From my inbox:

The Loudoun County Community Services Board (CSB) is seeking applicants to serve as representatives from the Dulles, Potomac, Sterling and Sugarland Run Districts.

The Loudoun County CSB is appointed by and accountable to the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors to set policy for, and to administer the provision of, community-based services for people experiencing mental illness, intellectual disabilities, and substance use disorders. That responsibility includes oversight of the Loudoun County Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Developmental Services.

CSB members are drawn from the greater Loudoun community, and may represent a variety of backgrounds and interests, personal, professional or civic, that may give them insight into the issues that concern the CSB. The CSB is particularly interested in seeking members who have experience in the area of children’s services and communications, and who have multi-lingual skills. Each new appointee would be eligible to serve up to three, three-year terms.

By law, one third of the members of a Community Services Board must be self-identified as active consumers of a mental health, substance abuse, or developmental service (though not necessarily one provided directly by the CSB) or be the family member of someone actively receiving a service. No member of a CSB may be anyone who is employed by a CSB or by any agency that receives funding from a CSB.

CSB members are responsible for attending monthly CSB meetings, and each CSB member is expected to serve on one or more committees and to attend the meetings monthly of the groups on which they serve.

The Community Services Board will interview prospective members and will recommend qualified applicants to the Board of Supervisors for terms beginning January 1, 2011. The Board of Supervisors will make the final determination of who is appointed.

Interested applicants should visit the Community Services Board page of the county website at www.loudoun.gov/csb and click on the link under “Members” for an application and a summary of CSB roles and responsibilities.

The deadline to apply has been extended to Friday, August 20, 2010.

I sit on the Board of the CSB, and have found it to be an interesting, challenging, fulfilling experience.