Transformation in Action - December 2019

Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Department of Human Services sent this bulletin at 12/19/2019 12:01 PM PST
Transformation in Action: Sharing innovation. Celebrating success.

This issue highlights some innovative ways Oregon’s coordinated care organizations (CCOs) are supporting their members’ behavioral health. These efforts reinforce how behavioral health is a critical part of overall health, and support is needed across the lifespan and at all stages - from prevention to emergency treatment.

Spotlight: Behavioral health

MAT program team

Bringing medicated-assisted treatment (MAT) to the North Coast

Since opening in June 2018, the Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare and Columbia Memorial Hospital MAT program has served 95 clients, with an average of 150 treatment days each. This partnership, initiated by Columbia Pacific Coordinated Care Organization, supports people with opioid abuse through a harm reduction model. Learn how it's working

Street outreach connects Trillium members to services, better health

Trillium Community Health Plan and Lane County's Frequent Users System Engagement (FUSE) program aims to break the cycle of housing instability, homelessness and crisis among individuals experiencing complex behavioral health challenges. Costs have fallen an average of $24,000 per year for each FUSE participant housed. See more program outcomes

Fostering healthy social and emotional development during the first five years

A parenting education and health care partnership in three frontier counties will help children enter kindergarten with social and emotional skills and be ready to learn. Read the full story

Innovative Care for Behavioral Health & Substance Use Disorders

To learn more about what Oregon CCOs and communities are doing to support behavioral health, see the presentation slides from the recent Transformation Center-hosted event, Innovative Care for Behavioral Health & Substance Use Disorders.

Current and upcoming technical assistance

Sign up to hear about Transformation Center events, resources and learning opportunities.

 Guest corner Steve Allen

In Oregon, we believe that a fulfilling, dignified life should be attainable for all people. For too many individuals who live with mental illness or face substance use disorder challenges, this is not the case.

Oregon needs to reconfigure the statewide behavioral health system and center it on consumers. We need to set strategic goals and require timely and consistent data to drive policy changes and financial investments — all to lead Oregon to a simple-to-access, responsive behavioral health system that helps people make meaningful changes in their lives through better health.

As urgent as these changes are, they will not be easy or quick. The Oregon Health Authority invites consumers and advocates, state and local decision-makers and the behavioral health workforce to help us reach the common goal of maximizing each individual’s opportunity to live a full life.

The stories here are examples of how CCOs are working with their communities to do just that!