SATURDAY, AUG. 22 · 10 A.M. TO 3 P.M.
Back to School Bash at Umpqua Community College. Free vaccines and sports physicals for every age, plus school supplies, haircuts and food. No appointment needed.
Taking Care Of Your Health Just Got More Rewarding
Earn up to $75 this year. Here is how it works.
Life gets busy. Maybe you have been meaning to schedule a physical for a while, or you know you are overdue for a screening but it keeps moving to the bottom of your list.
You are not alone and we understand.
That is why we created Prevention First. If you are an Umpqua Health Alliance member 18 or older, you can earn a $15 Sherm’s Thunderbird Market gift card every time you complete a qualifying health service. Complete five and you will earn $75 total this year.
The best part is that these are services you are probably already due for. We are simply saying thank you for getting them done.
Why preventive care matters
Because finding something early changes everything. A screening can catch a problem while it is still small and easier to treat, often before you feel any symptoms at all. Preventive care is one of the best things you can do for your long-term health and it is covered at no cost to you.
What counts
You will earn $15 for each of these:
- A1c test, which checks your blood sugar for diabetes
- Flu shot
- Physical
- Cholesterol test
- Colon cancer screening
- Dental cleaning and oral exam
- Depression screening
- Mammogram screening
Any five count toward the full $75. You choose which ones make sense for you.
How do I get my gift card?
There are four steps:
- Schedule and complete a qualifying service with your provider.
- Fill out the short online form after your visit. It takes less than two minutes.
- Select the date of your visit and the services you completed.
- Watch your mailbox. Your gift card is on the way.
If you complete services on different days, submit a separate form for each visit.
When your gift card arrives
Gift cards are mailed four times a year, in January, April, July and October.
Is there a deadline?
Yes. All services must be completed by December 31, 2026. If you are behind on a checkup or a screening, now is a good time to call. Fall appointments fill quickly, so getting on the schedule early is worth it.
If getting there is the hard part
We can help with that.
Need a ride? Rides to your medical, dental, mental health and pharmacy visits are free. Call Bay Cities Brokerage at 877-324-8109 at least two business days before your appointment and we will take care of the rest.
Prefer to talk in another language? You have the right to a certified or qualified health care interpreter, free, at any visit. Call Customer Care at 866-672-1551 or TTY 711 and tell us which language you prefer. You should never have to rely on a family member to interpret for you.
Not sure what you are due for? That is a common question, and we are happy to help. Call Customer Care at 541-229-4842 and we will look it up together.
One last thing
If it has been a year or two since your last visit, please do not let that stop you. There is no lecture waiting for you and no judgment here. Whenever you are ready, we are ready to help you take the next step.
Prevention First rewards are for Umpqua Health Alliance members 18 and older. Shots and well-child visits for children do not qualify for gift cards, but they are always covered at no cost. See what your child needs for school.
Shots Your Child Needs Before School Starts
Free vaccines and sports physicals, Saturday, Aug. 22, for every age
August moves quickly. Between school supplies, new schedules and everything else, a trip to the doctor is easy to put off. And if you have tried to book an appointment this month, you already know how full clinics get before school starts.
We understand. So this year, we want to make it easier.
Whether your child is starting kindergarten or heading into their senior year, there are shots recommended at their age. Here is what to know for each.
How to find out what your child needs
Every child is different, and what your child needs depends on their age and which shots they have already had.
The fastest way to find out is to ask your child’s provider. They can look up the record and tell you exactly what is due. If you are not sure who your child’s provider is, call Customer Care at 541-229-4842 and we will help you find one.
Oregon’s school and childcare immunization requirements have not changed for the 2026-27 school year. Oregon law requires children to catch up on required immunizations for school and childcare, and the state continues to recommend the full schedule from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
If you are not sure whether your child’s school has a record on file, the school office can check for you.
See Oregon’s school immunization requirements
Younger Children
Most childhood vaccines are given in the first few years, with a few more before kindergarten. If your child has been seen regularly, they may be fully caught up already. If there have been gaps, that is common and it is fixable. Missing a dose does not mean starting the series over. Your provider can pick up where you left off.
