Willamette Health Council

12/01/2025

Several WHC staff and committee members recently had the honor of attending Salem for Refugees’ Thrive Fundraiser, an inspiring celebration of resilience, community, and the collective work happening to support refugee families in the Mid-Willamette Valley. 🌍

Salem for Refugees defines a refugee as a person who has been forced to flee their home country due to persecution, war, or violence and cannot safely return. Their work ensures that families arriving here are welcomed, supported, and empowered as they rebuild their lives.

The event highlighted powerful stories of courage and community partnership. We’re grateful for the opportunity to attend and to walk alongside partners who are strengthening belonging and wellbeing for all.

Thank you, Salem for Refugees, for your leadership and for a truly meaningful event.

11/27/2025

The WHC offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, November 27-28 this week.

11/26/2025

We’re excited to announce that the Willamette Health Council has awarded $2.4 million in Community Impact Grants to 27 organizations serving Marion and Polk counties! These 2026 projects were selected from more than 100 applicants and align with the 2026–2030 Community Health Improvement Plan priorities:
✔️ Access to Healthcare
✔️ Mental Health & Substance Use
✔️ Housing Stability

This community-driven process is shaped by WHC’s community committees, which include Oregon Health Plan (OHP) members and local residents with diverse lived experiences. They developed the priority criteria, reviewed applications, and recommended the final awards.

Highlights from the awarded projects:
• One-third of awardees are first-time Community Impact Grant recipients
• Many projects serve rural areas
• Most proposals address multiple impact areas, reflecting the interconnected nature of health, housing, and mental well-being

See the full list of recipients and projects:

PAST GRANT AWARDSPast Grants202520242023202220212020In 2025, the Willamette Health Council held three competitive grant cycles, totaling over $4.4 million in funds invested in the Marion-Polk community as follows:Community Impact Grants totaling $2,400,000.00 were awarded to support 27 projects. Gra...

11/25/2025

Our neighbors at Bloom Physical Therapy invited WHC to join their Pumpkin Parade at the end of October and it became one of our favorite moments of the fall. 🎃

Many of Bloom's clients visited the WHC offices in their costumes to trick-or-treat in an inclusive, accessible environment. The costumes were incredible - from dragons, a ballerina and Moana - complete with a wheelchair transformed into Moana’s boat. ⛵

Bloom’s owner, Elizabeth Marshall, shared that “It actually brought some parents to tears to see their children get to participate in the holiday.”

We’re grateful to Bloom for inviting us to help with this fun experience and for the chance to share in such a magical memory with these sweet families.

11/21/2025

On Monday, our Clinical Advisory Panel (CAP) came together for a strategic planning session focused on advancing the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). Members prioritized objectives they’ll champion in the years ahead and began shaping workplans to turn those goals into action. Stay tuned - we’ll be sharing more about CAP’s work and impact in the coming months!

11/19/2025

At the start of November, WHC made an $89,000 donation to Marion Polk Food Share, our local food bank, to help meet urgent food needs.
Now, WHC staff is holding a food drive through December 15th to support our local pantries. We invite you to join in by dropping off non-perishable items during business hours to our office at 1701 Liberty St SE in Salem. With unprecedented demand and recent SNAP benefit delays and reductions, food pantries need our help more than ever.
We suggest donating the most needed items:
🫘 Canned proteins (tuna, chicken, beans)
🥣 Oats or cereal
🥛 Shelf-stable dairy
🥫 Shelf-stable fruits
🥜 Peanut butter

Every item helps a neighbor in need.

11/13/2025

We were honored to support Reflections on the River, Willamette Vital Health’s annual luminaria event at Riverfront Park each September.

This week, Theresa from their team stopped by to give us a certificate of thanks for sponsoring this meaningful gathering — a free event where those grieving the loss of a loved one could come together, reflect, and find support. 💛

We're grateful for community partners who create space for healing.

11/10/2025

The Willamette Health Council office will be closed on Tuesday, November 11 in observance of Veterans Day.

We take this day to recognize and honor the service and sacrifice of veterans in our community.

11/03/2025

🎉 October was a month full of community connection for the Willamette Health Council team!

We were honored to attend and support several incredible events hosted by local partners including:
✨ Habitat for Humanity’s Hope Builder Breakfast
✨ CASA of Marion County’s We Are for the Children Luncheon
✨ Center for Hope & Safety’s Steps to Safety Walk/Run
✨ Church at the Park’s Welcome to the Table Breakfast
✨ YMCA’s Annual Fall Fundraiser
✨ Garten’s Annual Gala
✨ Isaac’s Room Annual Birthday Benefit
…and more!

We’re grateful for the inspiring work these organizations are doing every day to strengthen the health, safety, and well-being of our region.

10/31/2025

Did you catch Willamette Health Council's 2024 Annual Report? Before we finish up 2025, explore the highlights, impact stories, and community investments from 2024. The report reflects our continued commitment to advancing health and equity for Oregon Health Plan members and the broader Marion-Polk community.

📄 View the full report here: https://willamettehealthcouncil.org/about/

10/30/2025

If you're in Marion or Polk Counties and are feeling the impact of the federal government shutdown or federal benefit changes to food programs, here are resources to help:

🍎 Marion Polk Food Share: Find free food near you at marionpolkfoodshare.org/find-food
📞 2-1-1 Info: Call or text 2-1-1 or visit 211info.org for up-to-date local resources
🍂 Older adults or people with disabilities: Contact ADRC of Oregon at 1-855-673-2372 or visit adrcoforegon.org
💻 You can also visit the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Food Resources webpage to learn about Oregon's food programs: https://lnkd.in/gRjwsynm

10/28/2025

🎉 Celebrating a New Chapter in Crisis Care 🎉
Willamette Health Council staff was eager to attend the ribbon cutting for the relocation of the Marion County Behavioral Health Crisis Center on Monday. Beginning Thursday, October 30th, the new center at 1234 Commercial St will offer 24/7 support for individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis.
Our staff toured the remodeled space and was impressed by all the thoughtful touches to provide the best possible care to clients. For example, the updated space includes a separate entrance for families with children, helping ensure a more supportive environment for everyone.
This milestone reflects our community’s commitment to accessible, responsive behavioral health care.