Washington County Honors 5 Organizations For Public Health Week

HILLSBORO, OR — It's National Public Health Week, and Washington County honored five local groups that "have made significant contributions to improve the health and well-being of people in the county."

The week started Monday and runs through Sunday.

The county said that the five organizations worked to make sure that people could access services despite having language, financial, physical or mental health barriers.

The organizations will be honored at the Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday.

This is the 19th year that the county has given out the awards.

"Where you live and work has a great deal of influence on the barriers you face and on your health outcomes," Washington County Public Health Division Manager Marie Boman-Davis said. "We are grateful to all of the people who have come together to reduce barriers and improve access, and during National Public Health Week, we are extending a special thanks to these awardees."

The Washington County Medical Reserve Corps was one of the groups singled out for an award. Members of the group worked to make sure that county residents could get COVID-19 boosters and vaccinations. The group's volunteers staffed many of the county's 350 vaccination clinics.

"We provide access to many people from vulnerable communities who have language, economic or citizenship barriers and who may not feel comfortable walking into a pharmacy where they ask for ID or proof of insurance," said Cassandra Hoy, a Beaverton chiropractor and member of the Medical Reserve Corps who has volunteered at more than 60 clinics.

"Many of my chiropractic clients are vaccine hesitant," she added. "By volunteering at these clinics, I am showing them and the community that vaccines are the best way to protect them from serious COVID-19 complications."

The county also honored the following organizations and people.

• The county described Public Health Institute as "an incredible resource and core to the county’s COVID-19 response and equity efforts. Their Tracing Health program employs people from within the county, with a focus on supporting a culturally and linguistically diverse workforce. They have helped to extend the county’s reach into culturally specific communities and have strengthened vaccine and recovery efforts."
• Araceli Acosta "is a youth outreach specialist with the Beaverton City Library who helped to ensure that families could continue to engage young children in early literacy activities when libraries were closed to in-person services," according to the county. They added that she "creates visual story time videos in English and Spanish that are fun and engaging and encourage parents to read with their children."
• According to the county, Neighborhood Health Center increased access and reduced barriers to people getting dental care. "They partnered with the Washington County Women, Infants and Children program to provide teledentistry visits. These visits provide vital education on dental care, cavity prevention and nutrition, as well as help families navigate the care system and connect with a dental provider."
• Providence Infectious Disease Consultants "has been a key partner in improving access to care for those most vulnerable in the community." according to the county. "The group of compassionate physicians has been an instrumental partner to the Washington County Tuberculosis Program, helping to ensure that those who need it can get care."