Fostering Hope Initiative
Community Health Services • Residential Services • Pregnancy Services
Imagine… every child and adult in every neighborhood lives in a safe, stable, nurturing home, is healthy, succeeds in school or work, and enjoys financial sufficiency. This is the vision of the Fostering Hope Initiative (FHI).
CCS serves as the lead partner for this neighborhood-based collective impact initiative designed to strengthen families, mobilize neighborhoods and promote optimum child and youth development. It is a partnership of government, public and private organizations joining together with a common goal.
FHI operates in high poverty, high need neighborhoods. Each FHI Neighborhood is staffed with a Community Health Worker who works with families and community partners to help support strong families and safe, healthy neighborhoods.
FHI’s Community Health Workers:
- Provide one-to-one system navigation services in Marion and Polk County and assist individuals to enroll in health coverage.
- Employ strategies to overcome the barriers to utilizing Oregon Health Plan coverage and help navigate both Oregon Health Plan and other Coordinated Care Organization systems.
- Improve health literacy and navigation of health systems and health systems literacy.
- Collaborate with local community organizations and establish information sharing processes to facilitate outreach, enrollment, and system navigation.
For more information contact: [email protected] or [email protected].
Need help enrolling in the Oregon Health Plan or Accessing Services?
¿Necesita ayuda para inscribirse en el Plan de Salud de Oregón o Acceso a los Servicios?
Family Support and Connections / Conexiones y Apoyo Familiar
Fostering Hope Initiative partners with the Oregon Department of Human Services to provide Family Support and Connections (FS&C) services in Marion, Polk and Yamhill Counties. FS&C is a free, voluntary program that offers support, skill building, and service connection with the goal of strengthening parents and families.
La Iniciativa Fostering Hope se asocia con el Departamento de Servicios Humanos de Oregón para brindar servicios de Conexiones y Apoyo Familiar (FS&C) en los condados de Marion, Polk y Yamhill. FS&C es un programa voluntario y gratuito que ofrece apoyo, desarrollo de habilidades y conexión de servicio con el objetivo de fortalecer a los padres y las familias.
Meet the Fostering Hope Initiative Team!
Irma Elizondo
Fostering Hope Initiative
Certified Community Health Worker, Oregon Health Plan Assister
Irma was raised in the Willamette Valley of Oregon; she loves the outdoors and spending time with her family. She has worked in human services for a total of 6 years. Her lived experience, diverse background and passion in this field has led her to FHI where her position as a community health worker will allow her to assist individuals and families with support and guidance. Her goal is to make a difference in the lives of others, one person/ family at a time.
Em Caza de Oliva
Fostering Hope Initiative
Certified Community Health Worker, Oregon Health Plan Assister
Em Caza de Oliva was born in Mexico and has spent most of her life growing up in Oregon. As a first-generation immigrant, her passion is empowering Indigenous communities of Latin-America. She has been a CHW, professionally, since 2020 but gained her love and experience for the work since childhood; growing up helping her family navigate language and socioeconomic barriers. In her free time, you can find Em foraging or doing arts and crafts.
Carina Garibay
Fostering Hope Initiative
Program Supervisor, Certified Community Health Worker, Oregon Health Plan Assister
Carina Garibay was born and raised in Salem, OR. After attending Linfield and receiving a B.A. in Sociology, her passion to serve the community was great. Deciding to work at Fostering Hope initiative was an easy decision! Today is works with the Hallman neighborhood community and is a OHP assistor.
Heather-Ann Bussiere- Roberson
Fostering Hope Initiative
Certified Community Health Worker, Oregon Health Plan Assister
Heather-Ann is originally from Reno, NV and recently relocated to the Mid-Willamette Valley, where her husband is from. Prior to working at CCS, Heather-Ann worked directly with homeless women, especially those experiencing disabilities and mental illnesses, as well as elderly with United Gospel Mission. She was also involved with AmeriCorps. Now, Heather-Ann is preparing to work as the main Community Health Worker for Father Taaffe Homes and Pregnancy Support Servies and St. Joseph Family Shelter. She is passionate about mental health and is working on getting her QMHA-I, CADC and CCMHC, to help her better serve those experiencing mental health struggles. Heather-Ann has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communications and Ethnic Studies from UNR and a master’s degree in urban ministries from SMU. She loves spending time with her two dogs, her family and journaling.
Orlando Alvarez Flores
Fostering Hope Initiative
Certified Community Health Worker, Oregon Health Plan Assister
Orlando was born and raised in Salem, Oregon. His interest in serving the community began during his high school years when he volunteered at his school and other community events. While working full-time and studying as a student at Western Oregon University, his desire to create positive change grew as he entered the non-profit sector and began serving vulnerable populations. He coordinated and managed a program designed for the migrant farmworker community, providing health and resource navigation, meeting basic living needs, and offering hydration and education directly on-site, among other services. Orlando has been a community health worker since 2023, and in 2024, he obtained a BA in Psychology. He is currently attending PSU to pursue an MSW, with the goal of gaining additional tools to better support the community.
Jocelyne Yanez
Fostering Hope Initiative
Certified Community Health Worker, Oregon Health Plan Assister
Jocelyne has lived in Salem, Oregon, for 18 years after relocating from Southern California. She attended Portland State University, earning her Bachelors of Arts in Community Health Education in June 2020. She came into the role of a Community Health Worker at Fostering Hope Initiative after completing her Master of Public Health at New York University in May 2023, where I explored the diverse neighborhoods of Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx. Her next mission in life as a CHW is serving Marion and Polk County in residential services to offer outreach resources and address community needs. Outside work, she enjoys spending time with her family, dancing, and playing with her dog, Atlas.
April Trejo Fuentes
Fostering Hope Initiative
Certified Community Health Worker, Oregon Health Plan Assister
In 2020 April completed her AAOT with Chemeketa Community College, to then finish her education at Oregon State University. In 2022 she was the first in her family to receive a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development and Family Sciences. She always had the passion to help others out. In 2023, she entered the professional workforce as a Community Health Worker with Fostering Hope Initiative, serving Marion, Polk, and Yamhill Counties. her hobbies include: fishing, Kayaking, and spending time with her Dog.
Oscar Izaguirre
Fostering Hope Initiative
Certified Community Health Worker, Oregon Health Plan Assister
Oscar Izaguirre has been with FHI since fall of 2021. Before he joined our team he has 13 years working in the medical feild at Urgent Care and Family Practice, 12 years in social services, and 6 years working with the Department of Mental Health. His background knowledge plays a keyrole with Fostering Hope Initiative!
Camille La Rocca-Carrillo
Fostering Hope Initiative
Fostering Hope Initiative Program Supervisor, Certified Traditional Health Worker, Oregon Health Plan Assister
Camille is a born and raised Oregonian who has been working in social service for most of her adult life. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree in Global Development and Social Justice, she joined the Peace Corps and served in Guatemala as a Healthy Schools Coordinator. Following her Peace Corps service, Camille jumped into working for her community in the non-profit world. She has experience working in housing, healthcare, pregnancy services, home visiting programs, early learning, and more. Camille also is a certified Traditional Health Worker and has been a birth and postpartum doula since 2022. She is passionate about connecting families with resources and support and is excited to be working as a supervisor in the FHI program.
