An exciting announcement to feature Dr. Rosemarie Hemmings as the Keynote Speaker for ORCHWA’s 13th Annual Conference! An event held at the Salem Convention Center in Salem, Oregon from August 26th-27th, 2026.
Featured at the ORCHWA Annual Conference
The Oregon Community Health Worker Association (ORCHWA) Annual Conference is a major gathering focused on advancing community health work, strengthening professional development, and supporting equity-driven care across Oregon and beyond. This event brings together a wide range of professionals including community health workers, supervisors, healthcare partners, nonprofit organizations, and advocates who are all working toward improving health outcomes in their communities.
Dr. Rosemarie Hemmings was recently highlighted in connection with this important event, which continues to play a meaningful role in shaping conversations around public health, workforce development, and community-based care.
What the ORCHWA Annual Conference is About
The ORCHWA Annual Conference serves as a central space for learning, collaboration, and connection among professionals in the community health field. It is designed to support Community Health Workers (CHWs) and allied health professionals by offering opportunities for training, networking, and shared learning.
The conference focuses on real-world challenges and opportunities within community health systems. Attendees engage in discussions about health equity, social determinants of health, and strategies for improving access to care in underserved communities. It also highlights the importance of collaboration between clinical systems and community-based organizations.
A key goal of the event is to elevate the role of Community Health Workers, recognizing the essential work they do in bridging gaps between healthcare systems and the communities they serve. This includes advocacy, education, outreach, and direct support services that improve health outcomes at a grassroots level.
You can learn more about the conference here: ORCHWA Annual Conference
About ORCHWA and Its Mission
ORCHWA was established in 2011 with a focus on strengthening and supporting the Community Health Worker workforce in Oregon. Over time, it has become a key organization in advancing the recognition and development of CHWs as vital contributors to public health systems.
The organization works to provide training opportunities, professional resources, and spaces for collaboration among CHWs and related professionals. It also plays an active role in advocacy efforts, helping ensure that Community Health Workers are included in conversations about healthcare policy, standards, and system development.
In addition to training and advocacy, ORCHWA supports networking and partnership-building across a wide range of sectors including healthcare systems, community-based organizations, and educational institutions. This collaborative approach helps strengthen the impact of CHWs and improves coordination across different parts of the healthcare ecosystem.
Their work also extends to addressing broader health equity issues, ensuring that historically underserved communities receive better access to care and culturally responsive support.
About Dr. Rosemarie Hemmings
Dr. Rosemarie Hemmings is a highly experienced clinician, educator, and advocate with a background in both social work and public health. With more than three decades of experience in clinical social work and supervision, she has built a career focused on mental health, education, and community well-being.
She holds advanced degrees in social work and public health and has spent over 20 years in private practice as a psychotherapist. Her work primarily focuses on supporting Black, Indigenous, Latina/x/o, and other communities of color, with a strong emphasis on culturally responsive and equity-centered care.
In addition to her clinical work, she has served in academic roles including teaching and leadership positions in public health and social work programs. Her experience includes developing interdisciplinary curricula that address topics such as health equity, social determinants of health, and social justice in healthcare systems.
Dr. Hemmings has also contributed to state-level boards and committees, where she has helped shape discussions around mental health services and community health policy. Her work consistently reflects a commitment to improving access to care and ensuring that marginalized communities are represented in healthcare decision-making spaces.
Closing Thoughts
Being featured in connection with the ORCHWA Annual Conference highlights the importance of community-centered health work and the growing recognition of professionals in this space. Events like this continue to strengthen collaboration, education, and advocacy efforts that directly impact public health systems and the communities they serve.
For organizations and professionals working in mental health, social work, and community health, this type of visibility reinforces the value of culturally responsive care and ongoing professional development.
As ORCHWA continues its mission, conferences like this remain an essential part of building stronger, more equitable health systems that support both practitioners and the communities they serve.