Thank you Chris Dudley, former Trailblazer star!
Your basketball camp for youth managing their diabetes, and empowering them to keep their health and athletic dreams alive is inspiring. www.chrisdudley.org
May 2025 – Celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental Health Awareness Month highlights the importance of mental health to ALL areas of our lives—our physical well-being, how we work and perform in school, and our ability to participate fully in family and community activities.
The need for mental health resources has greatly increased throughout Wallace’s service area over the last few years and in the broader Multnomah County and State of Oregon. Wallace is responding, thanks to a recent $1.1 million Behavioral Health Service Expansion grant from the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center Program.
“Aside from diabetes and hypertension, behavioral and mental health disorders are some of the most common conditions we see at Wallace,” said Bethany Stairs DNP, Wallace’s Medical Director. “We’re excited to grow our mental health services.”
When complete, Wallace’s expanded team will include a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, a professional mental health counselor with specialization in addiction, and two behavioral health providers as well as patient coordination staff and language interpretation support. The two-year timeline calls for a 45% increase in the number of patients receiving mental health services. Along with adding capacity for behavioral and mental health support, the team will expand its ability to provide treatment for substance use disorders, expecting to serve a minimum of 150 patients in this way by the end of 2026.
“Receiving this grant right now is huge for us, and for our community,” added Stairs. “I am so proud of our team and their commitment to our patients. We’re all eager to dig in!”
Gresham-Barlow School District Student Health Center Grand Opening
Wallace and the Gresham-Barlow School District are eagerly preparing for the grand opening of a new student health center on Wednesday, October 2nd at 3pm, across from Gresham High School, 1165 N. Main Ave. Gresham, Oregon 97030.
The Student Health Center will provide essential services, including physical, dental, and mental health support, all designed to create a holistic environment for students. With its focus on accessibility and inclusivity, the health center is set to become a crucial resource for students and their families.
A standout feature of the center is a vibrant mural created by a Gresham High School student Markaya Harbin, which reflects the creativity and spirit of the community, and features all the Gresham-Barlow school mascots.
As the grand opening approaches, excitement is building within the Gresham-Barlow community. This new facility represents a commitment to prioritizing student health, ensuring that every student has the support they need to thrive academically and personally. The district looks forward to welcoming students, families,and community members to celebrate this important achievement together.
Let’s Celebrate National Health Center Week
Community Health Centers such as Wallace have been making caring connections that strengthen communities throughout our nation for over 50 years.
America’s Health Centers were born of the Civil Rights movement in the 1960’s, when a group of determined activists waged a fight to improve the lives of people living in poverty, who desperately needed health care. President Lyndon B. Johnson’s wide-ranging War on Poverty initiatives gave these health care pioneers their opportunity. Their proposals to establish health centers in medically underserved urban and rural communities bore fruit with the approval of funding in 1965 for the nation’s first two Health Centers—in Mound Bayou, Mississippi and Boston, Massachusetts.
The Community Health Center movement has never looked back, exceeding the wildest expectations of those early activists. We are healers and innovators who look beyond medical charts to partner with our communities to address inequities that can cause poor health—including poverty, homelessness, substance use, mental illness, lack of nutrition, trauma, unemployment, social bias. Collectively we provide care to nearly 30 million underserved patients throughout the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories. Wallace is proud to be among them.
Wallace Celebrates National Coming Out Day with Commitment to LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality
In honor of National Coming Out Day, Wallace proudly announces its role as a leader in healthcare equity for LGBTQ+ community. This milestone is significant as Wallace becomes the first community health center in the Pacific Northwest to receive recognition from the Human Rights Campaign’s Healthcare Equality Index (HEI). The HEI serves as the leading benchmark for evaluating inclusive policies and practices that enhance care for LGBTQ+ patients and staff within healthcare settings.
As a newly designated Healthcare Equality Index Member clinic, Wallace has made significant commitments to inclusivity. These include implementing policies that protect the rights of patients and staff, providing training on LGBTQ+ cultural competency, and fostering an inclusive workforces part of our equity, diversity, and inclusion work plan. Wallace is honored at the “Builder” level in the HEI 2024 report, a testament to its progress in creating a welcoming environment for all community members.
Wallace’s comprehensive care model specifically addresses the unique needs of LGBTQ+ patients through initiatives like a nurse-led STI clinic and gender-affirming services. CEO Lisa Cline reaffirms this commitment, stating, “Whatever your gender, your sexual identity or expression, we see you and we want to give you a warm welcome.” This dedication to equality and inclusivity is not just a goal; it’s a fundamental part of Wallace’s mission to ensure that healthcare is a human right for everyone.
Get Your Covid-19 Vaccination at Wallace
The COVID-19 vaccine is available at Wallace! Wallace patients can now sign up for a vaccine.
