Washington’s Accountable Communities of Health Will Bolster Behavioral Health in Rural Communities Through $2 Million Investment From Cambia Health Solutions
CLALLAM, JEFFERSON, AND KITSAP COUNTIES – Washington’s nine Accountable Communities of Health (ACHs) have received $2 million from Cambia Health Solutions to address urgent mental and behavioral health needs intensified by COVID-19 in rural communities. The funds will be distributed across the ACHs, and each organization will disperse the dollars based on needs in their region.
“We’re honored to support the ACHs as they tackle the rising need for mental and behavioral health services across our communities,” said Peggy Maguire, Senior Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility at Cambia Health Solutions. “ACHs are trusted community-driven organizations and Cambia sees them as key partners to promote equity, foster resiliency and lift up community voice. We’re confident these investments will help break down the stigma surrounding mental health, improve access to behavioral support services, and support people in crisis or emotional distress.”
Each ACH will use the funding for initiatives tailored to address needs in their rural communities. For example, Greater Columbia ACH will use the funds for a region-wide resiliency campaign that includes a focus on youth, while Olympic Community of Health will focus on reducing stigma relating to substance use disorder. At North Sound ACH, Cambia’s support will go towards improving broadband coverage, training to improve telehealth, and bolstering the behavioral health workforce in rural areas.
“Cambia’s support will help the ACHs address the behavioral health crisis across the state,” said Celeste Schoenthaler, Executive Director of Olympic Community of Health, the ACH for the Olympic region. “While the nine ACHs are unique, we share a commitment to fostering community-driven, collaborative, and innovative health solutions. When neighboring counties, tribes, and sectors work in alignment, we create better health outcomes for everyone.”
Cambia’s investment is part of a larger $11.5 million commitment to address rural mental health needs across Idaho, Oregon, Utah and Washington.
About Washington’s Accountable Communities of Health
Accountable Communities of Health are local partnerships that bring together health care payers and providers, public health, social services, community-based organizations, the justice system, schools, tribal partners, community members, and local government leaders to address health. ACHs seek to improve care, lower costs and strengthen communities.
ACHs are an integral part of the Washington’s Medicaid transformation efforts. There are nine ACHs covering the state, each serving a distinct region. Over the past four years, ACHs have led efforts to transform local health care systems connecting health care and social services, developing plans to support health across sectors, and investing millions of dollars with providers and community partners. For more information, please visit www.washingtonach.org.
About Cambia Health Solutions
Cambia Health Solutions, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, is dedicated to transforming health care. We put people at the heart of everything we do as we work to make the health care system more economically sustainable and efficient for people and their families. Our company reaches millions of Americans nationwide, including more than 3.1 million people in the Pacific Northwest who are enrolled in our regional health plans. To learn more about us, visit CambiaHealth.com or Twitter.com/Cambia.
About Olympic Community of Health
Olympic Community of Health is an Accountable Community of Health, one of nine in Washington State, serving Clallam, Jefferson and Kitsap counties. We are in the territorial lands of the Sovereign Nations of the Hoh, Jamestown S’Klallam, Lower Elwha Klallam, Makah, Port Gamble S’Klallam, Quileute, and Suquamish. The OCH Board of Directors consists of leaders from tribal nations and health sectors within our region. Olympic Community of Health seeks to connect people and agencies throughout the region to foster a region of healthy people, thriving communities.