The population of Washington and Yamhill Counties grew tremendously in the last ten years. Census data show the population of Washington County has grown by 43% to 445,342 people and in Yamhill County the population has grown by 30% to 84,992. The Hispanic population tripled in this same time period and unfortunately there has been a significant increase in the number of uninsured in the service area. Close to 50,000 people in the service area earn below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level and over 80,000 residents have no form of health insurance.

Unemployment continues to be higher in Oregon than for the rest of the nation. August 2004 unemployment for Oregon was 7.4% while the national rate was 5.4%. The target areas for VGMHC have some of the highest unemployment for Oregon. Unemployment in census tracts 312 and 313 served by the Beaverton Clinic has been as high as 10% in recent years.

According to a recent report from the Oregon Center for Public Policy, the percentage of employees with health care from their employers has fallen from 75% in 1980 to 60% today. In 2002-03 one in five Oregonians aged 18 to 64 went without insurance for a full year. In total, 456,500 working age adults in Oregon lacked health insurance for a full year, an increase of 104,000 from 1999. When looking at health insurance gaps for less than a year, statistics are that nearly one-third of Oregonians under age 65 lacked health insurance at some point during 2002 and 2003. Of those without coverage, nearly two -thirds went for more than six months without insurance. Two-thirds of Hispanics under age 65 lacked insurance at some point during 2002-03.

- It is well known that the Hispanic population suffers from diabetes at a higher rate than the general population. While 8.4% of non-Hispanics have diabetes, approximately 24% of Mexican Americans in the US ages 45-74 have diabetes.

- In 2001, 30% of Hispanic women in Oregon had no 1st trimester care, which closely compares to national averages, and infants born to these women are about twice as likely to have low birth weights.

- Hispanics have the lowest percentage of dental insurance and the lowest percentage of being caries free in their permanent teeth of any ethnic group.