Taking care of youth and families today builds the foundation for their future health. That belief drives the work happening every day in Rockwood, a neighborhood in the northwest section of Gresham.

Across this neighborhood, organizations are partnering to address the social factors that shape lifelong health-education, nutrition, housing, mentorship, mental health and cultural connection. Together, they've built a network of care that helps families find stability.

At the heart of that network is the Rockwood Campus, a collaboration between Open School East, the CareOregon Boys & Girls Club, Latino Network and New Avenues for Youth -- supported through investments from CareOregon. HOLLA School was also part of the campus's early partnerships, once sharing a space with the Club.

A community of support

Families in Rockwood juggle jobs, childcare, rent, homework, and more. Some kids may be falling behind in school, others need trusted mentors or safe spaces to grow. And for many families, there are months when money runs short and resources feel out of reach.

The Rockwood Campus is designed to meet those needs in one place. Here, families and youth are surrounded by people working together to see the full picture of what makes a person healthy.

At every stage, families find someone who shows up: a teacher who listens, a mentor who understands, a community that connects them to resources. On the Rockwood Campus, those relationships are the infrastructure and the foundation for healthier futures.

When kids need a safe, enriching space after school, the CareOregon Boys & Girls Club is there for them. When they need mentorship and culturally responsive education, HOLLA School and Open School East provide it. And when families need resources for housing, mental health or stability, Latino Network and New Avenues for Youth step in.

"Taking care of families now means taking care of their future," said CareOregon's Director of Community Impact, Shawn DeCarlo. "It takes much more than a doctor's appointment to stay healthy. Health starts in the community. It starts by waking up and knowing you have places and people to go to when you need help. That's what we work to build with our community partners. This is the heart of health."

Education and mentorship

Education is one of the strongest predictors of long-term health. When students feel supported, they're more likely to succeed in school and their chances of graduating and finding stable employment increase dramatically.

At Open School East, staff work closely with students grades 9-12 who need a different kind of learning environment that emphasizes a relationship-based approach to education. Advocates work closely with parents to address barriers, whether in the classroom or accessing resources for their long-term success, such as mental health support.

"If a young person feels safe and seen, they can start learning again," said Christine Pitts, Executive Director of Open School. "Once they feel successful, they start to dream again. That's when real growth happens."

Meanwhile at HOLLA School, culturally responsive mentors create spaces where Black, Brown and Indigenous students have the chance to learn from adults who share their cultural background. That connection builds confidence and keeps students engaged in learning.

When the school day ends, many families turn to the CareOregon Boys & Girls Club at Rockwood, where kids gather for after-school programs, homework help, snacks and opportunities that help them build skills for the future.

“As a campus, we work together to help young people and their families see what’s possible for their future,” said Mandy Tsang, Senior Director of Development Operations & Advancement at CareOregon Boys & Girls Club at Rockwood.

Housing and mental health

Safe, stable housing is one of the most powerful predictors of long-term health. Without it, access to nutrition, education, and medical care becomes exponentially harder.

New Avenues for Youth provides housing and supportive services for young people experiencing homelessness or instability. Their programs include crisis coordination, job training, education support, counseling and life-skills development—all designed to help youth build sustainable futures.

Through their program, Alba Collaborative, the organization ensures that youth facing instability are not alone and can be connected to resources –– like food, housing or crisis support –– immediately.

Family stability and cultural connection

All the campus partners work together to meet families where they are. If a parent needs housing resources, language-specific services, childcare, or help navigating health care, the organizations on the Rockwood campus coordinate and refer to one another to make sure no one falls through the cracks.

Just steps from the Club, Latino Network provides culturally specific services that strengthen families –– anchored by La Plaza Esperanza building, a hub created with support from CareOregon’s investments.

La Plaza Esperanza is the first of its kind in Portland. It offers culturally specific, in-language services for Latino youth and families, including mental health care, family counseling, immigration services, childcare and a culturally specific preschool. It's also a space for celebrations and cultural traditions that nurture connection and belonging.

"Organizations like Latino Network increase the availability of wraparound resources that meet the specific, yet diverse, needs of individuals and families in this region," said CareOregon Chief of Staff, Jeremiah Rigsby. "When families feel seen and supported, everything changes. Their confidence grows, their stress lowers, and they start to dream bigger for themselves and for their kids."

Investing in community health

Organizations across Rockwood partner closely with CareOregon to make these supports sustainable. Over the years, CareOregon has invested millions of dollars to help build a stronger Rockwood Community. The Rockwood Campus demonstrates what's possible when organizations work together to address the root causes of health inequity.

Investments in Action series

Our "Investments in Action" series highlights the transformative power of CareOregon's strategic investments in health and wellbeing. Through these stories, we explore how our support goes beyond traditional funding roles and is helping to close gaps in health care access and community services. Despite challenges within the Medicaid space, we remain committed to centering these important narratives of community strength and resilience.