Clatsop County Public Health seeks feedback on draft health equity plan; report due to state by June 30

Jill Quackenbush, speaking for Clatsop County Public Health, presented a draft health equity plan and asked advisory members for input on three draft priorities: family support and child care, youth substance use prevention, and strengthening the department's internal capacity for culturally responsive, equitable services.

Quackenbush said the plan is part of Oregon Health Authority public health modernization requirements, which grew from work begun in 2013 and was put into law with subsequent clarifying legislation. "We partnered regionally on a health equity assessment in 2021," she said, and "this plan is essentially playing that assessment into action."

The department contracted Reed Group to help translate assessment findings into a prioritized plan, Quackenbush said. She said the county performed initiation and planning earlier in the year and has been collecting data and community input; the department will return to the board of commissioners at a June work session and must submit the final plan to the state by June 30.

Advisory members raised concerns that homelessness and adult substance-use and mental-health issues did not appear among the top priorities. "Why is [homelessness with drug and mental health issues] not on there? That's a huge county public health issue," a member said. Quackenbush replied that homelessness and adult behavioral-health responses were identified in the assessment but the planning committee narrowed the county's priorities in part because substantial community momentum and partner efforts already address those topics; she said the issue will still be included as community input.

Other attendees urged that the plan address gaps in behavioral-health provider capacity and access, especially for youth, and recommended that the department pursue clearer coordination among public health, behavioral-health contractors and cities.

Quackenbush asked the advisory group for written feedback on what public health roles would be most helpful and how the department should keep the group informed as outreach continues.

Next steps Quackenbush listed included ongoing community outreach, further refinement of priorities based on advisory input, presentation to the county commissioners in early June and submission of the final plan to the Oregon Health Authority by June 30.