News

After 14 years as Executive Director of Jackson Care Connect, I will be stepping down from my role today (April 10). Sharing this news is bittersweet; this work has been one of the great privileges of my professional life. I was the very first employee to join JCC in 2012, when the new model of delivering Oregon Health Plan benefits through coordinated care organizations was just beginning. Since then, I’ve had the rare experience of watching something grow from an idea into a living, thriving organization. I marvel at the depth of what we’ve built together and how much of it reflects this community's deep commitment to health.

For 11 consecutive years, JCC has achieved sustained success across Oregon Health Authority quality metrics, driven by providers and partners who show up year after year to deliver high-quality care to the people we serve.

I am especially proud of the connections we’ve forged where gaps existed: our work with Mercy Flights on Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH); our support of the Oasis Center and La Clinica's Birch Grove Health Center; our partnership with Rogue Community Health to expand access to critical medications in isolated areas; and our efforts to address community housing needs through Opportunities for Housing, Resources & Assistance (OHRA) and Rogue Retreat. These partnerships and collaborations remind me what this model is really for: identifying unmet needs and working together to meet them.

When I started, our board room was one of the few places where health care leaders in the region could come together to speak honestly and work collectively on community priorities. Over time, those relationships grew into a strong, interconnected network— supporting provider and traditional health worker trainings, the Jackson Youth System of Care, recovery and interpreter summits, and rapid responses during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic and the Almeda and Obenchain fires. I am especially grateful for our long-standing partnerships with La Clinica and Rogue Community Health, whose work has strengthened Jackson County.

Among our most meaningful achievements has been the investments we made in strengthening behavioral health capacity. Together, we expanded integrated behavioral health and made meaningful capital investments across the full spectrum of housing, including crisis stabilization and long-term supportive housing. We funded shelter, case management, and supportive housing for people who needed it most. These have lasting impacts that will serve this community for many years to come.

What started as a vision has, over 14 years, proven itself as a model for local reinvestment and locally driven decision-making in Jackson County. This would not have been possible without CareOregon's genuine commitment to local leadership. While we are now navigating a period of tighter resources, I leave confident that the foundation we’ve built together is strong enough to sustain the work ahead.

The search for JCC's next Executive Director is underway, and I have full confidence in the board and team who will guide that transition.

It has been an honor to serve alongside each of you. Thank you for trusting JCC and for your enduring commitment to the health and wellbeing of this community.

With deep gratitude,

Jennifer Lind

Executive Director, Jackson Care Connect