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The Olympic Region Behavioral Health Report was released in February 2021, shedding light on behavioral health needs in the region and opportunities for action.
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OCH received a $245,000 donation from Cambia Health Solutions which is being used to better understand and address stigma of substance use disorder in the Olympic region.
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Over 70 partnerships were strengthened through OCH’s call for community-clinical linkage projects and enhanced transformation projects.
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18 local health leaders participated in a trauma-informed care train-the-trainer course equipping them with the skills and resources to train others within our communities.
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The region took a deeper dive into the topic of community-based care coordination by coming together for a region-wide convening and sharing partner perspectives in a new video.
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The OCH Board of Directors approved a 2022-2026 strategic plan to guide the future of OCH beyond the initial Medicaid Transformation Project.
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In-person events, personal protective equipment distribution, launch of the determinants of health inventory, value-based purchasing convening, and so much more!
2021 was a whirlwind of a year.
Olympic Community of Health (OCH) tackled so much:
“There is so much passion and commitment to making changes and meeting community needs.
I am proud to be part of this!”
- Primary care partner
“The partnerships within the community [...] are a key role in making integrated healthcare really work.”
- Behavioral health partner
By the numbers
51
collaborative events hosted by OCH in 2021.
Between 2019-2020
11%
increase in 7-day follow-up emergency department visits for substance use disorder.
Between 2019-2020
3%
increase in substance use disorder treatment penetration among adults ages 18-64.
Healthier Washington Dashboard Trends. (2022, January 26). Washington State Healthcare Authority.
In December 2020, OCH convened partners on the topic of COVID-19 immunization planning and proposed the regional target of > 70% population immunized.
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By the end of 2021, 69.4% of the region’s population received at least two COVID-19 vaccinations.
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Calculated average from Clallam County Health & Human Services, Jefferson County Public Health, Kitsap Public Health District. (2021, Dec 8).
A message from the...
... Executive Director, Celeste Schoenthaler
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“While 2021 was another challenging year for communities and partners across the region, there is much to celebrate. I was proud to collaborate with members of the Board and the staff team to finalize our big picture path forward for the next five years. In late 2021, the Board adopted a bold plan that will continue our transformational work into the future and I’m proud and hopeful that the work outlined in the plan will support positive impacts in health and equity across our three counties and seven tribal nations. We were able to bring partners together on several occasions in 2021 for safe, in-person events. With COVID-19 becoming a part of our new normal, it was lovely to take time to connect again in person. As we look to 2022, the OCH team is planning many activities, events, and initiatives that will further the mission of Olympic Community of Health. We look forward to continuing to partner with all of you.”
... Board President, Wendy Sisk
CEO of Peninsula Behavioral Health
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“Across the nation and across healthcare, we all hoped 2021 would be a year of smooth sailing. Instead, the waters remained turbulent as COVID-19 continued to dominate the landscape. Despite challenging times, OCH and our partners have continued to be Stronger Together. By pooling our knowledge and expertise we have collaboratively worked to address health disparities, acknowledged the impact of determinants of health, and launched a campaign to fight stigma. We are collectively committed to enhancing the health and wellbeing of our communities. We look forward to your partnership in the year to come to continue to expand our impact."
OCH has many exciting projects in store for 2022, with the main focus being on winding down the first phase of the Medicaid Transformation Project, ramping up the new strategic plan, and continuing our work in better understanding and addressing stigma of substance use disorder.
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SUD stigma
OCH is currently presenting and discussing findings from recent research regarding stigma of substance use disorder (SUD) with partners across the region. OCH also seeks to engage with youth coalitions to support SUD stigma reduction and positive youth development activities.
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Strategic plan
OCH will launch action collaboratives for each of the four focus areas in alignment with the approved 2022-2026 strategic plan. These collaboratives will guide projects and make recommendations to the OCH Board of Directors for action. These groups will also set the stage for future funding and collaboration opportunities across the region.
Vision for 2022
Graphic source: Vecteezy.com