OSBHA June Newsletter

June 2020

I wanted to extend my gratitude for the leadership of our outgoing Executive Director, Laurie Huffman, and I’m sure you’ll join me in wishing her all the best as she departs after nearly five years of service. It is my honor to serve as Interim Executive Director during this transition period of our organization, and of our greater community as well. I have worked with OSBHA for nine years and during that time have had the opportunity to partner with amazing healthcare providers, educators, sponsors, government officials, advocates, and youth. I look forward to continuing that partnership.

 

Any transition and any crisis creates the opportunity for us to embrace our values, and to reassess how we may be of service. I, along with OSBHA’s staff and board, am committed to ensuring that we remain true to our values as an organization. Through this transition we will continue to prioritize what’s most important today and focus our work there, while thinking strategically about how we can best support the health of children and youth in Oregon in the long term.

 

COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement are shining a light on the disparities that have always existed in our communities. For the last several years, OSBHA has been actively and intentionally working to become an anti-racist and equity focused organization. We acknowledge shortcomings and remain committed to continuing that journey and to working to address the greatest needs that arise from COVID-19 and beyond through our policy, program, and systems change work.

 

This pandemic has demonstrated the critical importance that the education system plays in the health of our communities, and that school health providers are more important than ever before. We remain committed to our school health advocacy and technical assistance work.

 

All over the country and here in Oregon, youth are leading the way to change and we need to listen to them and partner with them. We remain committed to our youth-adult partnership work, and to supporting the development of youth advocates who can effect critical changes in their communities.  

 

If you’d like to contact me to learn more about my background, what OSBHA is up to, or discuss partnership opportunities, feel free to reach out at maureen@osbha.org.

What: We’re hosting an online youth forum! We hope you’ll join us for a discussion about centering health & relationships when schools reopen. We will share the ideas generated in this forum with decision-makers statewide.

 

Who: This forum is for high school youth in Oregon. Limited space available with priority given to youth with marginalized identities & youth from outside the Portland area.

 

When: Monday, June 29 from 2-4pm (online)

 

Other Details: All participants will receive a $20 gift card. Fill out the registration form & we’ll confirm all spots this Friday, June 26.

At OSBHA, we are committed to supporting youth-led advocacy work. Youth are at the front of all movements for social change (including the Black Lives Matter movement), and if you've ever been to our annual School Health Advocacy Day event, you've witnessed the power of collective youth action.

 

We know that many people, youth and adults alike, are looking for ways to make their voices heard with decision-makers right now. Salma Sheikh and Jennifer Cruz Hernandez, members of the Student Health Advocate Policy Committee, created this video for those interested in contacting their representatives. We hope you'll watch & share!

The Alliance4Kids and Oregon Health Forum are hosting a three part event series this summer, and OSBHA Interim Executive Director Maureen Hinman will be featured as a speaker at the June 30th event.

 

Learn what Oregon's new school guidance means for bringing students and staff safely back to school this fall under COVID-19. Part 1 is scheduled for June 30th from 10:30am-12pm and features Oregon Department of Education Director Colt Gill, top school administrators and school health experts, and is moderated by state house majority leader Rep. Barbara Smith Warner.