[June 2025 Survey] Impact of Federal and State Funding Changes on Ok. Health

Okanogan CHI members and Thriving Together NCW built a survey to understand and tell the story of how state and federal funding reductions and policy changes are affecting local people and the health infrastructure our communities depend on.

Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/okfundingsurvey

How to contribute: Please fill out this short survey and share this survey broadly with partners.

Who should fill out the survey: This survey is for any organization (public entity, nonprofit, or business) or community health leader that has seen funding from the state or federal government cancelled, terminated, frozen, not-renewed, or placed at significant risk, or experienced impact from policy changes.

What happens with the information shared: Data will be shared back with you (community health partners), elected leaders, and the broader community to raise awareness and to build greater resiliency in the region. Contact information that you provide in the survey is for internal follow-up only and will not be shared.

The CHI will move findings into a "survey digest" for all CHI members.

If you have any questions or comments, don't hesitate to get in touch!

[May 2025 CHI Mtg] Federal and State Funding, Potential Impact of Medicaid Cuts

With many possible changes to federal and state funding and policies ahead of us, the Okanogan CHI convened members to discuss the impact (and potential impact) of these changes on community health. Local hospitals shared a deep dive about the potential impact of Medicaid cuts and how the CHI could best contribute to planning and advocacy.

Here are a few media pieces about how state and federal funding may impact Okanogan County and other rural communities:

• "Okanogan County Hospitals Brace for Potential Medicaid Cuts"

•  "Rural Head Start Programs Face Uncertainties in Okanogan County"

•   "Federal and State Cuts Threaten Washington Early-Learning Programs"
  

The CHI is stepping into a new meeting structure as we center around the local impact of federal and state funding and policy changes the next few months. Here are the outcomes we're heading toward each month:

ONGOING MEETING OUTCOMES:

• Clear talking points on impacts in Okanogan County.

• Contributions to public education and sense-making.

• Shared quantitative and qualitative data.

• Proactive planning and learning spaces 

• Regular identification of opportunities for action.

• Advocacy opportunities with legislators and leaders.

[Video 2/29/24 CHI Mtg] Legislation and Community Health

CHI members came together to talk about new legislation being discussed in Olympia that could influence our CHI members’ work and the health of our Okanogan community.

Click below to hear from local leaders about action in childcare and early learning, housing, healthcare capacity and workforce, mental health, and substance use and more.

[Video 6/29 CHI Mtg ] Senator Short & Learning Abt the Blake Bill

At the June CHI meeting, our local Senator, Shelly Short joined the Okanogan CHI to talk about actions in the 2023 legislative session that could influence health in Okanogan County. Check out the video below.

Community health issues are complex, our CHI Team shared about the framework of Clock vs Cloud solutions to support our network in thinking about big legislative changes like the Blake Bill.

Learn about the Blake Bill, passed in 2021 and amended in 2023, and how it influences criminal penalties for drug use and funding for direct services. Dr. Caleb Banta-Green from the University of Washington.

Stepping up Crisis Response Systems

Over 50% of calls to 911 in Okanogan County are non-criminal. These calls are often connected to bigger community health issues like substance use, homelessness, and mental health, and the resources our community members in crisis need often expand beyond law enforcement.

This longstanding challenge in our county has become even more pressing this past year. Responding to the call for solutions to this growing challenge, partners across the county, from law enforcement and mental health to addiction services and social work, are coming together and working toward innovative crisis programs, new collaborations, and better crisis systems. 

On Dec. 8th, community partners spoke to the challenges in our crisis response systems, the way partners are stepping up, and how your organization can both utilize new resources on the table and contribute to future solutions. 

Watch the video below to hear about new 24/7 recovery programming, a new mobile mental health crisis team, Omak PD's new social worker, the 'Crisis Response Collaborative' and more.