Partners In Care announces that all four members of its Transitions team are now officially certified as Community Health Workers (CHWs) by the Oregon Health Authority. This significant achievement strengthens the team’s ability to deliver compassionate, personalized support to individuals and families navigating serious illness throughout Central Oregon.
For more than 21 years, the Transitions program has been a vital part of Partners In Care’s mission to serve the community. Offered at no cost, the program supports individuals living with life-limiting illnesses who are not yet eligible for hospice care. With CHW certification, Transitions coordinators now bring enhanced training in healthcare navigation, resource access, client advocacy, and emotional support — ensuring patients and families receive the guidance they need during some of life’s most vulnerable moments.
“Our Transitions team has always been a trusted presence for patients and families,” said Lisa Hurley, chief operations officer at Partners In Care. “With CHW certification, they bring even more tools to the table — meeting people where they are and walking alongside them with empathy and expertise.”
Serving communities from Madras to Christmas Valley, the Transitions program offers a lifeline to those facing complex health challenges. This milestone reflects Partners In Care’s continued leadership in providing compassionate, community-based care across Central Oregon.
The Transitions team was recently honored as 2023 Health Heroes by Deschutes County Health Services, recognizing their dedication and impact. Since 2004, the team has been transforming lives not only in Deschutes County but also in Crook, Jefferson, and parts of Lake and Klamath counties.
About Partners In Care:
Partners In Care is a local, independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving a 10,000 square mile region of Central Oregon. It is now the leading provider of hospice, home health, and palliative care in the region, with over 200 staff members and over 200 volunteers. In addition to community Hospice care in homes, facilities, and Hospice House, Partners In Care also provides: Home Health in the patient’s home or care facility; Palliative Care symptom management and support; a non-medical case management program called Transitions; and Grief Support for adults and children experiencing a loss.
Partners In Care has achieved a five-star hospice and home health rating from patient and family surveys through CMS in 2025. The nonprofit is also a five-star We Honor Veterans national hospice partner (one of only three in the whole state of Oregon), selected by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization as a leader in caring for veterans’ unique needs at end of life. Partners In Care was also chosen by the Central Oregon community as the Bend Bulletin’s ‘Best of Bend’ hospice for 2024.
