Beaverton receives $1.6 million grant to provide health care programs

The city of Beaverton announced Friday that it received a $1.6 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control to fight health problems such as obesity and develop a health and wellness center.

The money will support the Beaverton Community Health Partnership, a group of about 10 health care providers. They include Community Action, Lifeworks Northwest and the Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center. The partnership has been named an Oregon Solutions Project for building strong relationships between a public agency and nonprofits.

Part of the money will support the development of a Beaverton health and wellness center, a go-to spot for a variety of health resources. Officials have explored the vacant Westgate property near the Round at Beaverton Central as one potential location.

The partnership also hopes to reduce the frequency of diabetes and lower the rate of heart attacks and strokes.

The grant is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Community Transformation Grants. The money supports public programs that reduce chronic diseases, promote healthier lifestyles and manage health care spending.

Overall, the department has awarded roughly $70 million in grants to improve the health of communities that have fewer than 500,000 people. Beaverton has a population of about 90,000 people.

-- Dominique Fong

Source: http://www.oregonlive.com/beaverton/index.ssf/2012/09/beaverton_receives_16_million.html

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