Tillamook County Health Department: A History of Caring for Our Community
Celebrating 30 Years as a Federally Qualified Health Center in 2025
The Tillamook County Health Department, also known as the Tillamook County Community Health Centers (TCCHC), has a long and rich history of service. As we celebrate our 30th anniversary of being designated a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in 2025, we are reflecting on the milestones that brought us to where we are today—a trusted partner in community wellness, accessible care, and public health
The roots of public health in Tillamook County date back over a century. In 1903, the county began officially recording births and deaths. By 1912, a county health officer was appointed to oversee basic health needs and outbreaks. However, it was in the 1980s that the Health Department truly began to take shape.
In 1984, Sue Cameron was hired as the county’s first Health Department Administrator. Under her leadership, the department shifted the funding model away from reliance on general county funds to relying more on state grants and service fees. That same year, food handling inspections were moved from Portland inspectors to local county health staff, increasing responsiveness and community engagement.
The 1990s marked a transformative era. In 1990, the Health Department began partnering with local schools to provide part-time school nurses—an effort that started with Cloverdale Elementary and Nestucca Union High School and soon grew countywide. In 1990, the department also moved out of the county courthouse basement and into its own dedicated building nearby at 801 Pacific Avenue. This was made possible in part by community member and building owner Bob Riggert’s support with a generous long-term lease.
In 1991, clinical services were introduced through a federal grant that allowed local volunteer doctors to begin offering primary care to underserved residents. That year also saw the launch of home visiting programs such as “Healthy Beginnings” to support pregnant women and newborns in high-risk situations.
By 1992, the Health Department had opened limited facilities in Cloverdale and Wheeler to reach residents in South and North County. The South County facility provided WIC, family planning refills, immunizations, and nutritional education services. The North County facility provided WIC services in collaboration with Oregon’s Department of Adult & Family Services which provided social services including Medicaid support and food stamps.
In 1993, a dental sealant program for children led to the creation of the department’s Pacific Dental Clinic. That year the Board of County Commissioners approved the formation of the Tillamook County Health Council which guides health center governance and ensures services reflect community needs
Tillamook County Community Health Centers (TCCHC) was officially designated a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in 1995. This major milestone brought important federal funding and expanded access to care for low-income residents. It also laid the foundation for future growth in primary care, dental, behavioral health, and environmental health services.
We opened our Rockaway Beach clinic in 2000, bringing expanded care closer to North County residents. The clinic moved into its current home in part of the newly designed City Hall building in 2005, thanks to a federal expansion grant.
Leadership transitioned in 2011 to the current department administrator Marlene Putman. Under her guidance, the Health Centers have connected medical, dental, and behavioral health services for more patient-centered integrated care. The department has also adopted the Tillamook County Community Health Centers name, logo and branding to support integrated care and public health services.
Over the years, the department adapted to changes, including closing the original dental clinic in 2005 and forming partnerships with local dentists for community dental care. A dental clinic re-opened in 2021 and operates today with a full-time dentist, two hygienists and support staff. Partnerships with local dentists to provide affordable dental care for residents remain in place today.
Post-pandemic, the department achieved national recognition, earning Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) badges for excellence in telehealth, COVID-19 vaccinations, and addressing social determinants of health.
In 2021, the new dental clinic opened in downtown Tillamook, followed by a new Public Health Services Building in 2024, and the Main Street Clinic in 2025.
As TCCHC celebrates 30 years as an FQHC in 2025, we are proud to be a vital community resource dedicated to health equity, access, and compassion. From humble beginnings in a courthouse basement to a modern network of clinics and services including six primary health care providers, eight dental professionals, five behavioral health providers, and traditional public health services, the Tillamook County Health Department continues to grow with the community it serves.
We’d love to hear from community members with first-hand knowledge of the history of TCCHC who have corrections and/or additions to the above. You are invited to email camille.sorensen@tillamookcounty.gov.