OEA + Oregon Well-being Trust
The story of the Trust begins with our founding by the Oregon Education Association (OEA).
See how we’ve grown together.
A Shared History
The Oregon Education Association and The Trust have a shared history going back more than 40 years.
Originally established by OEA under the name the “OEA Choice Welfare Benefit Trust,” the Trust was created solely to provide service-oriented, cost-effective, and comprehensive insurance benefit programs for education employees.
A small loan from OEA in the early years helped us set up our offices and operations for providing group insurance. Within the first few years, that loan was repaid with interest. In 2007, after OEA helped pass SB 426 to create the Oregon Educators Benefit Board (OEBB), the Trust’s wellness focus changed from offering health insurance to offering wellness grants and resources.
Since paying back that initial loan, the Trust has used its own revenue streams and investment earnings to fund its operations and benefit offerings. This allows us to provide an expansive range of benefits while remaining financially independent.
A Present Partner
Because our missions are unique, yet aligned, OEA and Oregon Well-Being Trust continue to be important partners in supporting the needs of Oregon’s public education employees. The OEA President serves as a Trustee on the board of Oregon Well-Being Trust, and the OEA Board appoints Trustees.
OEA works to unite education professionals, advocating to ensure quality public education for students in Oregon. The Trust focuses solely on improving the health, well-being, and resilience of public education employees. While both organizations may work in different ways, we work together to accomplish the shared mission of improving the well-being of Oregon’s public education employees.
Looking to the Future
We value our ongoing partnership and collaboration with OEA. OEA’s role as Oregon’s largest educator union and the Trust’s role as an organization solely dedicated to the health and well-being of public education employees in Oregon make the partnership uniquely situated to create lasting change for education employees across our state. The Trust is committed to working with employees across all job classifications, identities, and affiliations to shift the culture of public education organizations towards well-being and belonging.
