Why We Endorse Measure 101

Everyone deserves the chance to lead a healthy life. That includes affordable healthcare, and that's why we’re proud to join over 60 groups in endorsing Measure 101.

We know that:

• Mothers with access to affordable healthcare have healthier babies.
• Students with health insurance miss fewer days of school.
• Employees with access to affordable healthcare for themselves and their families are more productive and happier.
• All Oregonians benefit when friends, family, coworkers and neighbors can see a doctor or nurse, and don't have to visit the ER for routine care.

Voting yes means that, for the first time, every child in Oregon will have healthcare.

350,000 Oregonians rely on the funding that Measure 101 secures in order to keep their healthcare. I hope you’ll join us in voting YES on Measure 101 for healthcare this January. If you agree that every Oregonian deserves healthcare, no matter who they are or where they work, pledge to vote YES. 

Upcoming Conferences, October-November 2015

Oral Health in the New Age of Aging | October 2

Perspectives on epigenetics, gerontology and chronic disease. Hosted by Oregon Oral Health Coalition in Portland, OR.

Black Parenting Symposium | October 3

We are the village. Hosted by Black Parent Initiative at Warner Pacific College.

School Health Conference | October 8-9

Creating cultures of wellness. Hosted by Oregon School-Based Health Alliance in Portland, OR.

9th International Black Midwives and Healers Conference | October 9-11

Honoring our past, embracing our future. Hosted by International Center for Traditional Childbearing in Portland, OR.

Social Capital Research to Action Symposium | October 21

Increasing social capital to improve the health and well-being of our communities. Hosted by Institute for Sustainable Solutions and Center for Public Health Studies at Portland State University in Portland, OR.

RE: Conference | October 29-30

RE: Conference is for anyone with a mind for expanding opportunity in Oregon. Hosted by Neighborhood Partnerships in Salem, OR.

Oregon Public Health Association Conference & Meeting | October 12-13

Where will public health in our state go next? Hosted by the Oregon Public Health Association in Corvallis, Oregon.

CCO Tech & Data Conference | November 10

The changing needs of technology and data for successful coordinated care transformation. Hosted by CCO Oregon in Salem, Oregon.

Pathways to Health Equity | November 16

Success means getting there together. Hosted by the Oregon Health Authority Office of Equity and Inclusion in Portland, Oregon.

Coordinated Care Model Summit | November 17

Share outcomes and lessons learned, and inspire future innovation in Oregon. Hosted by the Oregon Health Authority Transformation Center in Portland, OR.

Behavioral Health System Town Halls |October 2 & 7; November 4, 9 & 20

This one's not technically a conference, but we still think it's important for you all to know about. Oregon Health Authority is seeking input from adolescents, adults and families who have had difficulties accessing mental health and substance use disorder treatment in Oregon.

Let us know if we're missing a conference! Comment below or email laura@northwesthealth.org.

Tooth pain leads to more ER visits than you may think

A study commissioned by Oregon Health Funders Collaborative, including Northwest Health Foundation, and conducted by OHSU and the University of Washington, found that an average of almost 80 people a day visit emergency departments in Oregon for dental problems.

Why? Too many of our neighbors lack adequate dental care, including insurance and prevention. This means missed days from work, reduced income and, for many of our children, fewer hours in the classroom.

As Oregon Community Foundation—one of our Collaborative partners—put it, "we are focused on raising awareness of dental disease and investing in infrastructure to improve the system for all."

Read the report here.

About the Oral Health Funders Collaborative

The Oral Health Funders Collaborative was formed in 2011 to address one of Oregon’s most pressing public health problems: dental disease. Ten of our region’s top charitable foundations have pooled resources and coordinated efforts to raise awareness of oral disease and invest in research and infrastructure needed to improve oral health for residents of Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Members include The Ford Family Foundation, The Dental Foundation of Oregon, Grantmakers of Oregon and Southwest Washington, Kaiser Permanente, Northwest Health Foundation, The Oregon Community Foundation, Providence Health & Services, Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Oregon and Southwest Washington, Samaritan Health Services, and Cambia Health Foundation. PacificSource Foundation for Health Improvement contributed resources to the study as well.

Closing the Gap: Northwest Health Foundation Joins Clinton & Robert Wood Johnson Foundations

The Clinton Health Matters Initiative (CHMI), in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and Grantmakers In Health (GIH) for a day-long forum on May 8th, focused on addressing access and equity barriers to closing the gaps in childhood obesity in the United States.

NWHF President Nichole Maher joined a panel on Closing the Divide in Children's Health: A Place for Everyone at the Table. (She begins at around 21 minutes in.)

The forum will be livestreamed to help continue the conversation beyond conference walls. Be sure to join the conversation on social media with the hashtag #kidshealthmatters.

To view the entire forum and for more information, visit here.