HISTORY

Where It Started

Founded in 2004, OLHC is the only health policy advocacy organization in Oregon dedicated to eliminating Latina and Latino health disparities. From 2004-2011, we were a volunteer-led organization and not until 2012 did we hire our first Executive Director and begin to formally develop our programming. Today, with a staff of five, we operate three principal programs: Policy Advocacy, Leadership Development and OHP Outreach and Enrollment.

Notable Achievements Include

2017: Led the organizing and advocacy for the passage of Senate Bill 558 (Cover All Kids) making all children and teens under the age of 19 eligible for the Oregon Health Plan regardless of immigration status.

2015: Through reinstatement of the Safety Net Capacity Grant Program, securing $10 million to build the capacity of Oregon’s safety net to connect immigrant children to free health care services.

2013: Leading the fight to expand CAWEM Plus (emergency Medicaid coverage) to all counties in Oregon, ensuring all pregnant women, regardless of immigration status, have access to comprehensive prenatal care.

2011: Founding Oregon’s first professional association for community health workers, the Oregon Community Health Workers Association.

Coalition Building

We are also deeply committed to helping build the capacity of allied organizations that work to change the conditions that contribute to the health inequities experienced by our immigrant communities. As an example, we are members of the Steering Committee for the Oregon Health Equity Alliance, which advances health equity for communities of color, immigrants and other marginalized groups through community organizing and policy advocacy.