Black History Month Still Matters!

Black History Month Still Matters!

The observance of Black History Month may be set aside for the shortest month of February, but we should celebrate African and African American culture and our legacy of contributions to the world all year long. Black history is happening daily!

Don't wait until next February to learn more about African & African American culture and history!

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Press Release: $2 Million Investment from Cambia Health Solutions will Bolster Behavioral Health in Rural Communities

Press Release: $2 Million Investment from Cambia Health Solutions will Bolster Behavioral Health in Rural Communities

Washington’s nine Accountable Communities of Health (ACHs) have received $2 million from Cambia Health Solutions to address the urgent mental and behavioral health needs in rural communities intensified by COVID-19. The funds will be distributed across the ACHs, and each organization will disperse the dollars based on the needs in their region.

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BHT Testifies at Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee

BHT Testifies at Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee

Watch the recent Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee work session on health equity work in the public and private sectors. Event speakers include Dr. Tim Garnett, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Eli Lilly, Dekker Dirksen, Director of Public Policy for Community Health Plan of Washington, Ken Jaslow, Vice President of Quality and Healthcare Performance with Premera Blue Cross, Paul Hollie, Social Impact Lead for Premera Blue Cross, and Alison Poulsen, the Executive Director of Better Health Together.

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CRF Anti-Racism RFP Decisions

CRF Anti-Racism RFP Decisions

Community Resiliency Fund (CRF) Anti-racism – Decisions on Request for Proposal (RFP) - BHT is excited to announce the projects awarded funds to address and prevent systemic impacts of racism. These projects will strengthen organizations led by and serving communities impacted by systems of oppression, specifically prioritizing opportunities to fund organizations led by Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC).

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Community Voices Council in 2021: What to Expect

In 2021, we as a group will begin having important conversations about race and equity in our region. Kurtis Robinson, our new Board Representative Co-Chair, is the current Vice-President of the NAACP and is an activist in anti-racist and destigmatizing work in Spokane. He is a highly respected and sought-after equity and anti-racist trainer. We are privileged to have his wisdom and life experience on our council as we start this journey together. We will have difficult and often challenging conversations, but as BHT likes to say, "There isn't any growth in the comfort zone." Learn more about what the CVC will be working on in 2021!

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Planning for Our Future: A Sustainability Framework

Planning for Our Future: A Sustainability Framework

As we entered 2020, the Board agreed to a deliberate effort to plan for BHT beyond the Waiver. From May through September 2020, the Board engaged in a planning process focused on our future and financial sustainability. The process included reviewing our history, assessing our capabilities and initiatives, surveying the external environment, and gathering staff input. Board members discussed gaps in the region and identified opportunities to build on and expand current work. Finally, the Board identified areas for us to focus on going forward.

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Open Enrollment 8 is a wrap!

Open Enrollment 8 is a wrap!

January 15 marked the last day of Open Enrollment 8. We are sure you can hear the collective sigh of relief as our hardworking Navigator Network eased back into a more normal pace of work. Our Access to Care team along with the entire Navigator Network assisted over 4,000 of these individuals in gaining or continuing their health coverage.

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Smile Spokane Receives Oral Health Hero Award from Arcora

We are so pleased Smile Spokane and its Healthy Smiles Subcommittee are the recipients of Arcora’s Oral Health Hero Awards for their work toward implementing Community Water Fluoridation. This couldn’t have happened without the amazing leadership of Alison Poulsen, Jerrie Allard, and Ben Stuckart along with the groundswell of support from countless community members, health care members, housing organizations, church pastors, activists, and parents who came out to support this public health initiative. This is a critical first step to radically improving the oral health of our city.

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Criminal Justice RFP Decisions

Criminal Justice RFP Decisions

BHT is excited to announce the final funding recommendation for community projects applying for our Criminal Justice RFP. Revive Center for Returning Citizens, Pioneer Human Services, The Way to Justice, and The Freedom Project, were chosen for our adult-focused projects. Pend Oreille County Counseling Services will receive funding for our rural projects. We have selected Northeast Youth and Family Services and Spokane Public Schools behavioral health Agency for youth funding.

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