NEON TRAINING PROGRAM
Offering Courses for CHW Certification and Continuing Education
Are You Interested in CHW Facilitator Training? Learn More About Our CHW Train the Trainer Program.
Learn More!We are a community collaborative
Inclusive • Innovative • Supportive
Northeast Oregon Network (NEON) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a comprehensive training and consulting program offering online (or in-person upon request) trainings and workshops. We provide training opportunities to Executive Directors, HR, C-Suite staff, Community Health Workers, Traditional Health Workers, Social Workers, and other frontline staff across the State of Oregon.
We are passionate about systemic changes to ensure diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, which is why these ideal principles are instilled in all of our offerings. Our goal is to offer healthcare professionals in Oregon opportunities to build knowledge and skills within their profession while gaining confidence to learn fundamental practice techniques for systemic changes.
All of our trainings and workshops offer continuing education units through MHACBO, NASW, or SHRM and are earned by hours attended. We also can provide custom training dates to organizations needing a large group to attend as well as custom training curriculum that aligns with our mission, vision, and values.
Northeast Oregon Network Receives 2.3M in Funding for Expanded Traditional Health Worker Training
Northeast Oregon Network (NEON) is pleased to announce, along with our partners, the receipt of a $2.3 million Rural Health Transformation Grant Award from Oregon Health Authority. This project will significantly broaden training available across the state for Traditional Health Workers in rural areas, including expanding foundational training and providing advanced-level training for Traditional Health Workers working in the field.
This project will support the Traditional Health Worker workforce by developing and providing advanced Community Health Worker and Traditional Health Worker training in English and Spanish on a variety of topics such as Housing System, Physical Health System, and Behavioral Health System Navigation, as well as developing a youth-focused Community Health Worker Certification Training Curriculum.
Partners funded through this project are:
- Columbia Gorge Health Council
- Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency
- Oregon Community Health Workers Association
- Centro Cultural
- English 2 Spanish
- Health Equity Solutions
About NEON: Northeast Oregon Network (NEON) is a health-focused nonprofit that provides Community Health Worker Certification and training statewide, as well as direct health insurance enrollment, Community Health Worker services, and support for organizations across Northeast Oregon. Our mission is to support individuals, communities, and systems to collectively promote equity, health, and well-being at home and beyond.
About ORCHWA: Oregon Community Health Worker Association is the statewide professional association for community health workers (CHWs) across rural, urban, and frontier Oregon. Established in 2011, our mission is to serve as a unified voice to support the empowerment of and advocate with the CHW workforce and our communities. Through our work, we strive to advance community health, social justice, and the sustainability of the CHW model.
About Columbia Gorge Health Council: The Columbia Gorge Health Council is a nonprofit committed to improving health and social outcomes for all people in our community. We collaborate with other organizations to advance health equity in the Gorge by identifying and removing barriers that keep people from getting the quality care they need. We are led by people with lived experience, ensuring our services truly reflect community needs.
About Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency: Founded in 1967, Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency (MWVCAA) has served as the designated Community Action Agency for Marion and Polk Counties for nearly six decades, leading collaborative, community-driven efforts to reduce the impacts of poverty and expand opportunity for individuals and families throughout the Mid-Willamette Valley. Guided by our mission to invest in people and their futures to reduce the impacts of poverty, MWVCAA partners with local, state, federal, and community organizations to deliver comprehensive services that address both immediate needs and the underlying barriers that contribute to poverty, creating pathways to lasting stability while advancing our vision of a just future where our communities are empowered to reach positive outcomes and everyone is respected for their infinite worth.
About Centro Cultural: Since 1972, Centro Cultural has dedicated itself to uplifting the health and economic mobility of underserved communities in Oregon through multigenerational, culturally specific support. By championing a wide array of core programs—including K-12 STEAM education, workforce development, small business assistance, community health and wellness, and transitional housing—Centro addresses immediate needs while fostering long-term stability. This vital work is driven by a dual strategy: mobilizing direct, essential services to meet people where they are and partnering with regional and state agencies to advocate for systemic, equitable change. By centering the voices of those most impacted, Centro remains deeply committed to dismantling barriers and building a more resilient, empowered community.
About English 2 Spanish: English 2 Spanish partners with organizations to expand language access throughout Oregon. We provide reliable, culturally aware language services so every person can communicate, participate, and be heard.
