WOU Community Health + Polk County COVID-19 Project

Contact Us

Megan Patton-Lopez

PhD, RDN, Project Co-Director

Email: pattonlm@wou.edu

Emily Vala-Haynes

PhD, MPH, Project Co-Director

Email: valahaynese@wou.edu

The WOU Community Health + Polk County COVID-19 Project is a collaborative effort among community health faculty and students, Polk County Public Health, and other community partners to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Our Goals

Our primary goal is to provide coordinated communication outreach and engagement efforts that ensure vulnerable members of Polk County have access to accurate and timely information to protect their health and safety.

Prepare and coordinate community health student contact tracing team to support Polk County Public Health.

Design and implement health communication and community outreach and engagement strategies for vulnerable populations.

Provide real-time data to support contact tracing and COVID-19 case prevention efforts in Polk County and across Oregon.

Project Milestones

2021

October 11 OPHA invited panel presentation & poster presentations: Data Brief and Family Thrive Kit Poster.
May 27Our team presents at the WOU Academic Excellence Showcase Presidential Plenary Session.
January 1Oregon Health Authority Community Outreach and Engagement funding extended to December 31st.

2020

October 12Received Outstanding Student Poster Award at the annual Oregon Public Health Association conference.
July 10Team begins contact tracing for Polk County.
July 1Received Oregon Health Authority Community Outreach and Engagement funding.
June 15 Hired project coordinators and first group of contact tracers.
June 1Signed contract with Polk County to begin contact tracing.