If your child has missed visits
Many families fell behind during the past few years and are catching up now. There is no judgment here, and no lecture waiting for you. Ask what is due and your provider will make a plan with you.
Ages 11 to 18
When your child was small, you probably saw the doctor often. Then somewhere around middle school, the visits spread out. Your teenager is healthy, nothing is wrong, and a checkup stops feeling urgent. That is how most families end up here, and it is easy to miss that the preteen and teen years come with their own set of recommended shots, starting around ages 11 and 12. These protect against illnesses that become more of a risk as children get older and spend more time in group settings like school, sports and eventually college dorms.
Why the HPV vaccine is given so early
This is the question we hear most, and it is a fair one. The HPV vaccine prevents several types of cancer later in life. It works best when it is given before any exposure to the virus, which is why doctors recommend it at ages 11 to 12. It is not about what your child is doing now. It is about protection that lasts into adulthood. Vaccines have been studied for safety over many years, and the risk from a vaccine is generally much lower than the risk from the disease it prevents. If you have questions or hesitations, that is normal. Bring them to your teen’s provider. A real conversation is more useful than anything you will find online.
If your teenager feels fine
That is exactly who these vaccines are designed for. They work best before there is a problem to treat. There is also a practical reason to start now. Several come in a series spread over months, so starting sooner means finishing sooner.
Back to School Bash
Saturday, Aug. 22, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. · Umpqua Community College
Free vaccines and free sports physicals for all ages, along with free school supplies, haircuts, food and ice cream. There will be games, prizes and activities for children from preschool through college age, plus community resources for families.
No appointment is needed. You can take care of shots, a sports physical and school supplies in one Saturday.
If your teen plays a sport, the physical and the shots can happen at the same visit either way. That is one trip instead of two.
– Families at last year’s Back to School Bash
If you cannot make it on Aug. 22
That is completely fine. There are more places to get immunizations than most families realize:
- Pediatricians and family doctors
- Pharmacies, for children 7 and older
- School-based health centers
- Health departments
- Nonprofit clinics
Clinics across Douglas County also offer evening and weekend hours and many can see you the same day.
| Douglas Public Health Network 541-440-3571 | Find a provider · Customer Care 541-229-4842 |
What it costs
Nothing. Vaccines and well-child visits are covered at no cost with your child’s coverage. There is no copay and no bill.
Free rides are available at 877-324-8109. You can request an interpreter for any visit, and your child should never have to interpret for you.
It is not too late
Whether your child needs one shot or several, the first step is the same. Ask what is due. One phone call is enough to get it moving.
Prevention First gift cards are for members 18 and older. Your child’s shots and well-child visits are always covered at no cost.
Your A1c Number, Explained
One blood test, no fasting, and a $15 gift card when you complete it
If you live with diabetes, you have probably been told to get an A1c test. You may also have been putting it off.
Sometimes that is about time. Often it is about the number itself. If your last result was higher than you wanted, going back can feel like showing up for bad news.
We want to say something clearly: an A1c result is information, not a grade.
What the test measures
It is a simple blood test that shows your average blood sugar over the past two to three months. Unlike a daily finger stick, which captures one moment, the A1c shows the bigger picture.
You do not need to fast. It can usually be done at a regular visit and often takes just a few minutes.
How often do I need one?
Most people with diabetes need an A1c test two times a year, depending on how things are going. Your provider will tell you what makes sense for you.
If it has been more than six months, it is worth calling.
Your number is personal
Your provider will set a goal with you. That goal is personal. It depends on your age, how long you have had diabetes, other conditions you live with and what is realistic in your life right now. Two people can have very different goals and both be doing well.
This is why the test matters more than any single number. It tells you and your provider whether your current plan is working.
What if my number is high?
Then you have learned something useful and there is more that can be done.
A high result usually means the plan needs adjusting, not that you have failed. Your provider may change a medication, add support or connect you with a care coordinator. Small changes often move the number more than people expect.
