Willamette Health Council

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Salem, OR
Willamette Health Council

Improving the health of the Marion-Polk community

02/03/2026

The 2026–2030 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) is already making headlines.

A recent Salem Reporter article highlights how regional partners, including the Willamette Health Council, are working together in a variety of ways, such as expanding mobile health care and improving access to care across Marion and Polk counties.

Read the full CHIP on our website and see all recent WHC media coverage at willamettehealthcouncil.org/more/

01/29/2026

As part of its 2026 work, the Marion-Polk System of Care (SOC) is partnering with the Family YMCA of Marion and Polk Counties to launch a new Family Leadership Team.

This new team will create a welcoming, supportive space for local families with children ages 0–25 to share their experiences and help shape improvements to the systems that serve children, youth, and families across our region.

Family leaders will bring their lived experience navigating child, youth, and family-serving systems to help identify opportunities for strengthening local supports, address barriers, and guide the direction of the SOC. They will be supported by a network of community providers while building leadership and advocacy skills along the way.

We look forward to this important next step in elevating family voice and strengthening coordinated supports in Marion and Polk counties.

01/28/2026

The Clinical Advisory Panel (CAP) recently kicked off its work for 2026, gathering to focus on access to healthcare across Marion and Polk counties.

The meeting opened with a presentation from Salem for Refugees, including speakers who shared their lived experiences as refugees navigating the local healthcare system. Their perspectives grounded the conversation in real community needs. CAP members then broke into workgroups to begin advancing the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) objectives the panel will champion in the coming years. Planned initiatives include regional vaccine efforts, exploration of mobile health services, and school-based health center opportunities—all aimed at improving access to care.

Thank you to our CAP members for their leadership and commitment to this important work!

01/21/2026

2026 Community Event Sponsorship Applications are now open!

The Willamette Health Council is offering a limited number of sponsorships for non-profit fundraising events as well as community health and cultural events taking place in Marion and Polk counties in 2026.

Awards typically range from $500–$2,500, and applications are reviewed monthly on a rolling basis until funds are fully allocated. Qualifications and application can be found at our website: willamettehealthcouncil.org/sponsorships/

Questions? Email funding@willamettehealthcouncil.org

01/15/2026

Interested in attending the Marion-Polk Children, Youth, & Family Services Summit and participating at a deeper level?

This year’s summit is an opportunity to share your work, connect with partners, and strengthen collaboration across the region.

Ways to get involved at the March 4th summit:
• Poster Session: Share your organization’s projects, initiatives, or research and highlight your impact.
• Host a Table: Connect with attendees by sharing resources, information, or swag from your organization - just a few tables are left!

Breakfast and lunch are provided. To get involved in the poster session or host a table, contact Heather Pascoe at hpascoe@willamettehealthcouncil.org.

01/14/2026

It's time to register!
The 4th Annual Marion-Polk Children, Youth & Family Summit is officially open for registration at https://ow.ly/VIzH50XWXNj. This event usually fills up its limited spots FAST!
Don't miss out on this day of learning, networking, and collaboration at the Salem Convention Center. This year, we’re Igniting Hope with engaging workshops, inspiring speakers, and expanded opportunities to connect.
More info coming tomorrow about showcasing your services and resources by tabling or participating in the poster session.

01/09/2026

Planning is underway for the Marion-Polk System of Care (SOC) Children, Youth, & Family Summit, and registration will open next week.

Want to be the first to know when registration goes live? Join our email list to receive the announcement before it’s shared on social media. Sign up here: https://willamettehealthcouncil.org/

More details coming next week! We look forward to gathering with partners committed to supporting children, youth, and families across our region.

01/07/2026

📣 Now Launching: The 2026–2030 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP)

The Marion-Polk Community Health Collaborative has released the 2026–2030 CHIP - a shared, community-driven roadmap to improve health and well-being across Marion and Polk counties.

Developed with extensive community and partner input, the CHIP reflects the voices and lived experiences of thousands of community members and guides collaborative work over the next five years.

The 2026–2030 CHIP focuses on three priority areas:
• Access to Healthcare
• Housing Stability
• Mental Health & Substance Use

More than 90 shared objectives will be advanced together, with progress tracked and updates shared throughout the five-year cycle.

Learn more, read the full plan, and sign up for updates at
👉 marionpolkcommunityhealth.org

01/02/2026

Several local news outlets have recently featured work connected to the Willamette Health Council and the impact of community investments in Marion and Polk counties. This includes coverage of $2.4 million in grants awarded to local organizations in November to help address healthcare access, housing stability, and mental health needs as well as the response to recent community needs around food.

You can stay up to date on WHC in the news — and see how this work is showing up in our region — by visiting our media page: https://willamettehealthcouncil.org/more/

12/22/2025

📅 Save the Date for the 4th Annual Marion-Polk Children, Youth, & Family Services Summit hosted by the Marion-Polk System of Care.

Theme: Igniting Hope
Date: March 4, 2026
Time: 8:00 am–4:30 pm
Location: Salem Convention Center

This annual summit brings together partners, providers, and community members committed to strengthening supports for children, youth, and families across Marion and Polk counties.

More details and registration information coming in early January.

12/19/2025

The WHC office will be closed next week, December 22–26. Limited staff will be available during this time, but we encourage you to reach out if something urgent comes up.

12/15/2025

Last week, WHC staff and partners came together for the System of Care (SOC) End-of-Year Celebration, bringing together members from the Visioner’s Team, Barrier Busting Team, and Youth Leadership Team.

During the evening, SOC members organized around the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) objectives that the System of Care will champion in 2026, celebrated team and collective accomplishments, and heard reflections on successes presented by SOC Champions Karin Perkins, Lisa Harnisch, Amber McClelland, Claudia Rodriguez, and Alex Sosa Navarro.

The celebration also included catering from youth-chefs at Handle Your Business and time to connect while decorating winter-themed cookies together.

Thank you to everyone who contributes to the System of Care all year long and to the shared work of supporting children, youth, and families across our region.

Address

1701 Liberty Street S
Salem, OR
97302

Website

http://willamettehealthcouncil.org/

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