In September, Oregon Pride in Business recognized two of our Partners for the work that they have done for LGBTQ+ Communities, beyond their partnership with ORPIB.
Partners Portland Mental Health and Wellness and Oregon Department of Human Services were the recipients of this award in its inaugural year.
Oregon Department of Human Services, 2024 LGBTQ+ Community Impact Award Winner
Achievement
ODHS has partnered with ORPIB to help bring equitable contracting opportunities and resources to the LGBTQIA+ business community, as well as the ability to talk about tax credits and other employer incentive programs.
ODHS is fully committed to LGBTQIA+ equality and supports a PRIDE Employee Resource Group, as well as attending Pride events around the state. ODHS has been working with ORPIB to access more Pride events around the state and to assist with planning.
Impact
More access to LGBTQIA+ businesses for contracting opportunities and other business resources. ODHS has attended a number of ORPIB events to network, and has held individual follow-up meetings with ORPIB members afterwards. ODHS has also marketed ORPIB to other state agencies and has brought people from the Department of Administrative Services to events.
Portland Mental Health and Wellness, 2024 LGBTQ+ Community Impact Award Winner
Achievement
In the last 2 years, PMHW has launched 3 distinctive programs:
- QT-BIPOC Therapist Rising Fellowship Program
- LGBTQIA+ Intensive Outpatient Program
- Affirm 2STNB Program
Impact
- All three programs hire/employ LGBTQ+ staff AND also provide mental health services to the community.
- These programs accept Medicaid insurance, meaning the affirming mental health services are accessible for folks with the intersections of LGBTQ+ and socioeconomic disadvantage.
- These programs are keeping patients from needing hospitalization/inpatient treatment and providing connection with others in the LGBTQ+ community.
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For many of our patients, their treatment at PMHW is a reparative experience following traumatic experiences in the health care system.
What are ORPIB’s LGBTQ+ Community Impact Awards?
These are self-nominated awards honoring work of ORPIB Members or Partners for the greater LGBTQ+ Community.
Impact Award Criteria
Impact: The degree to which the nominee’s actions have had a positive impact on the LGBTQ+ community, whether through advocacy, support, education, or other means.
Inclusion: How the nominee’s actions represent the diversity and intersections of the LGBTQ+ community.
Achievement: How the nominee’s action’s worked to advance equity for the LGBTQ+ community.
Nominations for Member awards will open by mid-October, and honorees will be announced at our end-of-year celebration on 12/5.
