Healthy Rural Oregon Project

The Healthy Rural Oregon project has three major focus areas:

1. Increase the number of Community Health Workers (CHWs) in rural areas, and cross-training CHWs in a variety of skills needed by rural health providers;
2. Increase the number of certified Community Paramedics (CPs)/Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) providers in rural areas;
3. Build a thriving network of public health, health care, and education providers in rural Oregon.

The project’s emphasis was on “home-growing” this workforce by recruiting from rural communities and underserved populations while removing barriers for people who might not otherwise have access to these training programs. Building a network of partners across rural Oregon was essential to accomplishing these goals.

The HRO network includes statewide representation from public health departments, health care facilities, community-based organizations (CBOs), coordinated care organizations (CCOs), professional associations, educational institutions, and more in counties and census tracts that meet the HRSA rural or frontier designation. In addition, the network’s efforts engage groups beyond official partners to improve educational offerings and workforce strength, which benefits rural communities in the region beyond the direct network service area.

HRO partners work together to:

• IDENTIFY and DEVELOP training and cross training needs and programs;
• RECRUIT people from within rural communities to become newly certified community health professionals, and recruit existing professionals to undergo cross-training;
• TRAIN participants in both base certifications and other valuable courses and CEUs;
• SUPPORT participants in navigating training programs, providing financial support for training fees, travel, technology, and childcare, and in connecting with other program participants across the state.
• EMPLOY community health professionals and provide network support for ongoing training and career advancement.

Key successes, Innovations and Accomplishments

The Health Rural Oregon project:

• Supported 475 individuals through 613 trainings in disciplines desired by area employers, community organizations, and of interest to trainees and needed by community members.
• Successfully launched OregonLearns, a free, open source continuing education resource for Oregon Community Health Workers.
• Developed a strong partner network of nearly 75 organizations and over 100 individuals, and created environments to foster best practice sharing, discussion and learning on public health system challenges, and collaboration on future initiatives.
• Created and maintained a robust resource library of guides, best practices, literature, data and other materials useful to partner organizations as they grow and sustain services.
• Supported partner organizations in creating new cohorts or training programs to address workforce development needs in their communities.

Testimonials

“I am a 28-year-old recovering addict with over 19 months clean and sober. I am a single mom who is between jobs. I’m pursuing this career, hoping to help others [who are] once like myself. I come from a lifestyle of addiction. I’m breaking a generational curse.” - HRO trainee, Peer Support Specialist in Adult Addictions

“These students came up to me and asked, “Is this really true?” They all have been struggling to make ends meet, and this has really changed their lives for the better. They are outstanding students, and I cannot wait to see what they do in their careers.” - Training program instructor, CHW/Medical Assisting

“Words cannot express my gratitude and appreciation for the help and support I’m being extended to fund my doula training. Not only is it doula training, but it’s my dream. I am very grateful and blessed to have such an encouraging and supportive manager who has made all of this happen, and an amazing, supportive organization to help me grow. I cannot thank you and the program enough, thank you!” - HRO trainee and network partner employee, CHW/Doula

The Healthy Rural Oregon grant ended in July 2025, but the work continues. Please consider connecting with our network partners who continue these important efforts.

Partnership Opportunities:

• Oregon Traditional Health Worker Commission: Join us at the monthly Oregon THW Commission meetings! These regular events bring together community health organizations and workers to discuss best practices, share successes and challenges, and drive forward initiatives to improve the community health workforce in Oregon. A link to join the meetings, as well as the full meeting schedule, minutes, and other materials can be found on the commission webpage.
• Oregon Mobile Integrated Healthcare Coalition: The ORMIHC is a collaborative group of representatives from EMS agencies and other community health providers, and provides coordination, guidance, and support to mobile integrated healthcare (MIH) and community paramedic programs throughout Oregon, both existing and in development. This group meets every other month and is currently recruiting new members.
• CLHO Public Health Jobs Spotlight: Are you looking for a great job in local public health? CLHO has launched a weekly newsletter to highlight current and upcoming job opportunities with public health agencies across Oregon. Subscribe on LinkedIn to get the newsletter directly to your inbox each week.