About Health Equity Solutions: Health Equity Solutions (HES) is a nonprofit organization specializing in behavioral health, substance use disorder, and recovery initiatives. HES provides grant development, program evaluation, data analytics, workforce development, and technical assistance to healthcare organizations, Tribal Nations, government agencies, and community partners across the United States. The organization's mission is to strengthen systems of care and improve health outcomes through evidence-based, data-informed solutions.
For further questions about the project, please contact:
Lisa Ladendorff, Development and Training Program Director at lladendorff@neonoregon.org or call at 541.805.5502
NEON's mission is to support individuals, communities, and systems to collectively promote equity, health, and well-being at home and beyond.
Partner Organizations
We are truly grateful to our partner organizations for working collaboratively to help fill our trainings with individuals seeking Community Health Worker Certification training and other frontline worker education. Your support and shared commitment have been vital in expanding access to these important learning opportunities.
Oregon Office of Rural Health
Columbia Gorge Health Council and Bridges to Health
Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency
Pacific Source
The NEON training team will be attending multiple upcoming conferences through 2026. Come see us at any of our events listed below and say hello.
Eastern Oregon Workforce Board Conference in Pendleton, Oregon - April 15-16, 2026
Eastern Oregon Peer Conference in Pendleton, Oregon - August 20-21, 2026
ORCHWA Conference in Salem, Oregon - August 27-28, 2026
Health Equity Conference information coming soon
Oregon Rural Health Conference in Bend, Oregon - October 6-9, 2026
NEON's CHW Train-the-Trainer Program
This course aims to equip individuals with the
necessary skills to successfully facilitate a CHW
training program, with the goal of increasing training
opportunities across the state.
Cost of program: $2,000 per participant
Limited Scholarships Available. Apply Below.
This 10-session (33 credit hours), virtual program will take place winter of 2026 and is eligible for 33 CHW CEUs. Students will be expected to actively participate in all sessions and complete assignments in a timely and professional manner.
Limited scholarships are available to attend this course. If selected, final selections may include interviews and/or reference reviews. A maximum of 12 participants will be accepted.
We highly prioritize individuals who:
- Are experienced, OHA-certified CHWs
- Have partnerships and/or institutional support available to create and sustain a CHW program in their region
- Represent and/or have experience working with diverse and/or underrepresented populations
- Currently live and/or work in rural Oregon
Dates & Times:
NEW Dates Coming Soon
Trainings to Support You and Your Organization
About Our Trainings
-
Trainings are virtual, but in-person accommodations can be made upon request.
-
All trainings are in real time and use popular education methods.
-
Targeted audiences include the broader state of Oregon, with a focus on those working with rural and culturally underserved populations.
-
Collectively, our trainers have over 40 years of experience in training, curriculum development, and human services.
-
Continuing Education Units are offered for all our trainings and workshops.
Hear From Our Participants
"Really appreciate how well you integrate chat and breakout with the teaching portions." - Opioid Addiction Training Participant
"The content was great and very useful. It was delivered in a manner that was easy to understand." - Compassion Fatigue Training Participant
NEON is a connector, innovator, and expert resource
Rural and culturally underserved communities in Oregon are often under-resourced, particularly in their capacity to support the health of residents. As a result, barriers to community health can be enormous—providers experience gaps in funding, technology, and training; community members commonly have limited access to information and care. Our mission at NEON is to create a healthier Oregon. We accomplish this by reducing barriers for both residents and the systems that support their health. We are connectors, innovators, and experts. We connect people and organizations to one another and to resources they need to meet their goals. By thinking out of the box and harnessing the creativity of our communities, we help lead the development of solutions to the unique challenges faced in our region. We make it our priority to learn and share policy, practice, and tools that will help others accomplish more. We believe that by working together, the communities of Oregon can move from surviving to healthy, happy, and thriving.
Our History
Northeast Oregon Network (NEON) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit health collaborative originally serving Union, Wallowa, and Baker counties in Northeast Oregon and recently expanded into Umatilla and Malheur counties. NEON was launched in 2004 by a small group of individuals who recognized the value of community collaboration in ensuring the health of our residents.
Northeast Oregon Network
For immediate assistance with training questions, contact Kinda Cable at (541) 910-3810.
