Belinda Ballah

Director

Belinda Ballah first made Hood River her home 25 years ago and has been an active member of the community throughout that time. Belinda is no stranger to service. She spent more than 10 years working in Hood River County schools, facilitated classes at The Next Door and volunteered as a youth mentor and event planner for Hood River Alliance Church. As Director of the Prevention Department for the past 4 years, she has used her skills as a Certified Prevention Specialist to provide education and support for mental health, family-strengthening, and substance abuse prevention. Belinda also delights the office by bringing in delicious jam cookies on special occasions. Belinda can be reached by email or at 541-387-6890 (office) or 541-806-5734 (cell).

Emily Roberts
Mental Health Prevention & Education Specialist

Emily Roberts has been fortunate to call Hood River her home for the last 21 years. Emily received her Bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Studies with an emphasis on International Worker at Portland State University. Emily has spent the last five years working at The Next Door and Mid-Columbia Children’s Council serving youth and families. In her spare time, Emily enjoys working in her garden, canning, hiking in the Gorge, and traveling with her family. Emily can be reached by email or at 541-387-7030 (office) or 541-806-4061 (cell).

Nancy Guzman
Bilingual Prevention & Education Specialist

Nancy Guzman was born in Hood River, Oregon and raised in Bingen, Washington. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Animated arts at Pacific Northwest College of Art in downtown Portland. After college, she did some additional training and received a certificate for Medical Billing and Coding. She has been involved in community work alongside Arts in Education of the Gorge, helping with their website, murals, and assisting artists in children art camps. She has been surprised by the opportunities that have come along her life’s path. She found that growing up in a Mexican household in an area that has a big Latino community taught her what it is like to be in the middle, understanding both cultures. Nancy can be reached by email or at 541-387-7031 (office) or 541-806-6335 (cell).

Sloan Hall
Prevention & Education Specialist

Hood River has been home for the last 17 years for Sloan. However, she spent four of those years in Boise, Idaho, where she attended Boise State University and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health and a certificate in Business. Sloan recently moved back to Hood River and started working at the Hood River County Prevention Department. In her free time, she volunteers with West Side Fire. She also enjoys spending time outdoors, with friends, and traveling. Sloan can be reached by email or at 541-386-3335 (Office) or at 541-806-2877 (Cell).

Kathy Smith

Office Manager

Kathy Smith has worked as the Prevention Department’s Office Manager for the past 24 years. She carries with her an abundance of historical knowledge and community context that guides the department’s programming and outreach. When she is not busy making the office laugh with her witty sense of humor, Kathy spends her time tracking Prevention Department finances, substance use and safety statistics, and other data. Kathy is a fantastic note-taker and a regular feature at local coalition meetings, and she also manages our quarterly newsletter and other mailing lists. If you have a question about the department or want to get connected to the resources we have to offer, contact Kathy by email or at 541-387-8093.