Welcome to the Equity and Inclusion Division

📢 Equity & Inclusion Division Update

The Equity & Inclusion Division is moving! Starting February 13, 2026, we will no longer have an office in the downtown Portland Five Oak Building as we move to the Portland State Office Building (PSOB), 800 NE Oregon St, Portland, OR 97232. From February 15, 2026 through end of April, 2026, our offices will be remote as we move.

What's New

Mailing address—please direct all mail after 2/13 to our updated mailing address

OHA - Equity and Inclusion Division
800 NE Oregon St, Suite 705
Portland, OR 97232

Improved public access, accessibility, and parking
Convenient public transit and bike parking
E&I Division will be co-located with other OHA divisions on the 7th floor

What Stays the Same

All services remain unchanged.
Beginning end of March, 2026 our staffed office hours for general inquiries

Mondays & Wednesdays, 9:00am–4:00pm (closed during lunch).
Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays: by appointment only with the program.

Public commissions and councils will continue meeting in accessible conference rooms on the 1st floor.
Program-specific inquiries (Traditional Health Worker, Health Care Interpreter, Cultural Competence Continuing Education, Public Civil Rights), please contact the program directly.
Not sure who to contact? Call our voicemail line: 971-673-1240.

Welcome to the Equity and Inclusion Division

On behalf of Oregon Health Authority and the state of Oregon, the Equity and Inclusion Division is leading the most ambitious, equity centered health system transformation in the nation, reflecting a continuum of physical, behavioral and oral health. The Division works in partnership with priority populations, all Oregon Health Authority divisions and the statewide health delivery system—including Medicaid, the Oregon State Hospital and Public Health—to eliminate health inequities in Oregon by 2030. In alignment with the agency's health equity definition and the state's goal to develop policy, program and practice that promotes optimal health for all people in Oregon, the Division carries out more than 29 distinct functions—8 being state or federally mandated—for the state, providing expertise and technical assistance on equity, inclusion, anti-racism, anti-oppression, inclusive accessibility and social justice topics.

Submitting Your Health Care Interpreter (HCI) or Traditional Health Worker (THW) Application

The Health Workforce Registry Applicant Portal is a platform for applicants to manage credentialing for HCIs and to apply and track certification for THWs. Please submit your application to the HCI or THW program in the Health Workforce Registry Applicant Portal.

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HCI and THW Drop-In Office Hours:

HCI Drop-In Office Hours: The 1st Wednesday of the month from 11:00 AM- 3:00 PM at the Portland State Office Building, 800 NE Oregon St. Portland, OR, 97232, room 1C-30. (Except on Holidays) You can also have all your HCI questions answered by calling 971-673-3378 (v.m.) or 971-219-9987, or by emailing HCI.program@odhsoha.oregon.gov.

THW Drop-in Office Hours: Held every Tuesday from 2:00pm to 3:00pm at 800 NE Oregon St. Room 1C. Portland, OR 97232. No appointment needed. Please email thw.program@odhsoha.oregon.gov or leave a message on our voicemail line at 971-673-3353 if you have questions or want to schedule a virtual help session.

THW Program Announcements:

Reciprocity for Birth Doulas and Peer Support Specialists from Washington is currently on pause, as of 2/11/2026. There is not an expected reinstatement date yet.

Due to the expiration of EID 1-2025 CHAPTER 950 under OAR 950-060-0060, until further notice, we are unable to process applications using the Legacy Clause. This pathway to certification will be re-considered through our rulemaking process. See announcement below.

The THW Program is now recruiting a diverse field of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) from rural and urban areas to serve on the Rules Advisory Committee (RAC) This committee will review the general rules including certification and curriculum requirements. The deadline to apply is April 3rd, 2026. Here is the Link to Register.

SB 1568 (formerly SB 693) — Implementation Status
This message provides an update on SB 1568 (formerly SB 693), which makes technical corrections to the 2025 law that expanded access to doula care. The prior bill contained language that created barriers to implementation; SB 1568 addresses those issues.
Please note the following key points:
Implementation date: Implementation is now scheduled for January 1, 2028
Insurer implementation: The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) cannot speak on behalf of commercial insurers. At the public hearing on 2/10 public hearing a representative from Blue Cross Blue Shield indicated they are implementing doula services for their beneficiaries.
Next steps: Additional information and related activities will be shared as needed.

Traditional Health Worker (THW) Program

Health Care Interpreter (HCI) Program

Civil Rights Resources

Quick Links

Behavioral Health Equity Program

Cultural Competence Continuing Education (CCCE)

Data and Reports

Developing Equity Leadership through Training and Action (DELTA)

Health Equity Committee (HEC)

Health Equity Plan

Equity and Inclusion Division Committees and Councils

Preferred Language Cards

Regional Health Equity Coalitions (RHECs)