Lifeline Connections Honors Annual Award Recipients And Nominees At Annual Fundraising Luncheon, A Lifeline To Wellbeing - 09/26/25

Lifeline Connections proudly recognized this year’s John Cox Community Partner Award recipient at its third annual fundraising luncheon, A Lifeline to Wellbeing, on Thursday, Sept. 25, at Royal Oaks Country Club. This award celebrates individuals and organizations that partner with Lifeline Connections to provide lifesaving behavioral health treatment and supportive services.

During the event, Lifeline Connections announced the Vancouver Housing Authority as the recipient of the 2025 John Cox Community Partner Award. The Vancouver Housing Authority provides opportunities to people experiencing housing barriers while honoring their personal dignity and maintaining trust.

“This year’s winner collaborates on opportunities to maximize shared resources. They anticipate policy changes to mitigate the impact on our most vulnerable community members,” shares Lifeline Connections’ president and CEO, Andrea Brooks.

Among the nominees were Go The Distance, Ripple Impact NW, DeDe Sieler (Clark County Department of Community Services), Jeff Hatch, Monique Kennedy, Natalie DeWitt (Molina Healthcare) and Tessa Worthen (Whatcom County Mental Health Court).

This luncheon highlighted the prevalence of substance use and mental health conditions and need for services in our community. During the event, Brooks noted that September is Recovery month, and celebrated that recovery is possible. One in four Washington adults with a behavioral health condition report an unmet need for treatment. Washington has one of the highest prevalence rates for mental health conditions, ranking fifth-highest in the nation. During the event, Lifeline Connections demonstrated how a robust behavioral health treatment continuum enhances someone’s recovery by walking through an example of a patient’s journey.

Brooks explained the financial sustainability of Lifeline Connections is jeopardized by CareOregon’s abrupt termination of the agency’s contract as an in-network provider, decreased collection rate from managed care payors, and Washington paying the lowest room and board rate in the country. Lifeline Connections’ struggles will increase in the days ahead, as the agency faces the reality of federal budget cuts impacting Medicaid and federal grants.

Medicaid accounts for 84% of Lifeline Connections’ overall funding; it’s estimated that nearly 22,000 people will lose Medicaid coverage in the Clark County area. These reductions in Medicaid will eliminate access to lifesaving treatment for the most vulnerable community members, those who are most in need of a lifeline.

The Lifeline Connections fundraiser asked for the community’s support to replace the broken HVAC system at its Pregnant and Parenting Women’s program, offered at its Women’s Recovery Center. This unique program serves women who are pregnant or have young children living with them while participating in inpatient substance use treatment at Lifeline Connections. The event’s fundraising goal was $87,500, half of the amount needed ($175,000) to replace the HVAC.  

Lifeline Connections has a 63-year history of providing mental health and substance use services in southwestern Washington. As a leading provider of behavioral health services in the region, Lifeline Connections remains committed to ensuring the critical gaps in access are addressed by making behavioral health treatment and services available to our community, especially for those at the greatest risk and most in need of a lifeline.

Lifeline Connections is immensely grateful to this year’s luncheon attendees and community partners, who proudly demonstrated their belief that recovery is possible.

A Lifeline to Wellbeing sponsors included:

●      Media Sponsor

○      The Columbian

●      Platinum Sponsor

○      Houser Family

●      Silver Sponsors

○      Ginn Group

○      HUB International

○      Kaiser Permanente

○      Lockton

○      Riverview Bank

○      SWACH

○      Vancouver Clinic

○      Vancouver Housing Authority

●      Bronze Sponsors

○      Carelon Behavioral Health

○      Columbia Credit Union

○      Community Health Plan of Washington

○      Hamm Autoworks

○      Jodie Sharp Windermere Real Estate

○      Molina Healthcare

○      More Power Technology Group

○      Moss Adams x Baker Tilly

○      Opsahl Dawson

○      Phillips and Company Wealth Strategies

○      Three Tree Tech

○      Willamette Dental

●      In-Kind Sponsors

○      Upbeat Music Therapy

○      Wellpoint