Community Health Center Under New Ownership
Rockwood Community Health Center Building Acquisition Celebration on Feb. 17, 2023 Photography by Motoya Nakamura/Multnomah County
Multnomah County is celebrating the purchase of the Rockwood Community Health Center, which it has operated in partnership with its original owner, CareOregon, since 2010.
This East Portland health center was established to reduce significant barriers to healthcare access for low-income and underinsured residents in the Rockwood area who previously had to travel outside of their neighborhood to access primary care, pharmacy and dental services.
The Community Health Center is staffed by five family practice providers, three providers specializing in behavioral health, mental health and addictions, and two providers with a community health specialization. This clinic serves more than 8,000 individuals each year. More than 65% of Rockwood patients identify as people of color, and 35% utilize interpretation services.
The ceremonial building transfer, from CareOregon to Multnomah County, is a time to celebrate the success of this long-standing partnership to provide much-needed health care to the Rockwood community.
“I believe in the investments Multnomah County and CareOregon have made in Rockwood and look forward to the future of this successful Community Health Center, where so many families will continue to find the care they need,” said Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson.
“At CareOregon, our goal is to make sure that healthcare works for absolutely everyone,” said Eric C. Hunter, CareOregon CEO. “For communities like Rockwood that have historically been underserved by the healthcare system, that means working to bring new resources to their community. When we purchased this building back in 2009 with the goal of having Multnomah County open a health center here, we had a vision of creating a welcoming, community-centered environment. I could not be more proud of what they’ve been able to achieve. On behalf of everyone at CareOregon, I’d like to say ‘Welcome home Multnomah!’”