Mission Statement

Columbia Cares is a coalition of community leaders that was organized in March 2009 to plan, assess, and implement healthy environments for families and youth. The coalition’s goals are to develop community infrastructures and programs that encourage physical activities and healthy lifestyles.
 
Columbia Cares Coalition believes it takes an entire community to make communities healthy and happy. They believe that it is the responsibility of not only individual citizens, but also family and friends to provide social support, businesses and organizations to encourage health and wellness activities, and community leaders to implement policies and create environments that encourage physical activity and healthy living.

History

Dayton General Hospital and Columbia Cares Coalition wrote and received a $42,000 Healthiest State Grant from the Washington Health Foundation this year to upgrade structures at the city park and create programs that encourage physical activity for family and youth. Implementing a skateboard park, installing a disc golf course, offering free swim lessons, and providing a free summer recreation program for teens is part of the coalition’s contribution to make Columbia County the healthiest county in the healthiest state in nation.