Building Regional Infrastructure and Increasing the THW Workforce

Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington Counties’ local public health departments (Tri-County Public Health) have received funding from Health Share of Oregon to build regional infrastructure and capacity to support the Traditional Health Worker (THW) workforce. Through this funding, Tri-County Public Health will leverage and expand the existing infrastructure within community-based organizations (CBOs) to support a THW within their organization. Funded THWs will participate in a regional cohort to build relationships and learn from other THW types, as well as participate in professional development and capacity building. We hope to develop a cohort of organizations representing a variety of types of THWs across the three counties. The objectives of these funds include: 1) fund THW positions housed within CBOs to support and promote community health; 2) create a cohort of CBOs to participate in regional collaboration to support THW workforce sustainability; and 3) build capacity of CBOs and THWs to increase community resilience to climate impacts.