PORT TOWNSEND — For the staff of Jefferson County Public Health, today is a day of respite.

At an all-staff retreat, 45 to 50 workers will get together for team-building activities, inspirational speakers and the creation of a public health time capsule, said Apple Martine, director of the county health department.

“Though it feels like a very private event with the intention to nurture staff, I see that it is an example for those beyond our tight-knit group of employees,” she wrote in an email to Peninsula Daily News.

The retreat is simply about supporting workers through challenging times, Martine said.

“This support, in the form of a meaningful retreat, is especially prudent at this unprecedented time for public health specifically, and for healthcare in general,” she added.

Over these past two years, the global pandemic has impacted staff morale, health and well-being, Martine said.

“Workforce burnout, compassion fatigue, challenging and relentless schedules to cover our emergency response to the pandemic, work-life balance when your profession is on the front lines,” she said, “are all things that matter a great deal to us.”

The Jefferson County Public Health staff retreat was originally scheduled for Feb. 18, after the Board of County Commissioners authorized $7,500 in county funding for catering, speakers’ fees, venue rental and supplies.

Then came the omicron surge and public health workers’ response to it. The retreat was postponed five weeks.

The COVID landscape looks quite different now: Jefferson County’s case rate has come down to 65 cases per 100,000 population, which is in the low category. The portion of the county population that is fully vaccinated is 76.1 percent, while 81.5 percent have initiated the process.

At today’s retreat, the county health department staff — including Dr. Allison Berry, health officer for both Jefferson and Clallam counties — will also begin to envision the future.

This visioning will be based on lessons learned, Martine said.

One of the speakers at today’s retreat is Jonnae Tillman of Edmonds, a veteran trainer of the motivational interviewing technique. She’ll discuss the ways health workers use the method when helping people change their behavior for healthier outcomes, Martine said.

The day will also include a presentation from Jon Tunheim, Thurston County’s prosecuting attorney, who speaks throughout Washington state on the “science of hope” and “hope-inspired communities.”

As for the time capsule, that will be an art activity to capture “this unique COVID-19 experience we are living through,” Martine said.

“We are a very small health department. But we have many complex roles and duties,” she noted.

Since March 2020, there has been a “near-complete diversion to pandemic response.”

“We feel this is right timing too,” for the retreat, Martine said.

“The pandemic is certainly not over, but we feel the moment is upon us to safely take a breath.”

The Jefferson County Public Health offices, in the QFC shopping center at 615 Sheridan St., will be closed today while the staff participates in the retreat. Voice messages can be left on the main number, 360-385-9400, and will be returned first thing Monday morning, Martine said.

For her part, Martine said she looks forward most to “the chance for all of us to reconnect, refresh, and reimagine together.”

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Jefferson County Senior Reporter Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-417-3509 or durbanidelapaz@ peninsuladailynews.com.