Lower Columbia Community Health Project

Astoria, OR, 2002

The residents of the Lower Columbia-Pacific Region, located on the northwest coast of Oregon and the southwest coast of Washington, were hit hard by an economic recession that followed on the heels of the region's decade-long transition from economic dependence on the logging and fishing industry to lower paying jobs in the travel and tourism industry. Unemployment and hunger rates here are among the highest in the country. On average, 20 percent of all children here live in poverty.

The mental and emotional stress associated with difficult economic times, coupled with a growing number of un- and underinsured residents and scarce health care services, prompted the formation of the Lower Columbia Community Health Project. This collaboration includes KMUN-FM, Columbia Memorial Hospital and Shorebank Enterprise Pacific, a rural nonprofit conservation and economic development organization.

The primary goal of the Lower Columbia Community Health Project was to provide communities in Clatsop County, Oregon, and Pacific County, Washington, with information and resources to better meet their physical, mental and behavioral health care needs, and to inform policy makers about the lack of access to and delivery of health care services in this region.

To accomplish this, the partners conducted forums focused on health care and social-service needs; produced a series of radio reports focused on the impact of the recession on local health and human services; developed Spanish-language PSAs and news segments providing information to Spanish-speaking audiences about accessing health care services; aired periodic health specials featuring interviews, commentaries and documentary segments on community health issues; and built a comprehensive website.

Awards:

KMUN Round Three

First Place Award for News Writing (Div. II) for "Spring Break"
—Oregon Associated Press

2004 Golden Reel Award Finalist for Local Documentary for "VOCA Camp"
—National Federation of Community Broadcasters

"Community Journalism Initiative"
$10,000 for local news and public affairs
— Oregon Community Foundation

$4,000 to support Spanish-language programming and translation for the LCCHP
— Mackenzie River Gathering

$20,000 for Community Journalism Initiative
— Paul G. Allen Charitable Trust

$2,000 for programming
—PacifiCorp Foundation for Learning

$5,000 for programming
—Bloomfield Family Foundation