The most important step is the follow-up visit. Getting the test is half of it. Going back to talk about the result is where things actually change.
When food is part of what makes this hard
For many people it is and that is worth saying out loud to your provider.
Umpqua Health Alliance offers nutrition services through our health-related social needs program, including nutrition education and medically tailored meals for members who qualify. There is also a free Lifestyle and Nutrition Course open to members.
If groceries are stretched thin, free food is available across Douglas County. Managing blood sugar is much harder when there is not enough to eat and there is no reason to work on one without the other.
Getting started
Call your provider and ask for an A1c test. Completing an A1c test also earns you a $15 gift card through Prevention First.
Want support between visits? Free local classes on diabetes and healthy eating are happening this month.
Free Classes and Events This Month
Cow Creek Health and Wellness Center is hosting two free classes in August, both led by their Healthy Living Team of registered dietitians and a naturopathic doctor. Both are open to Umpqua Health Alliance members and both focus on eating well with diabetes or lowering your risk of developing it.
Grocery shopping tour
Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2 to 3 p.m. Sherm’s Thunderbird Market, Roseburg
Walk the store with a dietitian and learn how to spot foods that support diabetes prevention and management. You will pick up simple ideas for building snacks and meals, right where you actually shop.
This is also the store where Prevention First gift cards can be used. Learn how to earn one
– A dietitian and a participant in the produce section of a grocery store
Cooking demonstration: home canning
Wednesday, Aug. 26, 5 to 6:30 p.m. Healthy Teaching Kitchen, 2589 NW Edenbower Blvd., Roseburg
Thursday, Aug. 27, 2 to 3 p.m. Cow Creek Health and Wellness Center South Campus, 480 Wartahoo Lane, Canyonville
Learn the basics of safe home canning and how nutritious foods support diabetes management and eye health. The class is designed for beginners, so no experience is needed. Every participant will prepare and take home a jar of canned carrots.
Food samples, recipes and gifts are included.
How to sign up
Registration is required for both classes. Call the Cow Creek Health and Wellness Center front desk at 541-672-8533 and press option 2 for Roseburg.
Looking for the Back to School Bash? It is Saturday, Aug. 22.
Help, Hope, and Support for Substance Use
Anyone can have a substance use disorder.
Anyone can have a substance use disorder. Help is available. Umpqua Health Alliance has a brief guide to help you understand what substance use disorders are, how they happen, and signs you or someone you know might need help. You will also find a list of emergency, crisis support, and non-emergency care providers right here in your community. To get connected to care, call the Customer Care line at 541-229-4842 or email casemanagement@umpquahealth.com.
Help Getting Through Appointments
Free support from a person who knows how the system works
Appointments move fast. A provider explains something, you nod, and by the time you reach the parking lot half of it is gone. Then there is the paperwork, the referral you are not sure how to follow up on and the phone number nobody answers.
You do not have to manage all of that by yourself.
What a traditional health worker does
A traditional health worker is a trained person who helps you get the care you need. They are part of your care team, and their whole job is to make the system easier to move through.
Some come from the same community you do. Some have lived through what you are going through. All of them are trained and certified.
Often it looks like:
- Going with you to an appointment
- Helping you think through questions before you go
- Explaining what happened after a visit
- Helping with forms and applications
- Connecting you to food, housing or transportation help
- Checking in between appointments so things do not slip
The People Who Do This Work
Traditional health workers serve their communities in different ways. Some walk alongside one person at a time. Others work further upstream, on prevention and outreach that reaches a whole county. Robert Gandy’s work is prevention and outreach across Douglas County rather than one-on-one visits, but what he sees applies to anyone.
Spotlight:
Meet Robert Gandy
Certified recovery mentor and peer support specialist · Douglas Public Health Network
Robert Gandy became a peer support specialist for a simple reason. He wanted to help people.
He works as an outreach specialist at Douglas Public Health Network. His certification comes from lived experience with recovery, and it shapes how he approaches the work, even when he is not sitting across from one person.
