Vision

Imagine an Oregon where everyone can live a healthy life. We advocate in a way that helps state and local decision-makers understand how social and physical environments profoundly affect the wellbeing of Oregonians-and then encourage them to enact innovative policies that will foster our good health. These kinds of changes will help Oregon become a state that creates vibrant communities and protects the health of all Oregonians while reducing the cost of health care through prevention.

The Upstream Parable 
People are being swept downstream by a river's raging water. The crowd on shore works to pluck them out of the rushing water, but many are missed and swept away. Lost. As most of the crowd continues its losing battle, a few trailblazers tromp upstream to see exactly why all those people are falling into the river in the first place. They identify the root cause of the problem (people are trying to cross a dangerous river without having the benefit of a bridge), come up with a solution (build a bridge), and put the solution into action. The result: People stop falling into the river. They are no longer at risk and there is no need to focus all the effort on pulling people out of the river one at a time. That's public health policy at work.

Why Wade Upstream in Search of Public Health Policy?
During the 20th century, the average life span in United States increased by almost 30 years-and public health policies account for nearly 80 percent of that gain. (Advances in medical care, in contrast, accounts for less than 20 percent of the gain.) By creating programs and policies to address the social and environmental factors that influence our health—such as purifying drinking water, wearing seat belts in cars, and vaccinating children against deadly diseases—public health initiatives have helped Americans live, work, and play in ways that promote safer communities and foster our wellbeing.

At Upstream Public Health, we believe that smart policies are the best way to create communities that help people lead healthier, fuller lives. We seek out the most innovative broad-based public health solutions that are backed by science and research, move them into the mainstream dialogue, and build momentum for change. Our goal is to address the most pressing health issues and improve people's wellbeing, one policy at a time.