There are just two Learning Labs left in 2023! Mark your calendar and join us at our office (1108 SW 4th Street, Ontario):
We will have refreshments and time to build relationships with community partners. Program staff will share about their services, data about our county, and ways for the community to engage and improve our work together. Free and in person only.
If you use drugs, you are at risk of opioid overdose.
Naloxone available at Malheur County Health Department. Come by during business hours or call us at 541-889-7279 to meet with a Peer Recovery Mentor.
People survive opioid overdoses when someone sees and responds. Naloxone saves lives. Learn how to use naloxone here.
An overdose is a medical emergency. Always call 911. Oregon’s Good Samaritan Law protects the caller and the person who has overdosed.
For information, visit the OHA Naloxone Rescue for Opioid Overdose website and call Oregon’s Recovery Center Hotline at 503-575-3769.
Come see us today, Wednesday, 10/18, until 6 p.m. for our annual Open House! Our office is located next to the Argus Observer, across from the TVCC baseball fields, at 1108 SW 4th Street, Ontario, OR.
The food is amazing. The music is making people dance. Our team is excited to stop our regular services for the afternoon to meet you!
Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) Public Health Division has released a new funding opportunity for community-based organizations (CBOs). The Public Health Equity Request for Grant Applications (RFGA) is open now and will close Dec. 1, 2023, at 3 p.m. More than $10 million in funding will be awarded across the state in awards up to $250,000.
The Malheur County Health Department is eager to partner with CBOs. Please reach out if your organization intends to apply and our team can help with your application, write a letter of support, and/or develop shared goals and plans related to communicable disease, emergency preparedness, or climate adaptation (categories of the funding). Contact Director Sarah Poe at sarah.poe@malheurco.org or 541-823-3227 with ideas or questions.
We recognize that CBOs, including faith-based organizations and advocacy groups, guide and support culturally and linguistically responsive public health work. This funding opportunity will keep health equity, community strengths and community-led priorities at the forefront of public health work.
OHA’s community engagement team and program staff will offer RFGA informational webinars and application technical assistance sessions in English and Spanish from Oct. 16 through Nov. 27. All webinars will feature the same content.
Registration links for informational webinars and application technical assistance sessions:
Visit the Request for Grant Application website to view program activities eligible for funding and to apply:
The full RFGA is available here: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/ABOUT/MODCET%20CBO%20Documents/RFGA%205734-0%20tlh%20Final.pdf
We hope CBOs in Malheur County will apply and work with us!
Don’t miss our Open House, Wednesday, October 18th from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Malheur County Health Department (1108 SW 4th Street, Ontario). Tour our clinic and offices, meet our amazing staff, enter a raffle! Enjoy great food and music. Angelica’s Frutas Y Mas will be onsite and music by J. Louis Productions. Learn more here and share the Facebook event.
October is National Children’s Health Month and an opportunity for us to take a public health view of the future of our community and the resources needed for our kids to thrive in Malheur County. Tobacco poses risks to children’s health and development. Protecting children from tobacco smoke is critical to help them grow up as healthy as possible. Children exposed to second-hand smoke are at an increased risk of a range of diseases and are more likely to take up smoking themselves. While individual efforts are important, such as not smoking indoors or around youth, it’s also important that we look at the industry that puts our kids at risk.
Mark your calendars and don’t miss these opportunities coming up!
Two free weekly support groups are offered from 3-4 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays at the Malheur County Health Department (1108 SW 4th St, Ontario). The support groups are peer-led and open to all. No registration required–just come on in!
Our experience with support groups have shown that while many people have different reasons for reaching out for support, the connection and skills gained are often universal. No matter what you are struggling with, what you are healing from, and what general life tools you seek, we want you to know you are not alone and there are many pathways to recovery. Our support groups are one way to connect with others, build skills, and share support. We hope you will join us!
Hannah Roy is a Certified Recovery Mentor and the Health Promotion and Prevention Supervisor at MCHD. Hannah explains, “Public health promotion is about optimizing health for both individuals and as a community. By promoting factors that contribute to well-being for individuals, one by one, we are able to build better outcomes for even more people. Individuals who are more supported are better able to positively impact their families and neighbors and together, we build a healthier community for all.”
The Oregon Health Plan (OHP) is Oregon’s Medicaid program. There are several health care programs available for low-income Oregonians through OHP that cover medical, dental and behavioral health (mental health and substance use disorder) care for members. OHP also covers rides to medical appointments and other benefits.
Eastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization (EOCCO) is here to ensure Oregon Health Plan (OHP) members living in Eastern Oregon have access to affordable, high-quality care to help them to better health and wellness. If you are covered by OHP through EOCCO, you can use their Provider Finder to connect to a healthcare provider near you. Learn more about your benefits in the 2023 Member Handbook.
Here is some summary data on currently-enrolled OHP members enrolled through EOCCO in Malheur County, as of July 2023:
Breakdown of children who are covered by OHP through EOCCO in Malheur County by age:
| Age | Total Members |
| 0 | 279 |
| 1 | 310 |
| 2 | 355 |
| 3 | 297 |
| 4 | 331 |
| 5 | 350 |
| 6 | 375 |
| 7 | 373 |
| 8 | 323 |
| 9 | 387 |
| 10 | 378 |
| 11 | 342 |
| 12 | 360 |
| 13 | 372 |
| 14 | 380 |
| 15 | 362 |
| 16 | 332 |
| 17 | 333 |
| 18 | 319 |
| Total | 6,558 kids |
Malheur County Health Department 