BEND, OR-- Deschutes, Crook, Jefferson counties along with Marion and Polk counties will split a $16 Million dollar federal grant to help reduce health risks for children. The Oregon Health Authority will partner with Oregon Pediatric Improvement Partnership and local communities to integrate services across the healthcare network.

OHA Chief Medical Officer, Dana Hargunani says they need to identify the needs of children, wrap resources around the families and keep them out of a need for higher level services they can't afford.

Hargunani says the the healthcare system in Central Oregon has done a good job over the last decade to improve communication and coordinate care, but there is room for improvement when its comes to understanding the factors that cause a child to end up in the emergency room. 

The OHA hopes to use the grant to addres the social factors that affect young people's health so they can develop a more value-based approach to community healthcare solutions.