Community Focus

Providence Health Plan Gives Back to Local Communities

30 April 2021

While 2020 was a challenging year, our caregivers at Providence Health Plan (PHP) continued to give back to their local communities in a variety of ways. In addition to performing their daily roles, our caregivers remained committed to contributing to local causes, both financially and through much-needed items to help disadvantaged populations.

Every three years for the past 15 years, PHP has conducted Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNAs). These assessments help determine grants, program support and event sponsorships as part of our Community Benefit distribution.

Aligned with the requirements of the Affordable Care Act, the most recent assessment was conducted at the individual level with hospitals within the Providence network to identify unmet needs and health improvement activities. From these assessments, PHP identified four areas to focus Community Benefit funds and support:

• Access to Care

• Behavioral Health

• Chronic Conditions

• Social Determinants of Health and Wellbeing

Access to Care

PHP believes it is critical that our members and community members have equal access to primary care, dental care, and culturally responsive services. To promote equal access to care, PHP donated to the Patient Assistance Fund, which provides access to care for the low-income, uninsured, and diverse populations of the Portland Metro area.

Behavioral Health

PHP and local hospitals are focused on providing individuals with access to mental health resources, substance use treatment, and care for adverse experiences and trauma prevention. In 2020, PHP donated to Catholic Charities, an organization that creates innovative solutions that treat behavioral health issues and provide housing for men and women. Additionally, PHP allotted funds to Rose Haven, an organization that serves as a day shelter and community center for individuals experiencing poverty, trauma, and other intersecting issues.

Chronic Conditions

Addressing chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, among others, continues to remain a top priority for PHP. This past year, our caregivers gave back by volunteering at the American Diabetes Association as well as with other organizations that address the chronic conditions affecting those in the communities we serve.

Social Determinants of Health and Wellbeing

There are several social determinants that can impact a person’s overall health, including affordable housing, access to healthy food, living wage employment and reliable transportation. To ensure that individuals have access to these crucial factors, PHP partnered with several organizations that assist those in underserved communities. PHP supports Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which used donation funds to provide rent and utility assistance, as well as COVID-19 relief to individuals. PHP also made contributions to Central City Concern, which serves the homeless, at-risk, low-income and underinsured populations of the Portland Metro area.

Virtual Giving Tree

This past holiday season, PHP turned its typical Giving Tree into a “Virtual” Giving Tree. Through the giving tree, PHP was able to provide over 50 donations each to Blanchet Farm, St. Francis Dining Hall and Salvation Army Veterans Family Center. In total, the tree represented about $7,000 in giving through hoodies, jackets, socks, boots, hats, mittens, and toys, for children and their families in the communities PHP serves.

Additionally, PHP prioritizes grants, program support, and event sponsorship to dozens of other nonprofit organizations that contribute to the determinants of health in the communities we serve.

At PHP we believe that the healthier each of us are, the healthier we all are. The health of a community rests in the hearts, hands, and minds of its people. When we take care of each other, we tighten the bonds that connect and strengthen us all.