Fostering Hope Initiative
Community Health Services • Residential Services • Pregnancy Services
Imagine… every child and adult in every neighborhood lives in a safe, stable, nurturing home, is healthy, succeeds in school or work, and enjoys financial sufficiency. This is the vision of the Fostering Hope Initiative (FHI).
CCS serves as the lead partner for this neighborhood-based collective impact initiative designed to strengthen families, mobilize neighborhoods and promote optimum child and youth development. It is a partnership of government, public and private organizations joining together with a common goal.
FHI operates in high poverty, high need neighborhoods. Each FHI Neighborhood is staffed with a Community Health Worker who works with families and community partners to help support strong families and safe, healthy neighborhoods.
FHI’s Community Health Workers:
- Provide one-to-one system navigation services in Marion and Polk County and assist individuals to enroll in health coverage.
- Employ strategies to overcome the barriers to utilizing Oregon Health Plan coverage and help navigate both Oregon Health Plan and other Coordinated Care Organization systems.
- Improve health literacy and navigation of health systems and health systems literacy.
- Collaborate with local community organizations and establish information sharing processes to facilitate outreach, enrollment, and system navigation.
For more information contact: [email protected] or [email protected].
Need help enrolling in the Oregon Health Plan or Accessing Services?
¿Necesita ayuda para inscribirse en el Plan de Salud de Oregón o Acceso a los Servicios?
Family Support and Connections / Conexiones y Apoyo Familiar
Fostering Hope Initiative partners with the Oregon Department of Human Services to provide Family Support and Connections (FS&C) services in Marion, Polk and Yamhill Counties. FS&C is a free, voluntary program that offers support, skill building, and service connection with the goal of strengthening parents and families.
La Iniciativa Fostering Hope se asocia con el Departamento de Servicios Humanos de Oregón para brindar servicios de Conexiones y Apoyo Familiar (FS&C) en los condados de Marion, Polk y Yamhill. FS&C es un programa voluntario y gratuito que ofrece apoyo, desarrollo de habilidades y conexión de servicio con el objetivo de fortalecer a los padres y las familias.
Meet the Fostering Hope Initiative Team!
Irma Elizondo
Fostering Hope Initiative
Community Health Worker
Irma was raised in the lushious Willamette Valley of Oregon and loves the outdoors aespecially when she gets to with family. In her lived experience, diverse background and passion in this field has led her to FHI where my position as a Community Health Worker will allow me to assist individuals and families with support and guidance. Irma’s goal is to make a difference in the lives of others, one person/ family at a time.
Liliana Vazquez
Fostering Hope Initiative
Community Health Worker
Lillana was born in Oregon and raised in a small farming town in Idaho. During her mid 20’s, she relocated to Oregon wanting to experience life as an Oregonian. She became affiliated with Fostering Hope Initiative back in the Spring of 2022, when she first started as a volunteer with FHI during her Cooperative Work Experience. During this time, she was completing her transfer degree at Chemeketa Community College. She joined the FHI team back in 2023. She enjoys making a difference and having a positive impact in the lives of others. She primarily provides services in Marion but also serve clients collectively in Polk County. She enjoys spending time and traveling with her family, husband and two young sons along with our one-year-old Xolo pup, Mikiztli.
Em Caza de Oliva
Fostering Hope Initiative
Community Health Worker
Em Caza de Oliva was born in Mexico and has spent most of her life growing up in Oregon. As a first-generation immigrant, her passion is empowering Indigenous communities of Latin-America. She has been a CHW, professionally, since 2020 but gained her love and experience for the work since childhood; growing up helping her family navigate language and socioeconomic barriers. In her free time, you can find Em foraging or doing arts and crafts.
Carina Garibay
Fostering Hope Initiative
Community Health Worker, OHP Assister.
Carina Garibay was born and raised in Salem, OR. After attending Linfield and receiving a B.A. in Sociology, her passion to serve the community was great. Deciding to work at Fostering Hope initiative was an easy decision! Today is works with the Hallman neighborhood community and is a OHP assistor.
Heather-Ann Bussiere- Roberson
Fostering Hope Initiative
Community Health Worker, OHP Assister.
Prior to working at CCS, Heather-Ann worked directly with homless women with mental illness and elderly at United Gospel Mission. Now, Heather-Ann is preparing to work as the main Community Health Worker for Fr. Taaffe Homes and Pregnacy Support Servies and St. Joseph Family Shelter.
Camille La Rocca-Carrillo
Fostering Hope Initiative
Community Health Worker
Camille is a born and raised Oregonian who has been working in social service for most of her adult life. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree in Global Development and Social Justice, she joined the Peace Corps and served in Guatemala as a Healthy Schools Coordinator. Following her Peace Corps service, Camille jumped into working for her community in the non-profit world. She has experience working in housing, healthcare, pregnancy services, home visiting programs, early learning, and more. Camille also is a certified Traditional Health Worker and has been a birth and postpartum doula since 2022. She is passionate about connecting families with resources and support and is excited to be working as a supervisor in the FHI program.
Zarai Pelcastre
Fostering Hope Initiative
Community Health Worker
Zarai became a Community Health Worker in 2023, she currently supports the Fostering Hope Initiative program in planning and executing special projects. Zarai began her career in the medical field and gradually shifted towards behavioral health and case management. She enjoys interacting with families and building lasting connections with program participants. Although she grew up in Mexico, Zarai has called the Pacific Northwest her home since 2014 and has fallen in love with the region’s rainy and foggy days.
Zarai has three adorable dogs and enjoys spending time with them and her family. She likes meeting new people, exploring new places, and trying new cuisines. Zarai is hoping to move permanently to Oregon in the near future and continue to grow her career in Social Services.
Jocelyne Yanez
Fostering Hope Initiative
Community Health Worker
Jocelyne has lived in Salem, Oregon, for 18 years after relocating from Southern California. She attended Portland State University, earning her Bachelors of Arts in Community Health Education in June 2020. She came into the role of a Community Health Worker at Fostering Hope Initiative after completing her Master of Public Health at New York University in May 2023, where I explored the diverse neighborhoods of Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx. Her next mission in life as a CHW is serving Marion and Polk County in residential services to offer outreach resources and address community needs. Outside work, she enjoys spending time with her family, dancing, and playing with her dog, Atlas.
April Trejo Fuentes
Fostering Hope Initiative
Community Health Worker
In 2020 April completed her AAOT with Chemeketa Community College, to then finish her education at Oregon State University. In 2022 she was the first in her family to receive a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development and Family Sciences. She always had the passion to help others out. In 2023, she entered the professional workforce as a Community Health Worker with Fostering Hope Initiative, serving Marion, Polk, and Yamhill Counties. her hobbies include: fishing, Kayaking, and spending time with her Dog.
Oscar Izaguirre
Fostering Hope Initiative
Community Health Worker
Oscar Izaguirre has been with FHI since fall of 2021. Before he joined our team he has 13 years working in the medical feild at Urgent Care and Family Practice, 12 years in social services, and 6 years working with the Department of Mental Health. His background knowledge plays a keyrole with Fostering Hope Initiative!
