In recognition of World Hepatitis Day on July 28, we’re highlighting CCC’s Hepatitis C (Hep C) Elimination Program and the team working to make testing, treatment, and support more accessible across our community. Through low-barrier, trauma-informed care rooted in harm reduction, the program helps people connect with life-changing treatment while reducing barriers that often prevent individuals from seeking care.
Testing Beyond the Clinic
CCC’s Hep C Team provides testing and treatment services designed to be simple, confidential, and accessible. In addition to caring for patients at Old Town Clinic and Blackburn Center, the team partners with community organizations to bring screening and treatment opportunities directly to the people who need them.
One of the program’s most effective tools is dried blood spot testing, which can screen for Hep C, hepatitis B, HIV, and syphilis through a simple finger poke rather than a traditional blood draw. This approach creates more opportunities for testing in both clinical and community settings while helping eliminate barriers for individuals who may be hesitant or unable to access traditional health care environments.
When someone tests positive for Hep C, treatment is designed to be straightforward and supportive. Most patients complete treatment through a daily medication regimen lasting eight to twelve weeks, guided by a care team that works with them throughout the process.
A Cure Within Reach
Millions of people are living with Hep C, and many do not know they have it. Without treatment, the virus can lead to serious liver disease and other long-term health complications. The good news is that Hep C is highly treatable, and in most cases it can be cured.
For many of the people CCC serves, however, access to care is not always simple. Housing instability, substance use, stigma, transportation challenges, and negative experiences with health care systems can all make treatment more difficult to access. The Hep C Team helps bridge those gaps by providing care that is compassionate, practical, and responsive to each individual’s circumstances.
The program is also closely connected to CCC’s broader model of integrated care. By helping people access Hep C treatment, the team creates opportunities for individuals to connect with additional health care, recovery, housing, and support services that contribute to long-term well-being.
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“It’s really meaningful for me and for the team to know that we’re here for patients, that we respect their autonomy, and that we’re going to support them throughout their care and treatment journey,” says Lillie Reder, Hep C Program Manager. “Oregon ranks among the states most impacted by Hep C-related deaths, and we’re here to help change that.”
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Recognition and Momentum
The impact of CCC’s Hep C Team continues to gain recognition throughout Oregon and beyond. Earlier this year, Fora Health named the team one of its 2026 Partners of the Year in recognition of their training and partnership to bring dried blood spot testing into Fora’s residential intake process for Hep C, HIV, and STI screening.
The program also celebrated an individual milestone when Hep C Program Manager Lillie Reder received the Ann Thomas, MD, Hepatitis Leadership Award from the Oregon Viral Hepatitis Collective and Caring Ambassadors Program for outstanding service to the hepatitis community in 2025.
Together, these recognitions reflect the program’s ongoing commitment to expanding access to prevention, testing, treatment, recovery, and long-term health throughout our community.
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