Program Integration - the Oregon Story

Objective:Integrate health promotion and chronic disease programs in response to overlapping priorities, including the reduction of risk factors, increased access to self-management, impact on health disparities, and program sustainability.

Methods:

• Developed the "Healthy Places, Healthy People: a Framework for Oregon" to guide work on policy, systems, and environmental change.
• Created a matrix of organizational and functional teams that include staff from various categorical programs to achieve cross-program objectives in an effective and efficient manner.
• Created and implemented a plan to establish statewide infrastructure to build local capacity for health promotion and chronic disease prevention, through the Healthy Communities program.  

Results:

• Resources for chronic disease prevention and management, including Diabetes, are focused on easy access to healthy foods, physical activity, early disease detection services, chronic disease self-management supports, and tobacco-free lifestyles.
• All four of the National Diabetes Program goal areas are addressed. 
• By working with each Local Public Health Agency and Tribe in the state, and several community-based organizations, Oregon has expanded the reach of the categorical programs while addressing health disparities and sustainability.

Conclusion:Program integration has provided a means to increase the effectiveness of health promotion and chronic disease prevention programs that receive categorical funding.