|
April 25, 2022
Media contact: OHA External Relations, orcovid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us
PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is launching a new program to fund work by community-based organizations to help them focus on local priorities while meeting their health equity goals.
OHA’s Public Health Division recognizes the essential role of community-based organizations in partnership with local public health authorities and other community partners to implement community-led and culturally and linguistically responsive programs. Today’s start of this new initiative reflects coordination of eight public health programs coming together to center health equity and community priorities in one centralized funding opportunity.
OHA’s commitment to eliminating health inequities by 2030 relies on building trusting relationships with community-based organizations that collectively serve every county, and on supporting their efforts to uplift community health priorities that are grounded in equity and accessibility.
OHA acknowledges that racism, settler colonialism, and historic and contemporary injustices have created policies and programs that led to unfair and unjust health inequities over time. In centering community strengths and wisdom for health, this grant opportunity supports community-based organizations as partners in Oregon’s public health system, working toward equity in: communities of color; nine Federally Recognized Tribes of Oregon and tribal communities; people with disabilities; immigrant and refugee communities; undocumented communities; migrant and seasonal farmworkers; LGBTQIA+ communities; faith communities; older adults; houseless communities; and others.
Public Health Director Rachael Banks explained that “Building a more equitable public health future requires deep and meaningful collaboration with community-based organizations, and uplifting and centering health priorities that are important to communities across the state. This funding opportunity is an important part of OHA’s commitment to eliminating health inequities by 2030.”
Community-based organizations applied for and were awarded funds to carry out work in one or more of the following program areas:
- Adolescent and school health
- Commercial tobacco prevention
- Communicable disease prevention
- Emergency preparedness
- Environmental public health and climate change
- HIV/sexually transmitted infection education, outreach and community needs assessment
- ScreenWise: Breast and cervical cancer prevention
- Overdose prevention
OHA has awarded 147 community-based organizations a total of about $31 million across all eight program areas between April 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023. Within the program areas, community-based organizations have agreed to focus on work aligned with their community’s priorities in one or more of the following categories of funding:
- Health education and communication
- Identifying and assessing community priorities
- Supporting prevention activities
- Policy development
Dolly England, the Public Health Division’s Community Engagement Program manager, said, “This is important equity work, and it cannot be done without the strength and support of community-based organizations.”
For more information, visit the Public Health Funding for Community-based Organizations page.
###
 You are subscribed to Oregon Health Authority News Releases. View all OHA news releases.
|
