Shasta Community Health and Hill Country in talks about Center of Hope medical campus

David Benda, Redding Record Searchlight
Updated ·3 min read
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Hill Country Health and Wellness Center is in discussions with the Shasta Community Health Center about Shasta Community possibly taking over the operations of Hill Country’s Center of Hope in Redding.

The chief executive officers of both nonprofit health care providers confirmed that talks are going on.

Jo Campbell, Hill Country’s CEO, said this week that she can’t give much more information because there is a confidentiality agreement.

She also said that there is no finalized deal.

Campbell said if a deal happens, "we will be able to go more public about the whys and all that."

Hill Country CEO Lynn Dorroh, who brought 'unique niche' to Shasta County, retires

Dean Germano, CEO of Shasta Community Health Center, also said there is no agreement.

“There is nothing formal. When we have more to talk about, we intend to send out a press release. So, it’s very much early on. That’s as much as I can say at this point,” Germano said.

Germano said Shasta Community Health and Hill Country have been talking for about a month. An announcement could come in the next four to five months, if an agreement materializes, he said.

Germano emphasized that there have been no discussions about Shasta Community Health taking over Hill Country.

Hill Country's $22 million Center of Hope opened in July 2021 on Industrial Street next to the main post office in Redding The health campus provides medical, mental health and dental services and includes 16 dorm-style apartments for low-income young adults who don’t have a permanent place to live and are finishing high school or are enrolled at Shasta College or the California Heritage Youth Build Academy. CHYBA enrolls students aged 16-24 who are working toward a high school diploma.

The Center of Hope on Industrial Street in Redding opened in July 2021.
The Center of Hope on Industrial Street in Redding opened in July 2021.

Hill Country is a nonprofit based in Round Mountain that also offers urgent mental health services at its Counseling and Recovery Engagement Care Center (CARE Center) and runs the Gold Street Medical Clinic. Both those centers are located on Gold St. in Redding.

The McConnell Foundation, a Redding-based philanthropic organization, donated the land on Industrial Street where the Center of Hope is located.

Asked how the Center of Hope is doing, Campbell declined to give specifics.

“I feel like maybe I will tell that story when we can talk openly about the whole thing. Until we know what our next steps are, I don’t want to unnecessarily comment on something that isn’t accurate,” she said.

Shasta Community Health Center's main campus on Placer Street in Redding.
Shasta Community Health Center's main campus on Placer Street in Redding.

Shasta Community Health Center is the largest outpatient health care provider in Shasta County with 500 employees and an annual operating budget of $76 million. Germano said the nonprofit sees about 40,000 patients each year, with more than 90% living below the federal poverty level.

"We provide primary care and specialty care, including telemedicine specialty care. We host the HOPE program that serves our unsheltered residents including Medical Respite (Care) services. We offer dental-oral health care, HIV care and we are involved in forensic medicine, working with our law enforcement colleagues and partners in the county," Germano said.

Shasta Community Health Center has locations in downtown Redding, the Enterprise area of Redding and in the cities of Anderson and Shasta Lake.

In 2024, Shasta Community Health expects to open its Women’s, Babies’ and Children’s Center on Placer Street, across from its main clinic and headquarters.

“We look to have the building complete by the end of February up to the middle of March, then we need to get licensed. I hope this spring it opens,” Germano said.

Germano has been the CEO for more than 30 years, but he will retire March 1.

Shasta Community Health Center's Women's, Babies' and Children's Center on Placer Street is expected to open in spring 2024.
Shasta Community Health Center's Women's, Babies' and Children's Center on Placer Street is expected to open in spring 2024.

Brandon Thornock, Shasta Community Health’s chief operating officer, will be the next CEO.

“I am really happy with the selection. He will stay the course and bring his own energy and focus to the job,” Germano said.

David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on X @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Shasta Community Health, Hill Country in talks about Center of Hope