Columbia Health Services

What Columbia Health Services does

Columbia Health Services (CHS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community health organization headquartered at 2370 Gable Road in St. Helens, Oregon. It operates a network of six clinical locations across Columbia County and rural parts of Clatsop County, including the Lions Wellness Center, the Clatskanie School-Based Health Center, Rainier Health Center, Sacagawea Health Center, Jewell Blue Jay Health Center, and Vernonia School-Based Services, with a separate WIC program office at 1560 Columbia Blvd. Service lines span primary care, mental health (for children aged 6 and above), immunizations, reproductive health and contraception, cancer screenings, STD testing and treatment, and a Wellness Engagement suite covering smoking cessation, suicide prevention, problem gambling, and parenting education. Five of the six clinics operate as school-based health centers embedded within school districts, with a school superintendent serving on the CHS board of directors.

The underlying technology stack is modest and commodity in nature: a MyChart-style patient portal providing secure messaging, test results, prescription refills, and appointment management, plus an eWIC electronic benefit transfer system for the federal nutrition program. There is no proprietary technology, no AI/ML component, and no APIs or integrations disclosed. Distribution is hybrid: physical clinics operate with weekday hours, supplemented by telehealth and Zoom-based virtual appointments for select mental health and parenting education services. Patients access care regardless of insurance status or ability to pay, with fees on a sliding scale based on income and family size.

CHS revenue is assembled from government healthcare reimbursements (Medicaid, Medicare, Oregon Health Plan), federal nutrition program funding (USDA WIC), federal and state grants (Vaccines For Children, Section 317 immunization funding, CDC and Susan G. Komen ScreenWise cancer screening grants), and tax-deductible community donations via PayPal and Fred Meyer Community Rewards. Go-to-market is community-led: referrals from the Oregon Health Plan, school partnerships, community coalitions (Columbia Health Coalition, Columbia County Suicide Prevention Coalition), and direct outreach through the columbia-health.org website and Columbia County Cares Facebook page. Leadership is provided by Director Sherrie Ford, with program coordinators handling prevention, mental health, WIC, and suicide prevention portfolios.

Name

Columbia Health Services

Legal name

Columbia Health Services

Website

https://columbia-health.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Columbia Health Services is a 501(c)(3) non-profit operating six school-based and community health centers across Columbia and rural Clatsop Counties, Oregon, delivering primary care, mental health, WIC nutrition, immunizations, reproductive health, and prevention services to low-income and uninsured residents on a sliding-scale basis.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Health Services

NAICS

Ambulatory Health Care Services (621), Individual and Family Services (6241), Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) (62133), Family Planning Centers (621410)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community-Based Preventive & Health Promotion Clinics (HLAFAGAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) & Public Behavioral Health Providers (HLAFACAI), Maternal, Child & Family Health Organizations (BPAGACAF), Hospitals, Clinics & Charitable Healthcare Providers (BPAGACAB), Public Health & Health Equity Organizations (BPAGACAL)

Keywords

• Community health services
• Primary care clinics
• WIC nutrition program
• School-based health centers
• Reproductive health services

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Helens

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Healthcare Programs: Revenue from Medicaid/Medicare/ Oregon Health Plan (OHP) reimbursements for clinical services, and USDA WIC program funding for supplemental nutrition services.
2. Federal and State Grants: Funding from federal programs including Vaccines For Children (VFC) program, federal Section 317 immunization funding, and grants from CDC and Susan G. Komen for ScreenWise cancer screening program.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations from community members through PayPal and Fred Meyer Community Rewards program to support services for those most in need.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Columbia Health Services is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community healthcare organization that delivers primary care, mental health, immunizations, family planning and reproductive health, cancer screenings, and STD testing through a network of six clinics and school-based health centers across Columbia County and Clatsop County, Oregon. It also administers the federal WIC nutrition program and prevention education services such as suicide prevention, smoking cessation, and parenting education, serving all patients regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.

Product overview

Columbia Health Services is a 501(c)(3) non-profit healthcare organization operating a network of six primary care and school-based health centers across Columbia County and Clatskanie, Oregon. The organization offers a comprehensive range of healthcare services including primary care, WIC nutritional programs, mental health services, family planning and reproductive health (contraceptive services, STD testing, cancer screenings), immunizations, and prevention programs (smoking cessation, suicide prevention, problem gambling, parenting education). The core services are delivered through physical clinic locations including Lions Wellness Center, Clatskanie School-Based Health Center, Rainier Health Center, Sacagawea Health Center, Jewell Blue Jay Health Center, and Vernonia School-Based Services. Additional offerings include a patient portal (MyChart), parenting curricula programs, and a branded merchandise store. The organization serves all patients regardless of insurance status or ability to pay, operating on a sliding scale model.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Primary Care Clinics Network of six primary care and school-based health centers across Columbia County and Clatskanie, providing medical care for minor injuries and illnesses, physical exams, sports physicals, screenings, and referrals to students, families, and the general public.
• WIC (Women, Infants, & Children) Program Federal supplemental nutrition program providing nutritious foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and health/social referrals to pregnant, breastfeeding, or postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5 who meet income eligibility guidelines.
• Contraceptive Services Clinical services including dispensing contraceptive methods, emergency contraception, pregnancy testing, STD testing and treatment, reproductive sterilization referrals, and breast and cervical cancer screenings, provided under the Oregon Reproductive Health Equity Act (RHEA).
• Cancer Screenings Breast and cervical cancer screening services delivered through the Oregon ScreenWise Program to help low-income, uninsured, and medically under-served women access early detection.
• STD Testing Testing services for sexually transmitted diseases including Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Hepatitis B and C, Syphilis, and HIV/AIDS (anonymous or confidential).
• Immunizations Childhood and adult immunizations delivered through the Vaccines For Children (VFC) program for children without insurance or on Medicaid/OHP, as well as for privately insured patients; travel immunizations are not offered.
• Mental Health Program Mental health services including assessments, goal setting, therapy, skills development, safety planning, and psychiatric medication management for children (6+) and youth, delivered through school-based health centers with telehealth options.
• Wellness Engagement / Prevention Programs Prevention services including Quit Smoking support, Suicide Prevention (QPR and ASIST trainings), Problem Gambling prevention, Parenting Education, Partners in Prevention (PIP), and Bridges and Beyond addiction prevention.
• Parenting Curricula Structured educational programs for parents including Nurturing Skills for Families, Families in Action, Active Parenting of Teens, Nurture Hope, Positive Indian Parenting, and Nurturing Fathers, all approved by the Oregon Parenting Education Collaborative.
• Problem Gambling Prevention Prevention program focused on spreading awareness about problem gambling signs and offering support resources for responsible gaming habits in the Columbia County community.
• MyChart Patient Portal Secure patient portal providing existing patients with access to secure messaging with providers, test results, prescription refills, and appointment management.
• CHS Gear Online Store Online store selling branded merchandise including hoodies, shirts, tank tops, and backpacks with positive messaging themes such as 'You Matter', 'You Are Enough', and 'Tomorrow Needs You' to support the organization's mission.

