From the Orcas Island Community Foundation
What are the unmet needs in our island community and where are holes in the safety-net? Are there environmental or cultural or educational needs not being fully addressed? If we could answer such questions, collectively focusing our attention and energy, could we make a difference?
These are questions near and dear to the heart of the Orcas Island Community Foundation, whose mission is to “foster philanthropy to enhance and preserve the quality of life on Orcas Island.” In the past year OICF undertook a Community Needs Assessment, publishing a report in September (copies are at the OICF office, 141 Prune Alley, or online at www.oicf.us). The next step for the Community Foundation was identifying the greatest needs and working to address them.
The Community Foundation used several criteria in choosing its Focus Area Investment for 2012: urgency, whether this need would respond to added resources or energy (feasibility), whether the impact of efforts was measurable (measurability), whether the nonprofit community was equipped to undertake tasks in the designated area (readiness), whether there was an opportunity for collaboration, and whether any solutions were likely to last over time (sustainability).Many important issues and areas of great need are apparent, but the one that consistently rose to the surface was greater access to medical, mental and dental health services. Recent announcements about cuts in state funding for health care programs indicate that this area will become even more urgent.
In response, OICF has designated this area for a new multi-year Focused Area Investment Program. The OICF board hopes that by mobilizing donors, nonprofits, and service providers around this area, they can ‘move the dial’ significantly. The Focus Area Investment Team, with both Board and community members, will help guide implementation of this effort. There will be an open community meeting on Wednesday, December 7th from 5-7 p.m. at the Parish Hall of Emmanuel Episcopal. This meeting will help in identifying solutions to address health care needs in our community. Information gathered will be used by OICF in developing a request for proposals (RFP) and a process for applying for grant funding later this winter. If you are would like to attend the meeting, please RSVP to OICF at 376-6423.
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OCIF should be commended for identifying the broad area of health services as the area to which they will direct their primary focus. The Community Needs Assessment study should be required reading.
Having said that, however, I take issue with the conclusion that the most critical need for the communuty is access to health providers. Access is not the problem. The problem is education & affordability!
There isn’t a health provider on Orcas that would refuse treatment to a patient in critical need. Virtually all providers will accept patients with less than critical & health maintenance need.
We are a very proud people. An inordinate number of our citizens need one or all of the available services & are too proud to admit they can’t afford them. Residents of Orcas(&other islands)don’t have to be over 65 or have insurance to have access to proper health care. Can OCIF focus on education for patients and a more significant funding for providers?
Charlie Binford
Deer Harbor
Charlie-
Thank you for your thoughtful response. By focusing on Medical, Dental , and Mental Health access, the Community Foundation will increase the knowledge of what is currently available, and why folks may be reluctant to access it, as you point out. By educating ourselves and the community, we hope to develop a plan that will move that needle a bit. The open meeting on December 7th will be a starting point for that learning and I hope you will be able to join in that conversation.
Hilary Canty
Executive Director, OICF