In early 2014, a group of local healthcare organizations began meeting to discuss how they could collectively impact the health of the residents of the Columbia Basin. Out of these meetings, Samaritan Healthcare, Confluence Health, Moses Lake Community Health Center and Grant County Health District created a collaborative health partnership organization that works together to make measurable and sustainable improvements in the health status of the Columbia Basin communities.

Working together, through various health initiatives that include education, prevention and health care access, the Columbia Basin Community Partnership for Health will help make a difference in the communities in which we live, work and play.

Using the criteria of:

• children ages 2 through 5 years of age
• living in the greater Moses Lake area
• seen by Samaritan Healthcare, Moses Lake Community Health Center or Confluence Health

Data collected and analyzed revealed:

• 10% are obese and
• 18% are overweight

As the group discussed policies, systems and environmental changes that could support the reduction of childhood obesity, the Healthy Beginnings Initiative was adopted.

The Columbia Basin Community Partnership for Health is dedicated to work towards reducing the obesity rate by 10% in children 2 through 5.

The partnership continues to design and implement community and clinic interventions toward this goal.