One Community Health Supports Cherry Growers and Farmworkers with Expanded Services
Services to include on-site education, medical and dental care, COVID support, and insurance enrollment
By One Community Health
For the past 36 years, One Community Health (OCH) has delivered medical and outreach services to growers and seasonal farmworkers during sweet cherry harvest. This year is no exception, with OCH staff hoping to reach over 3,000 farmworkers.
“In 2022 we are offering more services than ever for growers and farmworkers,” says Gladys Rivera, Director of Preventative Health at One Community Health. “Thanks to Protecting Oregon Farmworkers and Health Equity grant funding from the Oregon Health Authority, we’ve been able to grow our outreach team over the past two years. This means we’re able to offer services to more growers and farmworkers. I’m excited about the relationships we’ve built and continue to strengthen.”
New this year, farmworkers are able to access One Community Health’s Test-to-Treat Program, which includes free COVID testing, evaluation by a provider, and treatment with an antiviral medication like Paxlovid. Since the Test-to-Treat Program started in early June, OCH has provided antiviral treatment to farmworkers who experienced a significant reduction in symptoms and were able to return to work quickly.
Services offered this year include:
Walk-in medical and behavioral health care for farmworkers at One Community Health in The Dalles, Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:00 – 6:00 pm
Sliding scale discounts for medical, dental, and behavioral health care
Emergency dental care available every day
On-site health education at orchards and packinghouses led by Certified Community Health Workers on topics such as mental health care, oral health, diabetes prevention, COVID prevention and safety, and smoke and heat safety
COVID support and prevention, including immunizations, testing, treatment, and free PPE and at-home COVID tests
Assistance with health insurance enrollment, including the new Healthier Oregon program that expands benefits to people regardless of immigration status
Starting July 1st many more people will be eligible for health care through the Oregon Health Plan regardless of immigration status. Healthier Oregon, the expanded eligibility program, opens full Oregon Health Plan benefits to everyone who meets income and other criteria and are 19-25 years old or 55 years and older. One Community Health staff are ready to help farmworkers enroll in and access this new benefit.
Farmworkers interested in accessing services at One Community Health can call the clinic’s main line at 541.386.6380, visit www.onecommunityhealth.org/farmworkers, or speak with one of One Community Health’s outreach workers at events.
Growers who are interested in services for their workers can contact One Community Health’s outreach team at 541.512.7922 or outreach@onecommunityhealth.org. More information is available at www.onecommunityhealth.org/agemployers.