Quantifiable outcome

• WIC participants have longer, healthier pregnancies and fewer premature births
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Columbia Pacific CCOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerColumbia Pacific CCO (Coordinated Care Organization) serves Clatsop, Columbia, and Tillamook counties providing integrated healthcare coverage. CHS partners with this CCO to provide healthcare services to covered members.
• Oregon Parenting Education CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll parenting education curricula offered by CHS are approved by the Oregon Parenting Education Collaborative, ensuring quality standards and eligibility for various programs.
• Oregon Health AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOHA provides funding through programs like VFC (Vaccines For Children), Section 317 immunization funding, and ScreenWise cancer screening grants. CHS is an OHA Certified Community Partner for OHP enrollment assistance.
• School Districts (5 districts)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHS operates school-based health centers in partnership with 5 school districts in Columbia County. One school superintendent serves on the CHS board of directors, providing insight into school needs.
• Columbia County Suicide Prevention CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBi-monthly coalition meeting on 3rd Wednesday (Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Sep, Nov) from 3-4:30pm. CHS facilitates this group of community members dedicated to suicide prevention in Columbia County.
• Columbia Health CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-faceted community collaborative focused on promoting healthy lifestyle throughout Columbia County. Meets 3rd Thursday 9-10:30am. CHS participates in this coalition alongside other community organizations.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScreenWise program funding provided by CDC along with Susan G. Komen for Cure Oregon and SW Washington Affiliate for breast and cervical cancer screening programs.
• SAFE of Columbia CountyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSAFE provides support and empowerment to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. CHS provides referrals for colposcopy services and vasectomies to this organization.
• Columbia Community Mental HealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCCMH creates safe and supportive opportunities for healing and recovery. Listed as community resource for mental health crisis support and referral partner.
• Oregon State University ExtensionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOSU Extension provides research-based information to Columbia County residents. CHS partners with OSU for SNAP application assistance and other community programs.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic: Pacific Northwest FQHC network with school-based health centers, WIC, primary care, and reproductive health across rural communities. Directly comparable in clinic-in-school model, sliding-fee structure, and dependence on Section 317 / VFC / WIC federal funding streams.
• Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center: Oregon-based FQHC operating a network of primary care, dental, and pharmacy clinics serving low-income and migrant communities in Washington and Yamhill counties. Closest direct comparable to CHS given its Oregon footprint, school- and community-based clinic model, sliding-scale billing, and reliance on Medicaid/OHP and federal grants.
• Northwest Human Services: Salem, Oregon-based nonprofit community health and social services organization offering primary care, mental health, and WIC-adjacent services to uninsured and Medicaid populations. Highly comparable mission, payer mix, and Oregon regional focus to Columbia Health Services.
• Outside In: Portland-based nonprofit providing integrated medical, mental health, and social services to uninsured and Medicaid populations, including youth-focused programs. Comparable in integrated primary-care-plus-prevention model and dependence on Oregon Health Plan reimbursement.

Others

• Oregon Primary Care Association: Statewide association representing Oregon FQHCs and community health centers. Relevant peer as the policy/training backbone connecting CHS to peer FQHCs, state funding programs, and clinical best-practice sharing.
• Oregon Health Authority – Public Health Division: State agency that funds and certifies many CHS programs, including WIC, ScreenWise, VFC, and OHP enrollment. Functioning counterparty / funder and ecosystem participant that sets the policy and reimbursement environment CHS operates within.
• School-Based Health Alliance: National nonprofit advocating for and supporting school-based health centers across the U.S. Comparable in mission and program design, but operates as an enabling/advocacy organization rather than a direct service provider.

Broad incumbents

• Adventist Health Portland: Regional hospital and outpatient network serving northwest Oregon and southwest Washington with primary care and behavioral health. Represents the kind of regional system CHS could face competition from as outpatient and telehealth push into rural counties.
• Multnomah County Health Department: Local public health agency operating primary care clinics, WIC, immunizations, and reproductive health programs across a larger urban Oregon county. Broader and better-resourced incumbent operating in adjacent geography with overlapping service lines and funding mechanisms.
• Clackamas County Health Centers: Oregon county-operated FQHC delivering primary care, behavioral health, and WIC services on a sliding scale. Comparable payer mix, school-linked outreach, and reliance on Medicaid and federal pass-through dollars, but at a meaningfully larger scale than CHS.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/columbiahealthservices
• Xx.com/HealthColumbia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/columbia-health-services

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Columbia Health Services