Umpqua Health Alliance Donates $250,000 in 2016
Now Accepting Applications for 2017 Projects
ROSEBURG, Ore., Jan. 9, 2017 – Umpqua Health Alliance’s Community Advisory Council (CAC) provided $250,000 in grants to community–based health projects in 2016. Additionally, the CAC is accepting grant applications from Douglas County organizations that are seeking funding for 2017.
The CAC funded eight projects in 2016 that furthered the council’s goal of improving the overall health of area residents. The programs fell under Umpqua Health Alliance’s (UHA) Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), which aims to address health issues in five main priorities: access, addictions, mental health, parents and children, and healthy lifestyles.
“CAC members gave a significant amount of time considering these initial projects. Many of these projects built capacity in our community to partner with other organizations and leverage additional resources. We look forward to seeing the results of each of the projects and how they have impacted social and physical environments that promote good health for all,” says CAC Board Chair Melanie Prummer.
A big focus for the CAC in 2016 was addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences and Trauma Informed Care (ACEs and TIC). The CAC granted $82,448 to the Battered Person’s Advocacy to establish a program to implement ACES and TIC practices throughout Douglas County.
The CAC also awarded $58,131 to Adapt to help establish an Opioid Treatment Program, which should be operational at the start of 2017. The Children’s Advocacy Group, which consists of CASA, Douglas C.A.R.E.S. and the Family Development Center, received $28,631 in CHIP funding. The money went to providing Trauma Informed Care and services, as well as increasing capacity for child abuse and neglect prevention, mental health services, family education, and advocacy and navigation services for children and families.
CAC members also elected to grant Dr. Charles ross $25,000 for classes that address diabetes, obesity and heart disease through lifestyle choices.
The YMCA was awarded two grants: $20,000 for Kick Start Douglas County, which aims to offer free and low cost activities that encourage increase activity, and $10,000 for the Healthy Living Challenge, a program that encourages participants to increase activity levels and improve dietary choices.
The Community Cancer Center received $15,879 for a project with the goal to help people stop smoking, prevent others from starting and educate Douglas County about lung cancer prevention.
Neighborworks Umpqua was awarded $10,000 for its Kitchen Garden Project, to provide space for families to grow their own produce.
The CAC’s work won’t end in 2016: the board is now accepting applications for 2017 projects.
“In 2017, we look forward to receiving a wide range of applications that meet the current CHIP priority areas. We hope to see projects that create positive, measurable change and address health disparities,” says Prummer.
The CAC will continue to accept proposals through June of 2017, but organizations are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. For more information, contact Kat Cooper at kcooper@architravehealth.com or call (541) 229-7022.
About Umpqua Health
Umpqua Health is the parent company of Umpqua Health Alliance, one of 16 Oregon coordinated care organizations serving the Oregon Health Plan. The Roseburg-based company and its subsidiaries are focused on expanding access, improving care, and reducing unnecessary costs across the clinical space for more than 26,000 Douglas County residents on the Oregon Health Plan and close to 10,000 more individuals with Medicare, private insurance or Exchange coverage.
Media Contacts
Kat Cooper
Manager, Community Outreach & Communications
541.229.7058
