Nehalem Bay Health District Engagement Plan

In early 2024, the Nehalem Bay Health District (NBHD) received a grant from the Oregon Community Foundation to develop plans to engage members of their community who have traditionally been excluded from public decision-making. Though not a direct service provider, the NBHD recognized that it has a significant opportunity to engage with the community as it partners with other direct service providers internal and external to its property.

To better understand and take advantage of those engagement opportunities, NBHD entered into an agreement with Portland State University’s Center for Public Service (CPS) and Oregon’s Kitchen Table (OKT), also known as the PSU Team. The PSU Team scheduled and conducted a number of community connector interviews with community members who could offer their perspective on serving and engaging with communities who have been excluded from traditional processes. The focus for the community connector interviews were those individuals and groups that are often underserved by health care institutions and that are often left out of public decision-making.