Ask him what gets in the way, and he does not start with the individual. He starts with what surrounds them. Affordable housing is the hardest barrier he sees. And then there is stigma, which he says is the most common barrier of all.
“Stigma goes both ways.”
He means it comes from inside a person and from the world around them, including in health care settings. It is a common reason people stop going back.
What he holds onto is the wins.
“Always celebrate the wins, no matter how small.”
Thank you, Robert, for the work you do across Douglas County.
– Portrait of Robert Gandy.
Types of traditional health workers
Peer support specialist is one of several roles. Which one fits depends on what you need and Customer Care can tell you what is available to you.
Community health workers help you connect with care and community resources.
Peer support specialists have personal experience with mental health or substance use recovery and support others going through it. If you are starting substance use treatment, a peer can be one of the most useful people to have alongside you.
Doulas support you through pregnancy, birth and the weeks after.
Personal health navigators help you understand your options and speak up for what you need.
Is this the same as an interpreter?
No, and this is worth being clear about.
A traditional health worker may speak your language, and that can be a comfort. But they are not a substitute for a trained interpreter, and you should not have to choose between the two.
You have the right to a certified or qualified health care interpreter, free, at every visit. You can request one whether or not a traditional health worker is with you.
How to ask for one
Ask about traditional health worker support. There is no cost, and you can stop at any time.
You are allowed to ask for help
Needing a hand with appointments and paperwork is not a weakness. If having someone in your corner would make a difference, that is reason enough to ask.
A Trained Interpreter, Free, At Any Visit
And two minutes to tell us the language you prefer
Many people get by in English well enough for everyday things and then find that a medical appointment is different. Medicine has its own vocabulary. Instructions come quickly. A word you almost know is not good enough when it is about your body.
You have the right to a trained interpreter at every visit, at no cost to you. Not just for emergencies. Not just when a clinic offers. Any visit, any time you want one.
Why not just bring a family member?
Because it puts a lot on them, and it can put a lot on you.
Family members love you, which is exactly why it is hard for them to translate difficult news word for word. They may soften something, skip something private or simply not know the medical term. You may also hold back from saying what is really going on because they are in the room.
A trained interpreter is different. They are trained in medical language, they repeat what is said without changing it, and they keep what they hear private.
And children should never be asked to interpret. Not for a diagnosis, not for a medication, not for anything. That is a heavy thing to hand a child, and you should never have to.
What it cost
Nothing. Ever. It is part of your coverage, and asking for one will not slow anything down or cause any trouble for you.
How to ask
Two ways, and either works:
- Tell your clinic when you schedule the appointment. Say which language you prefer and that you would like an interpreter.
- Call Customer Care at 866-672-1551 or TTY 711, and we will arrange it. We accept relay calls.
It helps to ask when you book rather than when you arrive, so the interpreter is ready when you are.
Please tell us your language
Even if you do not need an interpreter today, let us know which language you prefer.
It takes a minute, and it means that everything we send you and every call we make can come to you in the right language from the start. Call Customer Care at 541-229-4842.
What if I am deaf or hard of hearing?
The same rights apply. You can ask for a sign language interpreter at your visits.
You can also get plan materials in large print, braille or another format that works better for you. Just call and ask.
Never apologize for asking
Understanding your own health is not a favor anyone is doing for you. It is the whole point of the visit. If you would rather have an interpreter, say so, every time. We will make it happen.
You Do Not Have to Go to the ER
Clinics across Douglas County can treat most health problems, often the same day
It is late, someone is sick, and the emergency room is the one place you know for certain is open. So that is where you go.
A lot of families end up there for exactly that reason. Not because it was the right place, but because it was the only place they were sure about.
We would like to change that. But first, something more important.
When you should go to the emergency room
Please do not hesitate. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room for:
- Chest pain or trouble breathing
- Signs of a stroke, such as a drooping face, arm weakness or sudden trouble speaking
- Severe bleeding that will not stop
- Loss of consciousness
- A serious head, neck or spine injury
- A severe allergic reaction
- A high fever in a baby younger than 3 months
- Poisoning or an overdose
If it feels like an emergency, treat it as one. Nothing in this article is meant to make you second-guess that.
