Funded Health Projects

HEALTH: Health and Wellness Vision Council

Programs funded by United Way of the Columbia-Willamette that focus on health and wellness include initiatives that improve services in mental health and addictions, as well as the below listed projects that ensure safety of people in our community.

The Community Investment Grants listend below are three-year grants ranging from $100,000 to $200,000 each year.

Asian Wellness Connection

Improves the quality of health care and health outcomes for Asians by combining the strengths of a culturally specific community based organization, community health clinics and a research institution. Building on the integrated medical home model, program elements include bilingual/bicultural Community Health Workers, coordinated care system between the nonprofit and the clinics, cultural competence training for providers, interpretation of health information, and health education workshops.

Beyond Shelter Housing Initiative

Implements a Housing First response to homelessness in Clackamas County through a collaboration of non-profit, government and faith-based organizations. Provides advocacy support and direct assistance to retain or acquire permanent housing and a range of home-based support services, including mental health and addictions counseling.

Village Gardens

Through a collaboration involving public housing residents, social services and businesses, this project improves financial stability, promotes nutrition, increases community involvement and neighborhood safety, and trains Community Health Workers who provide health workshops and connect residents to health services.

Discovering our Story Project

Utilizes audio/video oral history collection and tribal storytelling to create culturally specific and relevant multi-media health curricula for Native American rehabilitation and prevention programs. Each curriculum will address a specific health topic, and the overarching goal is that individuals improve their physical and mental health, overcome cycles of addiction and family violence, and find meaningful career paths.

Project Against Workplace Sexual Assault

Establishes a partnership of farm worker communities, advocates and health care providers to address workplace sexual assault and sexual harassment among indigenous Mexican and Central American farm workers. Community Educators, patient advocates and indigenous language health care interpreters connect farm workers to health services and health education.

Neighborhood Sparks: Transformation

Mobile medical van provides outreach, mental health and medical services, and addictions counseling, in conjunction with case management and support services in North Clackamas. This collaboration will 1) create a permanent community health clinic in a redeveloped Clackamas Service Center which will feature social services, a community center, shelter and mixed-income housing; and 2) establish a permanent school-based health clinic at Milwaukie High School.

MILPA II

Co-locates and fully integrates behavioral health into two primary care clinics to increase the utilization of mental health and addictions services and promote healthy living. On-site behavioral health care providers, access to a psychiatrist to assist with managing medications and Community Health Workers who connect patients to additional resources and provide health education.

Family Justice Initiative (FJI)

A collaboration of providers delivers co-located services, mental health assessment and counseling, crisis-intervention, parenting classes, peer-to-peer mentoring, and access to other health and support services for youth whose families are involved in the criminal justice system.