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Oregon Community Health Access Collaboratives

Member Profile

Northeast Oregon Network (NEON)

Key Contacts:
Director – Lisa Ladendorf  (541) 962-8856  lladendo@chdinc.org
Coordinator – Chellie Smietana   (541) 962-8867   msmietana@chdinc.org

Sponsors/Collaborative Members:

Counties Served: 
Wallowa, Union, Baker

Collaborative Incorporated:
Northeast Oregon Network (NEON) has not incorporated.  It is exploring this possibility.  NEON was launched as community collaborative effort engaging the three counties in August 2004.

Overview and Structure:
NEON was originally led by a small group of individuals who recognized the value of community collaboration to ensure that needed and quality health services are provided efficiently and effectively.  NEON is an entirely rural and frontier collaboration, led in large part by public health and human service organizations.  Since its inception, NEON has broadened its participation to include diverse stakeholders from throughout the three counties.  NEON has a steering committee and sub-groups that work on specific activities.  Originally, NEON was not centered on direct provision of services but it has recently become the home of Covering Kids and Families, an outreach and enrollment program that was originally funded through a Robert Wood Johnson grant and assists individuals throughout the three Counties.  In addition, NEON remains committed to integration and coordination of the delivery system.  NEON also actively provides education and opportunities for citizen involvement around larger health reform discussions in Oregon.

Mission:
NEON’s mission is to provide greater access to health care services for the uninsured and the underinsured in Wallowa, Union and Baker Counties. 

What services does the collaborative offer?
Identify the Critical Activities being undertaken:

• Outreach and Enrollment:

Covering Kids and Families was initially funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.  Funding for the program ended in December of 2006, and CKF was able to maintain current staffing levels and services by pursuing grant funds from the Oregon Community Foundation, Pacific Source, and the Juan Young Trust.  NEON is currently in the process of submitting a request for funding to the HRSA Rural Health Services Outreach Grant Program that will allow Covering Kids and Families in Union, Baker and Wallowa counties to continue their intensive health coverage enrollment and education program for three years.

•  Measure 44 –Outreach and education

NEON worked with the Oregon Prescription Drug Program after the passage of Measure 44 through issuing press releases and assisting residents with filling out applications.

• Affordable Medications:

NEON is participating in a workgroup with local hospitals, Community Connection, Dept. of Human Services, Center for Human Development, pharmacists and physicians, to establish a community emergency fund for people unable to obtain needed medications.

• Coordinated Care

NEON launched the Integrated Mobile Access Team in October 2006.

NEON worked with Covering Kids and Families outreach workers in Baker and Wallowa Counties and the Oregon Dental Services (ODS) School of Dental Hygiene to recruit patients for “ODS For-A-Day” trips.  In October 2006, Senior citizens from Baker County traveled to ODS for dental screening and cleanings.  The dental services, transportation, and even lunch were free to those participating in the trip.

Funding has been secured to provide one trip per month for up to 20 people for one year.  In addition, NEON is able to provide gas vouchers aimed at assisting people with obtaining needed care.

• Prevention and Wellness:

NEON is working in partnership with the LIONS club to undertake vision/hearing screenings at all schools in all three counties.

How is/has sustainability being/been achieved?

NEON has relied primarily on grant funding and in-kind donations.  NEON has developed a sustainability plan, which identifies multiple strategies for achieving sustainability, including: an annual giving campaign, other fundraising strategies, education of the community and marketing strategies.

What goal or objective has your collaborative targeted?

• Access to healthcare
• Oral health
• Enrolling into existing plans
• Removing transportation barriers
• Affordable medications/pharmacy

What measure of performance has your collaborative achieved that impacts that target population?

Covering Kids and Families is able to provide enrollment/outreach services to approximately 50 families per month.  The IMAT will provide mobile access to dental and medical service to 20 individuals per month.  Providing emergency medications and vision/hearing screenings are still in the planning phase.

How has your outcome prevented/reduced other problems or demonstrated cost savings?

Covering Kids and Families is responsible for reducing uncompensated care costs.  In Baker County, there is a CKF staff person located on-site at the hospital

Has your collaborative enhanced revenue?

NEON is responsible for saving four positions through Covering Kids and Families and has brought a variety of grant dollars into the community.  NEON has brought to the community $104,700 in grant dollars and $13,000 in in-kind donations.

What is the collaboratives annual budget by revenue (please include in-kind funding in your numbers)

$ 122,000 – Grants
$ 13,000 – In-kind donations

Lessons Learned:

• Do not get over-concerned with structural issues, so that you can flexible and proactive. 
• People want to get involved, provide opportunities.
• Be open to becoming involved in different activities/arenas.
• For multi-county collaboratives – it is not always necessary to do everything regionally, some activities can/should be county specific. 
• Dedicated members who are there for the betterment of the community are the most valuable resource of all.

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