What a clinic can handle
For everything short of an emergency, a clinic is usually faster, and often on the same day:
Colds, flu and fever. Ear infections and sore throats. Urinary tract infections. Minor cuts, burns and injuries. Stomach pain, nausea and vomiting. Rashes and skin problems. Back pain and headaches. Coughs and congestion. Pink eye. Mild asthma symptoms.
Many clinics in Douglas County offer evening or weekend hours, and every clinic on our list accepts your coverage.
Not sure where to go?
Call the nurse hotline at 888-516-6166, any time, day or night. A registered nurse will talk it through with you and help you decide. There is no cost, and there is no wrong question.
Mental health or substance use crisis
Call 911 if someone is in danger or may have overdosed.
Otherwise:
- Adapt Mental Health Crisis Line: 800-866-9780
- Mobile Crisis Services, non-emergency: 541-440-4471
- Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988
More options are in our substance use article.
Save these before you need them
The hardest time to look up a phone number is the moment you need it. Take a minute now and put the nurse hotline in your phone. Future you will be glad.
Keep Your OHP Coverage
The most important thing you can do is make sure we can reach you
Most people who lose Oregon Health Plan coverage do not lose it because they stopped qualifying. They lose it because a letter went to an old address.
Why does my address matter so much?
Because renewals happen by mail.
When it is time to renew, the state sends a letter. Sometimes it needs a response, and sometimes it is only a notice that your coverage is continuing. Either way, if the letter goes somewhere you no longer live, you will not know which one it was until your coverage has already ended.
If you have moved in the past year, or if your mail has been unreliable, take five minutes and update it.
What to report
Tell the state if any of these change:
- Your address
- Your phone number or email
- Who lives in your household
- Your income
- A pregnancy
How to update it
Update your information online at ONE or call ONE Customer Service at 800-699-9075.
You can also call Umpqua Health Customer Care at 541-229-4842 and we will point you to the right place.
What if I get a renewal letter?
Open it the day it arrives, and do what it asks by the date on the letter. If you are not sure what it is asking for, call before the deadline rather than after. Sorting it out early is much easier than getting coverage back once it has ended.
One reminder
Coverage does not renew itself if the state cannot find you. Updating your address is the single most useful thing you can do to protect it.
New Nutrition Benefits for OHP Members
Two new benefits can help you get healthy food. Here is who qualifies and how to apply.
Two new nutrition benefits are now available to eligible Oregon Health Plan members. Both provide food for up to six months.
The rules have several parts. Please read them, and if you are unsure whether you qualify, apply anyway or ask for help. We would rather check with you than have you rule yourself out.
Fruit and vegetable benefit
If you qualify, you can receive fruits and vegetables for up to six months. This may include fresh fruits and vegetables, canned fruit such as applesauce, frozen or dried fruit with no added sugar, and fresh herbs.
To qualify, all three of the following must be true.
1. You have low or very low access to food.
AND
2. You are in one of these situations:
- You are now, or were previously, in Oregon foster care
- You receive both Medicaid and Medicare
- You are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
- You have Young Adults with Special Health Care Needs benefits
- You left jail or prison in the last 12 months
- You left a mental health or substance use treatment program in the last 12 months
AND
3. At least one of these applies to you:
- You have a serious physical or mental health condition
- You have a developmental or intellectual disability
- You have trouble taking care of yourself or doing daily activities
- You have a history of abuse or neglect
- You are age 65 or older
- You are younger than 6 years old
- You are pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months
- You often need emergency room or crisis care
Pantry stocking benefit
If you qualify, you can receive a variety of healthy foods for up to six months. Foods may be fresh, frozen, dried, canned or pureed, and may include fruits and vegetables, meat, fish, poultry and other proteins, beans, milk, cheese and other dairy foods, bread and cereal, cooking oils, spices and herbs, snacks and non-alcoholic drinks, and seeds and plants that grow food at home.
To qualify, all three of the following must be true.
