We empower Oregon communities to determine the resources their schools need to thrive.
We advocate for children’s health, especially in underserved communities, to close gaps, and to implement and strengthen the services and policies that promote the health and academic success of young people and their communities.
That’s why we’re working to build a community school movement.
What is a community school?
A public school in which the community is identifying their unique needs — and making decisions collaboratively —
resulting in a coordinated hub for student services.
Because of this, students are thriving, and the community is thriving. No two schools look the same.
Some features of community schools may include:
Extended learning opportunities, such as after-school programs, summer school, and adult education classes.
Health and wellness services, such as school-based clinics, nutrition programs, and mental health supports.
Family engagement programs, such as parenting classes, family literacy programs, and community events.
Community partnerships with local organizations, businesses, and government agencies to provide resources and services to students and families.
Here are the six pillars of community schools.
How can your school become a community school?
All of our school health services are building blocks of a community school. School-based services are different at every school, because they are unique to the needs of that particular community. Consult with us to discover possible next steps.
Why partner with us?
Because we are leading the community school movement in Oregon, and live and breathe our mission every day. We believe in a world where change is being driven by the communities!
At OSBHA, we partner with youth and collaborate with school communities to improve health systems for their students based on the guiding belief that no two communities are the same, and it's the communities themselves (comprised of students, school staff, school district staff, parents and health partners) that know their needs best.
OSBHA honors, respects, and bolsters the wisdom and strengths of the school community and brings unique approaches to support and co-create services based on the unique interests of each community. We use community centered, strengths-based approaches that acknowledge the lived experience, collective wisdom, and existing resources in communities. We work to collaboratively identify ways to leverage assets to create better systems.
Our focus on systems change and youth and community-centered design means that we are genuinely being guided by those that school health services impact, and we prioritize the voices of those that have been historically marginalized, i.e. Black, Indigenous, People of Color, LGBTQ+, intersectional, and rural communities. This has led us to initiatives that center youth, focus on the whole child, and integrate health more deeply and meaningfully into the education system.