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Community Partnerships

Community Partnerships

Providence has spent decades developing relationships with a broad array of local, national, and international community organizations, educational institutions, and other health systems. These deep relationships are built on trust and respect and come from a history of impactful collaboration. These are more than relationships: they are partnerships.

Every day, communities are challenged to respond to the vast needs of their people. To achieve the greatest impact, we walk alongside our communities and work together to address needs that none of us can solve alone.

Our Stories

We are proud to share stories of community impact. Expand the headlines below to read about recent partnerships, or visit our Annual Report.

In 2020, the St. Joseph Community Partnership Fund invested $1 million through grants and technical assistance for a California program that engages residents in 11 communities to address health issues in their neighborhoods. The Community Building Initiative (CBI) program provides long-term leadership training and coaching to identify issues and build plans to deliver them in partnership with local hospitals and nonprofits.

At one of the sites, in Southwest Santa Rosa, CA, youth crime was identified as a particularly concerning issue. The Community Action Partnership (CAP) was established and with CBI coaching, residents became empowered to address visible signs of crime, anti-social behavior, and civil disorder. They also focused on improving quality health, housing stability, and improving community-police relations.

Through CAP’s efforts, the community has seen changes to the Mandatory Rental Inspection Policy, the creation of Spanish language Code Enforcement and Crime reporting forms, and the appointment of the first Latino Police Chief.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected those experiencing homelessness and though the infection rate in Alaska has been one of the lowest in the country, the pandemic has created new challenges for people without stabile access to housing, creating greater risks and fewer options for finding support.

Providence Health & Services Alaska is one of the many agencies that stepped in to help increase access to much needed services for some of the most vulnerable members of the community.

Through Community Health Investment, Providence earmarked over $3 million in 2020 to help area nonprofit programs provide wraparound services and support, including shelter. This is part of Providence’s five-year $15 million commitment to addressing homelessness in the region.

Education programs and partnerships are an essential part of Providence’s belief that education is an essential component of health. In 2021, University of Providence worked closely with Community Health Investment (CHI) and the Catholic Health Association to launch the new Community Health Investment certificate program.

This program will provide students with the opportunity to learn more about community health, health inequities, community health data analytics, upstream quality improvement, and more with the goal of training leaders in community health/community benefit for hospitals, health systems and community organizations.

This 16-credit, Master’s level certificate program is offered online and is geared toward working professionals with an interest in expanding their knowledge and gaining valuable experience in this field.

Key themes of the CHI program include compassionate caring for those who are poor and vulnerable; advancing community health, equity, diversity, and inclusion; and developing a pathway for equitable workforce development. This program provides an accessible and affordable option for students to develop their skills and become strategic and ethical leaders for their organizations and in their communities.

Learn more about the CHI certificate program.

Global health investment is an important aspect of the work Providence is doing to create health for a better world.

In Malawi, Providence, through the Global and Domestic Engagement team, has a partnership with Seed Global Health, Swedish Family Medicine Residency, and the University of Malawi-College of Medicine to develop and invest in a new Masters of Family medicine training program.

Family medicine is a priority for the Ministry of Health and will be critical for increasing access to primary care across the country. In previous years, Providence and Swedish hosted a group of Malawi’s Family Medicine residents.

Through the pandemic, Providence continues to support the development of this program by sponsoring Seed Global Health’s placement of a full-time physician educator at Mangochi District Hospital. This physician educator manages the family medicine rotation of dozens of Malawian medical students and provides administrative and clinical assistance to hospital staff.

Through hands-on training and support from our partners, the local clinicians are becoming better equipped to serve their communities and help to improve health outcomes for generations to come.

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Get Involved

There are a number of ways to become involved with the work of Providence's Community Partnership division. 

