CHI's HRSA Grant Is Making a Real Difference in Southwest Washington
When SWACH’s Community Health Improvement (CHI) department received HRSA RCORP-Overdose Response funding last fall, it marked more than a financial milestone. The new funding marked a commitment to rural communities in Klickitat and Skamania counties that have faced long-standing barriers to overdose prevention, substance use support, and access to care.
Nine months in, that commitment is showing real progress.
Getting supplies where they are needed
One of CHI’s first priorities was making sure life-saving supplies were reaching people in the communities that need them most. Since September, CHI has continued supporting access to naloxone and other overdose prevention materials through free vending machine sites in the rural service area, including partners One Community Health, Klickitat Valley Health, and the Klickitat County Jail.
According to Ashley Gaffney, SWACH’s Director of Community Health Improvement, nearly 600 naloxone kits have been distributed through these sites.
“We’ve distributed close to 600 naloxone kits at our free vending machine sites, including One Community Health, Klickitat Valley Health, and the Klickitat County Jail,” Gaffney said.
The team monitors distribution rates, community need, and potential gaps in access. That information is helping guide the next phase of the project, including outreach to identify new locations for naloxone kiosks.
“We’ve been really involved lately in community engagement and outreach around expanding access to naloxone,” Gaffney said. “This would expand access through having 24/7 sites, with the kiosk ideally being outdoors, because indoor locations limit access if they’re not open 24/7.”
Expanding low-barrier access is especially important in rural communities, where transportation and infrastructure can make it harder to get support quickly.
A new map for navigating support
In November, CHI launched a publicly accessible Community Asset Map. The digital map helps community members, Community Health Workers, partner agencies, and providers identify local resources and supportive services across Klickitat and Skamania counties.
The map was shared through SWACH’s newsletter, social media, partner outreach, and the East County CHW Cohort. Work is now underway to evaluate how the map is being used and gather feedback from community members and partners.
For Gaffney, the map is not just a resource list. It’s part of a longer process to better understand local strengths, build relationships, and support future planning shaped by the community.
“For the asset map, ultimately, we want to increase resident ownership of the map,” Gaffney said. “Asset mapping works best when it’s part of a longer process.”
Through community feedback and evaluation, CHI hopes the map can continue to grow into a tool that reflects real community needs and supports local decision-making.
Reinforcing SWACH’s reach
CHI’s work does not happen in isolation. It builds on and strengthens SWACH’s existing infrastructure, including the HealthConnect Hub.
Through pamphlets, flyers, resource materials, and outreach at vending machine sites and partner locations, CHI has worked to make the HealthConnect Hub more visible and accessible to people in rural Klickitat and Skamania counties. This helps ensure that community members who need ongoing care coordination know where to turn.
“The other objective was around community-based care coordination and having our partners that currently have vending machines refer to the Hub, as well as access for individuals to refer themselves to the Hub,” Gaffney said.
That connection matters because overdose prevention is not just about supplies. It is also about helping people access care, resources, and support over time.
Training the people closest to the community
Community Health Workers are often trusted points of contact for people navigating substance use, recovery, health care, and social services in rural areas. CHI has prioritized training and supporting this network through overdose education, asset map presentations, and regular engagement through the East County CHW Cohort.
Janyce Richardson, SWACH’s Community Health Improvement Program Coordinator, has presented on the Community Asset Map and provided overdose education and response training through the cohort.
These trainings help build local capacity and give community-based organizations more tools to support people directly in the communities they serve.
A resource guide for the road ahead
CHI is also developing a SUD Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Resource Guide for Klickitat and Skamania counties. The guide will bring together local services and support options in one practical format that can be shared at naloxone vending machine sites and through community partners.
“We’re also creating that resource guide to have readily available resources that participants accessing those supplies can better understand what may be available to them,” Gaffney said.
The guide is part of a broader effort to make information easier to find, especially for people who may not know where to start.
Looking ahead
With the project period running through August 2026, CHI’s team continues to expand outreach, evaluate outcomes, and build infrastructure that rural communities can rely on beyond the grant period.
In the coming months, key priorities include identifying and placing naloxone kiosks, gathering more feedback on the Community Asset Map, strengthening partner involvement, and continuing to connect people to the HealthConnect Hub.
“I think that would be a big win, to be able to expand low-barrier access to naloxone and other health resources,” Gaffney said.
Together, these efforts show how HRSA funding is helping move rural overdose response from planning into action. Through supplies, training, care coordination, community feedback, and local partnerships, CHI is working to support a stronger and more connected system of care in Klickitat and Skamania counties.