CareLink: CareOregon's member newsletters address assistance, staying healthy |
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Summer editionCareLink focus: Those who lend a handIt’s been a tough year. Oregon’s unemployment rate ranks among the highest in the country. The number of Oregonians qualifying for Medicaid has climbed rapidly. And more Oregonians are looking for help. George Sobol fears things will get worse. George is Executive Director of Clatsop Community Action in Astoria. “We have people lined up outside our office Monday mornings looking for assistance,” he says. “Unfortunately, we turn most of them away.” Last year, Clatsop Community Action increased food distribution by 25 percent, including more than 800,000 pounds of food, emergency food boxes totaling more than 274,000 and more than 94,000 hot meals served through the county’s food pantries, shelters and meal sites. But in the first half of 2009, the agency has seen the number of people requesting food assistance jump by 40 percent over last year’s record numbers. And at the same time, donations are lower than they’ve been in the two years he’s been at the post. Clatsop Community Action’s experience is just one sign of the need for assistance. CareOregon recognizes our members face difficulties beyond what a health care plan can address. This summer we dedicated our member newsletter, CareLink, to highlighting some of the organizations that can help members with food, clothing, shelter and other needs. A directory of helpA highlight of the summer issue of CareLink is a listing of organizations dedicated to connecting people with agencies. These organizations include:
CareLink is zoned by geography and languageCareLink is always printed in the four most widespread languages of our membership: English, Spanish, Russian and Vietnamese. This summer, we also provided zoned editions in Spanish and English so that the directory could be more useful to those of our members outside the Portland area. We welcome providers downloading copies of this edition for distribution to your patients. Printer-friendly PDFs are available at these links:
A more extensive on-line editionIf your patients have access to the Internet, our on-line version of the CareLink newsletter has a more comprehensive list of organizations, as well as direct links to their websites, and to additional resources. CareLink online is available in these languages: |
Fall editionCareLink focus: influenza, Healthy KidsThis fall’s issue of CareLink, CareOregon’s member newsletter, focuses on two major themes in Oregon care this coming year: Healthy Kids and H1H1 flu. 
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