To: County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Department of Health Services
Staff Name and Phone Number: Nolan Sullivan, 565-7901; Amelyn Olson, 707-565-2696
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Recommended Action:
Title
Approve the Appointment of Natalie Wright to the Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Advisory Board for a term beginning June 2, 2026, and ending December 31, 2028.
End
Executive Summary:
Approve the Appointment of Natalie Wright to the Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Advisory Board for a term beginning June 2, 2026, and ending December 31, 2028.
Discussion:
The Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Advisory Board Program interacts with community systems as a partner in providing direct safety net services to high-risk maternal, child, and adolescent populations, as a coordinator of community-wide services and programs, and as a convener of the Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Advisory Board and other collaborative groups to address emerging health needs in the community. The Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Advisory Board has been an important vehicle for implementing prevention strategies and coordinating services that benefit the entire community. Collaborating with local organizations and individuals is critical to reducing disparities and improving the overall health of women, children, and adolescents in Sonoma County.
New Appointment to the Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Advisory Board
The Sonoma County Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Advisory Board bylaws specify that members be appointed by the Board of Supervisors. When vacancies on the Sonoma County Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Advisory Board occur, the openings are posted on the County website in accordance with the Maddy Act, and replacements are recruited from the community. Following procedures outlined in the bylaws, all applications are reviewed by the Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Advisory Board Chairperson and the Vice-Chairperson, who then make recommendations to the Department of Health Services.
The Department of Health Services requests that the Board appoint the following individual to the Sonoma County Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Advisory Board for a new term beginning June 2, 2026 and ending December 31, 2028 as follows:
|
Candidate |
Representation |
|
Natalie Wright |
Community Representatives; Parenting |
Natalie Wright earned her Bachelor of Arts from Wake Forest University majoring in Sociology in 2012 and received her Master’s in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis in 2014. She has been a member of the Active 20-30 club since 2019 and currently holds the position of Youth Benevolent Fund Chair. Currently she is employed as the Program Director for First 5 Sonoma County. Natalie brings experience working directly with families, organizing community members in social justice campaigns, building partnerships, and supporting local programs and systems with First 5 Sonoma County for seven years.
Her goal in serving on the Advisory Board is to raise the needs and concerns heard from families and children serving partners to the membership as well as lifting up the opportunities for partnership. She believes as a program director at First 5 leading the maternal-child investments and partnerships that she can bring data collected through needs assessments, updates on innovative programming, and opportunities for partnership to the MCAH Board. She also believes that being a part of a network of First 5s across the state also allows her to bring transformative ideas from other counties.
She looks forward to the future and continuing to deepen partnerships with others in ways to collaboratively support programs and system changes to better support young kids and their parents allowing each to thrive.
A table listing the full Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Advisory Board membership is provided as Attachment 1.
Prior Board Actions:
The Board of Supervisors appoints/reappoints Sonoma County Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Advisory Board members as needed. Most recently, on June 3, 2025, the Board appointed Dr. Milana PeBenito, Taylor Anderson-Stevenson, and Alexandra Rios for a term beginning June 3, 2025, and ending December 31, 2026.
Fiscal Summary
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
N/A
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Board Composition
Attachment 2 - Recommended Application
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None