1. You have low or very low access to food.
AND
2. You are in one of these situations:
- You are now, or were previously, in Oregon foster care
- You receive both Medicaid and Medicare
- You are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
- You have Young Adults with Special Health Care Needs benefits
- You left jail or prison in the last 12 months
- You left a mental health or substance use treatment program in the last 12 months
AND
3. One of these describes you:
- You are pregnant
- You have Young Adults with Special Health Care Needs benefits
- You are a child age 5 or younger
- You are a child or young adult age 6 to 20 with a serious health condition, a developmental disability, trouble with daily activities, a history of abuse or neglect, or who often needs emergency room or crisis care
How to apply
There are three ways, and any of them works:
- Apply online.
- Ask your health care provider to help you apply. Many are glad to, and it saves you working through the rules on your own.
- Call our Care Coordination team with questions or for help applying.
What to expect
Requests take up to two weeks to review, and it may take a little longer before the benefit starts once you are approved. It is worth applying sooner rather than waiting until groceries run short.
If you need food this week, free pantries and meal sites are open across Douglas County while your request is reviewed.
If you think you might qualify
Please apply. The rules have several parts and they are easy to misread, so the safest thing is to let us check rather than deciding on your own that you do not meet them.
Free Food in Douglas County
Pantries in 10 communities, plus delivery if you cannot travel
August is an expensive month. School clothes, supplies, fees and everything else arrive at once. For families who used summer meal programs, those are ending right as the bills go up.
If groceries are stretched thin this month, you are far from the only one, and there is help nearby.
Where to start
Our Food and Nutrition page lists pantries and community kitchens across Douglas County, with addresses and hours. There are sites in Roseburg, Sutherlin, Winston, Myrtle Creek, Riddle, Glide, Drain, Glendale, Yoncalla and Reedsport, plus a mobile pantry through UCAN.
Hours change, so call ahead before you go.
What to bring
- Photo identification
- Proof of address, such as a utility bill or piece of mail
- Reusable bags or a box
Most pantries allow one visit per household each month. Arrive early if you can, since sites are busiest right when they open.
What if I cannot get there?
FISH of Roseburg partners with DoorDash to deliver emergency food boxes to people who are homebound, injured, older or without transportation. Deliveries are nonperishable food, up to 20 pounds.
Call 541-672-5242 and leave a message to request one.
Please note that rides through your plan cover medical visits, not grocery or pantry trips.
SNAP
SNAP helps with monthly grocery costs, and it is worth checking even if you have been turned down before. Rules change, and so do household situations.
Apply online at oregon.gov/odhs, or call 211 if you would like help with the application. SNAP will not affect your Oregon Health Plan coverage. They are separate programs
What happens when school starts?
School breakfast and lunch start again with the school year.
Some schools serve meals free to every student. Others use an application for free or reduced-price meals. It depends on the school, so the surest way to know is to ask your child’s school office or look for the information in your back-to-school packet.
If an application is needed, fill it out completely. One application covers every child in your household.
If your child ate at a summer meal site, the last weeks of August are the gap to plan for.
Food benefits from your plan
Umpqua Health offers nutrition benefits through the health-related social needs program, including two new ones this year that provide food for up to six months. There are also medically tailored meals and nutrition education for members who qualify.
The rules have several parts, so please do not rule yourself out. See the new nutrition benefits and how to apply
There is also a free Lifestyle and Nutrition Course open to all members.
Other places to look
- Oregon school nutrition programs, for questions about breakfast and lunch at your child’s school
- Meal programs for seniors, for people age 62 and older
- 211info.org, or dial 211, for food, housing and other local help
No one should have to ask twice
Needing help with food is common and it is temporary far more often than people expect. Pantries exist because communities decided this should be available. Using one is not taking anything from anyone.
Smoke and Heat: How To Stay Safe
What to do when the air turns bad, and where to get help
Late summer in Douglas County brings two things most of us plan around by now: heat and smoke. Neither is only an inconvenience. Both can make people sick and both are hardest on the same groups — young children, older adults, people who are pregnant and anyone with a heart or lung condition.
