Blueprint for a Healthy Clackamas County

Health Equity Zone: Gladstone

Population Reached: Birth – 65+

Project Partners: Family Resource Coordinators, 211, community volunteers 80+, Gladstone School District, NCSD, Oregon City School District

Project Aim: Increase local access to healthy food and care-coordination.

Health Outcome focus and accomplishments:

Substantial increase in produce availability, choices, distribution
Developed the Food Pantry as a healthy community asset; connections, resources, wellness.
Diversification of clients accessing Pantry; increased numbers of elders, single adults, and families new to the USA, Gladstone, and Clackamas County.

"I haven’t worked for a month. I am so glad you are here.” Anonymous

Priority Topic Area: Access to Care

Goal:

Increase utilization of health and human services through the reduction of barriers and increased awareness.

Objectives:

Increase the utilization of primary medical and dental care for individuals with Oregon Health Plan (OHP) in communities within Clackamas County.
Improve the community’s capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health care decisions for OHP recipients and the uninsured.
Increase number of formal partnerships and collaborations amongst agencies that deliver and provide services based on disparities within the 10 Health Equity Zones.
Increase the availability of culturally appropriate and trauma informed care services provided.

Priority Topic Area: Culture of Health

Goal:

All Clackamas County residents have access to healthy food.

Objectives:

Increase distribution of produce to food insecure individuals and families.
By June 2020, 95% of children through age 5 have developmental screenings completed annually, and reviewed by a Primary Care
Provider with whom the child is connected.

Priority Topic Area: Healthy Behaviors

Goal:

Reduce heart disease and type II diabetes.

Objectives:

Increase the percentage of people consuming CDC recommendation of 5 or more fruits and vegetables per day.
Increase the number of trauma-informed care agencies in Clackamas County.

Outcomes

Quarter 1

The numbers of shopping customers, nutritional events, and volunteers have improved with the Healthy Clackamas Blueprint grant. More produce is being distributed. Volunteers are learning about the needs of pantry customers and connecting to local human service resources. A professional coordinator is in place via a professional services contract with NW Family Services.

Quarter 2

The productivity of our volunteer corp. continues to grow. We manage and display a healthy foods inventory, manage several food supply chains (including pet foods), clean and organize the environment as an attractive shopping space for all folks. Two shifts of trained and screened volunteers help customers shop for nutritious foods every week.

Quarter 3

Our Healthy Clackamas Blueprint grant during 2019 has enabled The Gladstone Food Pantry to stabilize and grow in supporting the health of Clackamas County. Meanwhile we are looking ahead to setting up special shopping hours for high school students only, surveying our customers and volunteers about resource needs and familiarity, plus our community steering sessions will explore more fund raising options and whether to add a garden learning program for Pantry customers.

Quarter 4

Throughout this quarter we have been working to continue distribution of nutritious foods in a manner safe for volunteers and customers. Fewer volunteers and more customers were significant issues in April. The number of food boxes distributed nearly doubled in May as compared to February. Continuous improvement with food box packing, food supply chains, community donations and box distribution activities ensued throughout the last quarter of 2019-20.

COVID Interruption – Late in Q3, Oregon rules for managing the Corona virus caused substantial changes in the Gladstone Food Pantry operations. By mid – March we were preparing to end the shopping model and revert to the traditional food box distribution of community food pantries. Social distancing and other interventions were found incompatible with the shopping model design, spaces, and virus protections.

The last ‘shopping day’ was Saturday March 21 and we began the food box packing and distribution process during the first week in April [Q4]. Now we are averaging 90 food boxes per week for local households – many of which are new to the Oregon Food Bank network.