Life and Health

Grande Ronde Hospital's new three-year Community Benefit Plan for fiscal years 2023–2025 has gotten off to a strong start in FY2023. I am happy to report we have already made a positive impact on three of our community's unmet needs:

• Social determinants of health
• Mental/behavioral health
• Chronic disease (prevention and wellness)

These areas of focus were first identified through the collaborative efforts of a diverse group of community leaders, partners and stakeholders. This dynamic group came together in 2021 to conduct our triennial Union County Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) that was adopted by Grande Ronde Hospital's Board of Trustees on April 20, 2022.

Our Community Benefit Subcommittee is excited to support our newest community collaborations: the Union County Drug Treatment Court—to provide program support that promotes and provides access to a continuum of alcohol, drug, and other related treatment and rehabilitation services for individuals diagnosed with a substance use disorder; the Northeast Oregon Housing Authority—for creation of a Community Garden at their new Timber Ridge, low-income, multigenerational housing project; and SoleKIDS—an eight-week running program, geared toward elementary students, that is uniquely designed to get kids out and moving with the goal of a season-ending 5K race. Look for more innovative community collaborations as years two and three of our plan unfold.

To quote Jodi Picoult, American novelist, "Heroes didn't leap tall buildings or stop bullets with an outstretched hand; they didn't wear boots and capes. They bled, and they bruised, and their superpowers were as simple as listening, or loving. Heroes were ordinary people who knew that even if their own lives were impossibly knotted, they could untangle someone else's. And maybe that one act could lead someone to rescue you right back."

I am blessed to work for Grande Ronde Hospital—an independent, rural hospital full of everyday heroes. Heroes who are committed to providing the best care they can for our patients right here at home. Heroes who care about those who live and work beside them in our community. Heroes who seek and build collaborations to strengthen our community. Thank you to our heroes—for showing up every day. You make a difference in our community!

The CHNA and other supporting documents about our Community Benefit work are available on our website at www.grh.org/communitybenefit. I encourage you to review this information and explore how we might work together to further strengthen our community.

—Wendy Roberts,
Community Benefit Officer

Categories: From our CBO