A few simple steps make a difference.
How do I know when the air is bad?
You do not have to guess by looking outside. Air quality is measured and posted every day.
AirNow.gov shows current air quality for your zip code. There is also a free AirNow app.
The Oregon Smoke Blog posts smoke forecasts and updates during wildfire season.
Check it in the morning before deciding about outdoor plans, especially for children and anyone with breathing problems.
When the air is smoky
- Stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed.
- If you have air conditioning, set it to recirculate so it is not pulling in outside air.
- Pick one room to keep as clean as you can and spend your time there. A portable air filter helps in a smaller room.
- Skip outdoor exercise. Smoke makes you breathe harder, which pulls more of it in.
- If you need to be outside, an N95 mask helps. Cloth and paper masks do not filter smoke.
What if I have asthma or another lung condition?
Plan ahead rather than waiting.
Make sure you have your rescue inhaler and that it is not empty. If you are running low, refill now rather than during a smoke event. If you have an asthma action plan, review it. If you do not have one, ask your provider at your next visit.
Call your provider if your usual medicine is not working as well as it should.
Staying safe in the heat
- Drink water often, before you feel thirsty.
- Rest indoors or in the shade during the hottest part of the day.
- Wear light, loose clothing.
- Never leave a child, an older adult or a pet in a parked car, even briefly.
- Check on neighbors who live alone.
Where to cool off
Call 211 to ask what is open near you. The 211info contact center answers 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and they also have current wildfire and smoke information.
You can also look up cooling centers online at 211info.org/summer-and-heat-related-resources and scroll to Douglas County. Listings depend on what is open at the time, so during a quiet stretch you may not see much. Calling is the surer way to find out.
Libraries, community centers, churches and shopping centers are often cool places to spend a few hours during a hot spell.
Can I get help with an air conditioner or air filter?
Possibly. Some members with certain health conditions may qualify for help through our health-related social needs benefit.
The rules for this benefit changed in January 2026, and not everyone qualifies. The way to find out is to ask.
When to get care
Call the nurse hotline at 888-516-6166 any time if you are not sure. A registered nurse will help you decide.
Call 911 for severe trouble breathing, chest pain, confusion, fainting or a very high body temperature.
Look out for each other
If you have a neighbor with a lung condition, or someone on your street who lives alone without air conditioning, a knock on the door during a bad week matters more than you might think.
Flu Shots Start Next Month
And every one of them earns $15
Flu season is still a little way off, but this is a good time to put it on your calendar.
Clinics and pharmacies across Douglas County begin offering flu shots in September. Getting one in the fall gives your body time to build protection before flu starts spreading, usually around the holidays.
It counts toward Prevention First
A flu shot is one of the qualifying services in Prevention First, so members 18 and older earn a $15 gift card for getting one.
If you are working toward the full $75, fall is the easiest stretch of the year. A flu shot and a physical can often happen at the same visit, and that is two services in one trip.
Do not wait until December
All Prevention First services have to be completed by Dec. 31, 2026. That sounds far away in August, and then it is not.
If you are behind on a checkup, a screening or a dental cleaning, fall appointments fill quickly. Getting on the schedule now is the easiest thing you can do for yourself this month.
What about my kids?
Children can get flu shots too, and they are covered at no cost. Ask at your child’s next visit. Children’s flu shots do not earn Prevention First gift cards, which are for members 18 and older.
We will have more on flu season, including where to go, in our next issue.
UCAN Family Connects
Every family with a new baby in Douglas County can receive extra support at no cost through Family Connects Oregon. This program provides up to three in-home visits from a registered nurse during your baby’s first three months of life.
During each visit, the nurse will:
- Check the health of both baby and parent
- Offer guidance on feeding, sleep, and recovery
- Screen for postpartum depression and anxiety
- Connect families to local resources such as child care and family planning
Who can participate?
- All families, including foster and adoptive, are welcome
- No referral is required
- Insurance status does not affect eligibility
Family Connects is designed to give parents peace of mind and connect them to the right resources early, so every child has a healthy start.