OREGON — Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc. (GOBHI) is pleased to announce that Raeana Mikel has started with GOBHI as the Health Equity and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) specialist. Raeana (Rae) will take a prominent role guiding the organization’s work in health equity internally, and collaborating with external partners through the Eastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization (EOCCO).
Rae, who was born and raised in Pendleton, has a rich experience in Eastern Oregon. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Women’s Studies from Portland State University, with focuses in Gender and Sexuality, Community Development, Civic Leadership, and Nonprofit Management. Her work experience includes roles in the nonprofit sector as a health equity leadership consultant.
The Health Equity and DEI Specialist position is key in developing the strategic framework for DEI to improve services administered and provided by GOBHI. This position assists GOBHI and EOCCO culturally in delivering linguistically appropriate behavioral health and Non-Emergent Medical Transportation services and CCO-related health equity contract and reporting requirements. The position supports GOBHI/EOCCO and partners to recognize and respond to the impact of diversity on the EOCCO Behavioral Health workforce and on the children, youth, adults, families, and communities they serve.
Rae will work in partnership with communities, public health, hospitals, behavioral and physical health providers, community-based organizations, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), and other relevant partners in advancing health equity across the service area. Also, this position will collaborate with the analytics team to ensure meaningful population and service level data is gathered and communicated across the service area to advance health equity.
GOBHI noted Rae’s valuable experiences and background in Oregon that will help in facilitating this endeavor.
“We’re honored to have Rae join our team,” said Karen Wheeler, CEO of GOBHI. “Because DEI is our highest priority value, we looked for a professional with connections among our diverse communities and local experience working in health equity. We found that in Raeana and look forward to working with her to propel forward this core focus area for GOBHI.”
GOBHI serves as an administrative services organization on behalf of Eastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization (EOCCO). It is responsible for managing the behavioral health benefit, non-emergent medical transportation, and for facilitating community conversations to improve the local healthcare system as a whole.
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About:
GOBHI was founded in 1994; it is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit corporation that is charged with administering the behavioral health Medicaid benefit, non-emergent medical transportation and community engagement in 12 rural and frontier counties in Oregon. GOBHI is co-owner of Eastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization, along with Moda health, and also provides various direct services statewide.