WOU Community Health + Polk County COVID-19 Project
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
2022
- June The Covid-19 Project reaches it’s 2 year anniversary.
- March Our team partnered with the WOU Library and Art Department to utilize the Communities for Immunity Grant to promote Covid-19 vaccine information through local libraries.
- January – March Our team co-hosted vaccine events throughout Polk County with community partners.
2021
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December 10 Our team hosted the second commuity health fair event, with more information and resources and distributed 503 vaccine doses.
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November 19 Our team hosted a community health fair event and distributed 285 vaccines.
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October 11OPHA invited panel presentation & poster presentations: Data Brief and Family Thrive Kit poster.
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May 27 Our team presents at the WOU Academic Excellence Showcase Presidential Plenary Session.
- January 1 Oregon Health Authority Community Outreach and Engagament funding extended to December 31st.
2020
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October 12Received Outstanding Student Poster Award at the annual Oregon Public Health Association conference.
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July 10Team begins contact tracing for Polk County.
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July 1Received Oregon Health Authority Community Outreach and Engagement funding.
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June 15 Hired project coordinators and first group of contact tracers.
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June 1Signed contract with Polk County to begin contact tracing.
Our Team
Emily Vala-Haynes, PhD, MPH
Project Co-Director
Megan Patton-Lopez, PhD, RDN
Project Co-Director
Maddie Dirren, B.S., WOU Alumna
Project Coordinator
Jenny Leon-Perez, B.S., WOU Alumna
Project Coordinator
McKenzie Fisher
Hometown: Dallas
Val Garibay
Hometown: Salem
Jessica Garibay Ochoa
Hometown: Salem
Blanca Jimenez
Hometown: Portland
Kailey Knospe
Hometown: Salem
Leah Maraia
Hometown: Beaverton
Hannah McCallister
Hometown: Grand Ronde
Fabi Palma Vasquez
Hometown: Eugene
Rebecca Zharkoff
Hometown: Gervais
Emily Synegal
Hometown: Salem
Esmirna Tencos Mendoza
Hometown: Hillsboro
Pricila Tinajero
Hometown: Salem
Former Interns
Sarah Carter
Sonia Castaneda Felix
Adam Chynoweth
Kelli Conopa
Ezra Esch
Gaby Esquivel
Cody Gray
Mariana Guerrero
Sherwine Guillaume
Samantha Harris
Allison Kirk
Rachel Koljesky
Queenie Love Agbayani
Jesus Maciel Abarca
Rosa Magana Solano
Karissa McClanahan
Sarah Meyer
Laura Moran
Krysten Perez
Jackie Rodriguez
Rin Schwanke
Kennedy Suhr
Morgan Stueve
Hometown: Turner
