand the needs of the aging population in regards to mental health and substance use challenges
• Are committed to representing aging and disabilities populations in funding decisions
• Providing, coordinating, or advocating for services for older adults or people with disabilities
• Working in senior housing, assisted living, skilled nursing, or other long-term care settings
• Experience in healthcare, behavioral health, rehabilitation, home health, or hospice services
• Providing professional or unpaid caregiving for an older adult or person with a disability
• Working with family caregivers or caregiver support programs
• Experience with aging and disability resource programs or other long-term services and supports
• Can collaborate effectively and engage in thoughtful decision-making

This position is typically filled by someone connected to or knowledgeable about the aging and long term care/disabilities service systems.

Time Commitment

This is a volunteer role with a meaningful but manageable time commitment:

Monthly Meetings (Required):

• 1 meeting per month (2 hours)
• Typically held the third Thursday from 5:00-7:00 PM (virtual or hybrid)

Annual Funding Review Process (Required - July & August):

• 7-10 hours per week during this period
• Review and score approximately 30-40 proposals
• Participate in two in-person evening Executive Sessions (4 hours each)

Optional Subcommittees:

• Up to 10-12 additional hours per year

Estimated Total Commitment: ~60-65 hours annually
(Most of the workload is concentrated in July and August.)

Why Join?

• Help shape services that directly impact seniors and those with disabilities
• Ensure these population’s voices are represented in funding decisions
• Influence long-term community outcomes
• Collaborate with a dedicated group of community leaders

Additional Information

• Members are appointed by the Board of County Commissioners
• Serve three-year terms (with potential for reappointment)
• Must have access to technology/internet for participation
• Conflict of interest guidelines apply during funding decisions

Application Process

Selected applicants will:

• Attend a Committee meeting
• Meet with staff to review expectations
• Participate in an interview process
• Be considered for appointment by the Board of County Commissioners

For more information or to apply, please contact:

Hannah Shockley, Kitsap County Department of Human Services

Phone: (360) 337-4827 email: [email protected]

Kitsap County Commissioner District Map: Kitsap_County_Commissioners_Full.pdf

No benefits are offered with this position exceptthose required by the state or federal law.