Samaritan Health Services has recently released its annual Community Health Impact Report, detailing the organization’s investments in a variety of initiatives aimed at improving the health and well-being of local communities. In the past year, Samaritan disclosed that it dedicated over $178 million in financial and in-kind support for community health initiatives in Benton, Linn, and Lincoln counties.
As a nonprofit organization driven by its mission, Samaritan’s CEO Doug Boysen emphasized the importance of supporting community-based efforts to promote overall health and well-being. Boysen stated that while they provide care to patients in hospitals and clinics, they understand the necessity of broader actions to foster healthy communities.
According to the report from Samaritan Health Services, there are three main priority areas for their community health investments: increasing access to medical, dental, and mental health services; enhancing access to healthy and nutritious food, child care, and safety resources; and promoting increased access to housing, employment, and supportive services.
The report highlights three specific agencies as recipients of program funding: Project Healthy Smile, a collaboration between the Boys and Girls Club of Albany and Practical Dental Assisting of Oregon; Stand By Me — Oregon, a program offered by Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments and Casa Latinos Unidos; and Guatemalan and Latinx community cooking classes and farmers market tours provided by Food Share of Lincoln County and Oregon State University Extension Service in Lincoln County.
Interested readers can access the full Community Health Impact Report online or request printed copies via email at [mkerlin@samhealth.org](mailto:mkerlin@samhealth.org).