News

Sisters in Humboldt County live out the Providence mission
2/7/2024
The sisters of St. Joseph continue to play an important role at Providence. Hear from Sister Tran about her work in Humboldt County, California.
Co-Caring uses virtual nurses to help caregivers and patients
10/26/2023
Learn about Co-Caring at Providence and how adding virtual nurses to the team provides high-quality health care while increasing caregiver satisfaction.
Providence Milwaukie Community Teaching Kitchen: Nourishing Your Community
10/17/2023
The Providence Milwaukie Community Teaching Kitchen transforms lives and strengthens its community.
Dr. Urba receives award for his contributions to science and community
10/4/2023
Providence Cancer Institute of Oregon, and research director, Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Walter J. Urba, M.D., Ph.D., receives award for his contributions to science and community.
Community Health Worker Program supports people facing homelessness
8/23/2023
The Community Health Worker Program at Providence aims to improve health equity. Find out how in this Washington success story.
Providing a longer runway for at-risk youth
8/4/2023
Covenant House Alaska has helped more than 30,000 youth find a way forward. Providence’s support has helped CHA with one of its most ambitious initiatives yet: Bridge to Success.
Providence volunteer and cancer survivor offers patients hope and a smile   
5/19/2023
Cancer survivor Jeff Newell shares his experiences as a volunteer at Providence Cancer Institute and how he uses his own cancer journey to impart hope to others.
Shining a spotlight on health literacy and minority health
4/4/2023
Providence is putting a spotlight on some ways to increase health literacy for people of all races and ethnicities this National Minority Health Month.
Celebrating a year of community engagement
2/24/2024
Providence Cancer Institute highlights a year of engaging with and supporting our patients, partner organizations and community.
Family medicine building bridges
11/8/2022
Hear from family medicine providers who are spreading their specialization and enhancing whole-person care delivery across the globe.
Global solidarity: Partnering to advance health strengthening
10/6/2022
Providence responds to urgent workforce needs of today and tomorrow through clinical tele-mentorship, support for Family Medicine medical learners, exchange programs, and support for academic partners
Work2BeWell partnered with student and educational leaders on mental health webinar series for teens
10/5/2022
The webinars cover topics including how to create an emotional first aid kit, have difficult conversations and respond to emotional crises.
Providence celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month
9/14/2022
To celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, we are featuring Gabriela Robles, chief executive of SJCPF and AVP of Community Partnerships.
Focus on POCUS: How Providence and Seed Global Health are partnering to expand the use of portable ultrasounds
9/8/2022
In partnership with Seed and Kamuzu University of Health Services, Providence is working to expand the usage of portable, point-of-care ultrasounds (POCUS) at Mangochi District Hospital in Malawi.
Providence gives back to help prepare students and families for the new school year
9/6/2022
Providence Community Health Investment teams gathered donations and hosted events to support families in their back-to-school preparations.
Talk2BeWell - Minority Mental Health live event featuring The Defensive Line
8/31/2022
Watch this recent social media live event featuring The Defensive Line and Dr. Lauren Harper, Providence Oregon.
Reflections on National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
8/29/2022
Jawanza Hadley, director of Providence’s Work2BeWell program reflects on mental health and wellness
Reflections on Women's Equality Day: The Pressure of Being a Woman
8/25/2022
Gabriela Robles, chief executive of SJCPF, reflects on her experiences as a woman and a Latina in honor of Women's Equality Day.
Hear Me Now: A doctor without borders
8/18/2022
Providence is partnering with World Telehealth Initiative on a telementorship program in Nigeria and we heard from our partner and one of our volunteers.
The health benefits of volunteering: Doing good is good for you!
8/10/2022
Volunteering has many health benefits. Dr. James Beckerman and Brittn Grey of Providence discuss how you can help others and get healthier, too.
Welcoming the new St. Joseph Community Partnership Fund board chair, Joe Lumarda
8/8/2022
Learn more about SJCPF's new board chair, Joseph "Joe" Lumarda.
Reflections on the St. Joseph Community Partnership Fund board retreat
8/2/2022
Gabriela Robles, president and chief executive of the SJCPF and AVP of Community Partnerships at Providence, shares about the Fund's recent board retreat.
Video: Custom-made scrubs help caregivers and refugees
In Seattle, a partnership between the Refugee Artisan Initiative and Providence Swedish has resulted in custom-made scrubs for Swedish caregivers.
Hear Me Now: "It's a special joy to see people thrive."
Listen as managers from Providence and Catholic Social Services’ RAIS program in Alaska reflect on their work to ease the way of refugees who resettle in that state.
Global telementoring has benefits on both sides of the call
In partnership with World Telehealth Initiative, Providence doctors volunteer to mentor clinicians serving vulnerable populations in Nigeria, and soon in Kenya.
Refugees find warm welcome and fresh start in Alaska
A partnership between Catholic Social Services and Providence provides gainful employment with on-the-job training for displaced people who resettle in Alaska.
Compassion drives aid for Ukraine humanitarian crisis
Catholic Relief Services and MTI partner with Providence to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine, including funding, social and mental health services and medical supplies.
Caregiver volunteers bring the Providence Mission to their communities
Providence caregivers follow their hearts by volunteering time to support local nonprofits in Northern California, Montana, Oregon and Washington.
People with disabilities get on-the-job training with Project SEARCH
In Anchorage, Alaska, Providence works with several partners to provide school-to-work training for Project SEARCH clients.
Hear Me Now: "I have been able to move forward."
Gabriela reflects on her experience getting help for depression with therapist Lidia Roman, and on barriers created by the stigma against mental health services in Latino culture.