STUDENTS AT HOOD RIVER VALLEY, THE DALLES, AND WAHTONKA COMMUNITY SCHOOL ARE ELIGIBLE TO COMPETE FOR $6,000 IN SCHOLARSHIP DOLLARS

HOOD RIVER, Ore., Nov. 4, 2019 — Today, One Community Health (OCH) announces the launch of a new scholarship program, funded through an award from the Central Oregon Independent Practice Association (COIPA) and a new partnership between OCH and Oregon State Treasury’s Oregon Savings Network.  This unique program is offered to local Oregon high school students, and winning artwork will be displayed in OCH’s existing clinic in The Dalles and its new Hood River clinic opening mid-2020. Submissions are due on March 20, 2020 and may be dropped off at any One Community Health clinic location or submitted online. Full details at OneCommunityHealth.org/ArtScholarship.

One Community Health (OCH) was recently voted Best Primary Care Clinic of 2019 by the Central Oregon Independent Practice Association (COIPA), receiving an award of $3,000 intended to be spent on artwork that reflects One Community Health’s mission to advance health and social justice for all members of our community.  While the initial award only specified it be directed toward artwork, after discussing how the award might have a bigger community impact, and address broader social determinants of health, OCH reached out to administrators at The Columbia Gorge Education Service District (ESD) for ideas.

“When the idea of creating this scholarship came up, we were very excited for the opportunity it created for our students to advance their continuing education goals,” stated Pat Sublette, Superintendent Columbia Gorge ESD.  One Community Health has a strong history of partnership with local schools, including a school-based health center in Hood River, elementary and middle school dental sealants program, and support for a potential school-based health center in The Dalles.

After working with the school district, OCH reached out to the Oregon State Treasury and the Oregon Savings Network for help in administering the scholarship funds. The two organizations quickly discovered many opportunities they had available to promote financial literacy. For instance, OCH’s perinatal and well child visits are perfect times to introduce families to the Baby Grad and Kinder Grad programs that the Oregon Savings Network offers to help families get started with saving for their child’s future. It was during those conversations that OCH learned that the Oregon Savings Network would match the original scholarship award bringing the total scholarship dollars to $6,000.

“This scholarship program is a small step in starting a larger conversation on how we can transform the economic health or our communities and in turn positively impact physical and mental health. This is a creative way to get this conversation started and create hope and opportunities for those we serve,” said Max Janasik, who recently joined OCH as CEO in August of 2019.  Janasik has a passion for financial literacy due to an extensive background in both banking and healthcare, seeing economic empowerment as a key to health transformation and engagement.

“We know that kids who have a college savings account, no matter the amount, are at least 2.5 times more likely to attend and graduate from college,” said Oregon State Treasurer Tobias Read. “Organizations like OCH are critical for engaging families and helping them to plan for the future. We are excited to work with OCH to find better ways to strengthen financial literacy and expand opportunities for students across the state.”

“I want to thank our providers and staff for their commitment to serving our community, which is what made this award possible. Next, I’d like to thank COIPA for recognizing the impact OCH has on community health and for their generous award. Finally, I want to thank the Oregon State Treasury and the Oregon Savings Network for their support in advancing financial literacy and opportunity for students in communities we serve. We look forward to displaying the wonderful artwork our local high school students will create to honor our mission to advance health and social justice for all members of our community,” stated Janasik.

Art submissions will be reviewed and voted on by the OCH Employee Advisory Committee and the awards will be announced mid-April 2020. Scholarship funds will be directed into 529 plans for the winning students which may be used at any eligible educational institution in the U.S. and abroad, including vocational schools, technical schools, two- and four-year colleges and graduate schools.

About One Community Health

One Community Health (OCH) is a nonprofit, Federally Qualified Health Center with locations in The Dalles and Hood River, Ore. Formerly known as La Clínica del Cariño Family Health Care Center, Inc., it was founded in 1986 and, today, has evolved into an official Patient-Centered Primary Care Home. OCH currently provides services to more than 12,000 patients. In addition, OCH excels in providing educational programs and support that reflect its integrated approach to health and wellbeing. Dedicated to advancing health and social justice for all its community members, OCH serves patients from the Mid-Columbia River Gorge Region: Wasco, Hood River, Klickitat and Skamania Counties.  

Media and Storytelling Inquiries
Contact Name: Jodie Cottell

Phone: 541-308-8353