Advisory Board

The purpose of the North Sound Behavioral Health Advisory Board is to advocate for a system of care that is shaped by the voices of our communities and people using behavioral health services. The delivery of behavioral health care is competent, compassionate, empowering and supportive of personal health and wellness. Care needs of the region are understood, defined and championed. The Advisory Board will provide independent and objective advice and feed back to the North Sound BH-ASO Board of Directors and local jurisdictions, and county advisory boards and service providers.

Download our Bylaws

Monthly Meetings

The North Sound Behavioral Health Advisory Board meets the 1^st Tuesday of each month from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. All meetings are open to the public. Meetings are being held on a virtual platform until further notice.

Membership

The membership of the Advisory Board consists of persons with lived experience and parents and guardians of persons experiencing and/or are in recovery from a behavioral health disorder, law enforcement, retired professionals and Tribal representation. Members from each county are appointed by their respective counties. Members are appointed for 3-year terms. If you would like to serve on the Board or attend a meeting, please contact Maria Arreola at 360-416-7013 or maria_arreola@nsbhaso.org

Island County
Island County has no vacancies.
Chris Garden - Vice Chair I have spent over 36 years as a First Responder in Island County and as a resident of the county I have a deep desire to see everyone succeed and our community grow in positive ways. I know that there are those that need additional services to move forward and as a representative on the board I continue to advocate for those services. We have a relatively safe, beautiful and healthy community and we can continue to grow that with careful planning and use of our resources.
Candace Trautman My commitment as an Island County representative on this board is rooted in prevention of suicide deaths and the hard work of recovery for everyone who is affected. It is reality that some people consider taking their own life. Some attempt, and a few attempters die by suicide. It affects all of us. My personal passion lies in education and research in the field of suicidology. Serving on the North Sound Advisory Board provides an avenue for my support of our regional Crisis System.
Rose Dennis I am an advocate for those whose lives have been impacted by opioid and fentanyl substance abuse. I have personally experienced this disease for over 23 years with my son, and I have learned that there is so much more that can be done to accomplish treatment success. Research has reported that we must treat Substance Abuse as a disease. Unfortunately, my son Matthew Dennis passed away from this tragic disease in 2021 at the age of 36. More resources could possibly have prevented his death, along with so many others.
Julie Melville It is my honor to represent the people of Camano and Whidbey Islands on this board. Our most vulnerable people need more voices, now more than ever, to speak fervently on their behalf. My interest in behavioral health began over forty years ago when an uncle took his own life and I heard a professional label a family member with ‘mental illness’ for the first time. It rocked my world, exposing a Pandora’s box. A few years later, my husband and I learned we were raising a special needs child. Later, there would be other family members given other similar labels and a second family member took his own life. My world turned upside down. I turned to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), finding kindred spirits and life-long friends. Soon, I became certified as a NAMI Family to Family Leader and NAMI Family Support Group Leader. “…there are only two kinds of families in America: those who are struggling with mental illness and those who are not struggling with a mental illness yet.” —Thomas Insel, MD, former director of the National Institute of Mental Health

San Juan County

San Juan County has vacancies. If you are interested to serve, please contact Maria Arreola at maria_arreola@nsbhaso.org or (360) 416-7013

Mary Uri

Skagit County

Skagit County has vacancies. If you are interested to serve, please contact Maria Arreola at maria_arreola@nsbhaso.org or (360) 416-7013

Jeannette Anderson
(No Statement)

Snohomish County

Snohomish County has vacancies. If you are interested to serve, please contact Maria Arreola at maria_arreola@nsbhaso.org or (360) 416-7013

Gay Lynn Beighton
(No statement)

Pat O'Maley-Lanphear - Chair
I have always sought ways to advocate for members in my community. My husband is a retired veteran and we have moved many times while he was on active duty, so professionally and through volunteering, I have had a lot of opportunity to advocate for individuals in our community who are struggling with chronic mental health or substance related issues. I also have a family member that continues to experience behavioral issues stemming from chronic mental illness. Participation on this Board is a rewarding way to give back to my community and attempt to make a difference. The blended professional experience as well as my family experience has given me a broad foundation and knowledge of the issues that I can apply to the advocacy functions of the Board.

Michele Meaker Pin

Michele Meaker joined the United Way of Snohomish County in June 2021. Most recently she served three years as Executive Director of NAMI Eastside. Prior to NAMI, Michele served on the Development team at Compass Health. In 2018, Michele earned her EMPA from the Evans School at the University of Washington and has experience as a Legislative Assistant in Olympia.

Michele has lost several family members to suicide, and her family supports extended family with mental health & substance use disorder conditions. Michele is trained to deliver several NAMI programs including Family-to-Family, Family Support Group, and the Ending-the-Silence program for schools. She is also a trained Mental Health First Aid instructor.

Jana Robison

(No Statement)

Fred Plappert

(No Statement)

Marie Jubie

(No Statement)