Community Health Priorities

Community Health Priorities (CHP) is a project of the Northwest Health Foundation. Our goal is to engage people all over the state to articulate a vision of a healthier life for everyone, and then develop policies that help us achieve that vision. On this site you can participate in surveys, share feedback, read news stories about related issues, learn about grant opportunities for your neighborhood organizations, get more information on how to become involved or help mobilize your community and ensure that its voice will be heard. Join the conversation!

Youth Photo Contest: Submit your Entries Here

As part of National Public Health Week (April 6-12), we are pleased to sponsor the 2010 Oregon Student Photo Contest!

Apply for Grant Here

From the Conversation

Is a Soda Tax Paternalism? Victim Blaming?

The CHP Twitter feed recently received a message from @erinashmiller, who tweeted that “taxing junk food violates horizontal & vertical equity, also paternalistic.” The tweet included a link to an article she wrote on agriculture policy ...Read more >

Citizens United v. FEC: Is it a public health issue

Is it a simple defense of free speech as protected by the first amendment or an egregious example of right-wing judicial activism? While that may be one way of framing the recent Supreme Court ruling “Citizens United v. Federal Election ...Read more >

Blue Zones Vitality Project: Addressing Healthy Environments One Community at a Time

A recent article in Newsweek reports on the town of Albert Lea, Minn., the first American town to sign on to the AARP/Blue Zones Vitality Project—the brainchild of Dan Buettner, author of “The Blue Zones,” which looks at the health habits of ...Read more >

Cell Phones - Public Health Issue?

A recent piece in GQ magazine explores a difficult issue for many Americans – many earthlings in fact – to grapple with: the health hazards of cell phones. To suggest that cell phones pose serious and real health threats to human health, or ...Read more >

Public Health Not Held to “Clinical Trial” Standards of Medicine, NY Doc Writes

Public Health Not Held to Same “Clinical Trial” Standards as Medicine, NY Doc Writes A retired pediatrician, in a recent letter to the New York Times about the city’s new salt recommendations, brings up an interesting point. Before the ...Read more >

Oregonians Speak:

Creating a new culture of good health

Dr. Pierre Morin, Lutheran Community Services, Portland

Creating a new culture of good health: Refugees bring many talents to Oregon’s communities and add to our cultural diversity. When they get here, however, they often face discrimination, language barriers, feelings of isolation and emotional distress due to displacement. We hosted ...Read more >

About The Project

How can we all achieve a healthy life? What will it take for all Oregonians to be able to live in environments that sustain us and promote our well-being — where we can all breathe clean air, drink pure water and eat nourishing food — and where it’s safe for each and every one of us to walk or ride a bike? What must we do for good preventive care to be available to everyone in all corners of the state?

Community Health Priorities (CHP) is a project of the Northwest Health Foundation, based on work completed in partnership with the Oregon Public Health Division and the Oregon Health Policy Commission. Our goal is to engage people all over the state to articulate a vision of a healthier life for everyone, and then develop policies that help us achieve that vision.

...Read more about the project >