Barbe West, director of the Free Clinic of Southwest Washington, and the Wellness Project will receive the 2010 Clark County Public Health Community Awards today.
The awards will be presented in a ceremony at the monthly meeting of the County Board of Health, at 9 a.m. on the sixth floor of the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St.
West will receive the individual award for her leadership in health care delivery and efforts to address the causes of poor health. She serves on the Washington State Free Clinic Association Board and is a mentor for Clark College’s Health Careers program. She also serves on an advisory council at Concordia University and consults with area school districts about healthier food choices and curriculum changes that can increase physical activity.
West previously served as president of Kaiser Permanente’s Northwest region and executive director of Community Choices, where she led the effort to receive a grant through the Steps to a Healthier Community program.
The organization award will be presented to the Wellness Project, the only free mental health clinic in the Pacific Northwest. The Community Services Northwest program serves low-income, uninsured or underinsured adults, many with both mental health and chemical dependency issues. Many clients are homeless or at risk for homelessness.
The program has developed innovative partnerships with volunteers, and works with county service providers and community organizations to connect clients with the resources they need. The Wellness Project, 317 E. 39th St., served nearly 200 clients in 2009.
Special recognition will go to:
• The nursing staff of Columbia River Mental Health Services, who provide school-based services, home visits, residential care, outpatient services and inpatient treatment at Hotel Hope for people in crisis.
• Sheela Choppala Nestor, whose role in the Clark County Health Equity Initiative and the 2009 Community Report Card helped illustrate health inequities in our community.
• Marilyn Johnson, who developed a parish nursing program into a model for the Northwest as a county coordinator, volunteer regional coordinator and mentor.
• Steve Rocereto, a certified athletic trainer with Rebound Orthopedics and Neurosurgery, who is a resource for local high schools and has developed an injury-prevention program for county youth soccer and baseball clubs.
• Rachel Seidel, children’s Medicaid outreach coordinator with the state Department of Social and Health Services, who partners with agencies to improve access to health care among uninsured, underinsured, and low-income people.
