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May 1, 2022
In this issue ...
What an interesting spring so far full of sunshine, much needed rain and surprising snow showers! A good reminder of the resilience of Oregonians and our ability to take on whatever comes our way, together. I feel excitement around investments from the recent 2022 legislative session including investments in our workforce and increased behavioral health rates. This gives Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and partners opportunity to look at policy, contracts, and financial investment to impact our agency goal toward health equity. The House Bill 4004 Workforce Stability Grant is an important step forwards and I hope that many of you will apply for these funds. Details can be found on the grant's web page.
Since 2006, National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day has been recognized in Oregon during the first week in May. This important day shines a national spotlight on the importance of caring for every child’s mental health and reinforces the message that positive mental health is essential to a child’s healthy development. It is important to remember that major inequities exist for children and families due to race, ethnicity, culture, citizenship, gender identity, disabilities and language. These inequities deny many young people the mental health services and supports they need to thrive.
In December 2021, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory highlighting the urgent need to address our youth mental health crisis that was further exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The advisory stresses the urgency of a message — that it's time to move beyond awareness and into acceptance — for multiple reasons.
- To accept that one in five youth experiences a mental health challenge
- To accept that mental health challenges must be met with understanding and support
- To accept that prejudice and discrimination toward individuals who experience mental health challenges creates a barrier to seeking treatment and must be eliminated
- To accept that our youth are facing serious challenges ahead that need to be addressed
- To accept that the future well-being of our country depends on how we support and invest in the next generation
My team, Child and Family Behavioral Health (CFBH) unit will be working with Oregon Family Support Network and others in marking May 5 as Children’s Mental Health Acceptance Day.
Please join us.
Chelsea Holcomb
 
Join us on Thursday, May 5, 2022, at the State Capitol State Park in Salem.
After two years of virtual meetings, events and celebrations, OFSN is pleased to bring back an in-person Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day celebration with a notable change. It is time that we move from Awareness and into Acceptance about Children’s Mental Health needs and challenges — and consider that Acceptance changes everything!
So why are we changing this language and what difference does it make? The National Federation of Families is OFSN’s parent organization, and we agree with what they have to say about this.
Awareness suggests we are willing to consider that children and youth experiencing mental health challenges have a variety of needs, and strengths. Acceptance means that we agree that children and youth need concrete supports which validate and respect their individuality and experience, recognizing that these things impact their reality — throughout their lives.
Acceptance means that we take what is happening with our children and youth seriously, and work to provide meaningful support and help from within their communities.
Awareness means that we are informed about issues relating to children’s mental and behavioral health. Acceptance means that we are invested and committed to promoting, designing and ensuring appropriate and effective services across all our child-serving systems earlier, to foster a sense of help and healing, and to promote youth and family resilience.
Acceptance means we take the next step to build an inclusive and supportive society which supports all children and youth.
Acceptance moves us to create more equitable and family driven treatment services.
We invite you to join us in celebrating and reframing the dialogue about what it means to be a child, youth, parent, or provider of services in this new paradigm of thought.
Schedule for the day:
- 10 to 11:30 a.m. Oregon Department of Education building for a training on legislative advocacy, presented by Lara Smith and Betsy Jones from L & E Government Relations.
- Noon to 12:45 p.m. Lunch in the State Capitol State Park
- 12:45 to 2 p.m. Gather for program at State Capitol State Park
This year, OFSN will acknowledge the following individuals with the System of Care Champion Award:
- Senator Peter Courtney – System of Care Super Champion (Legislature)
- Oregon Chapter Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (OCCAP) – System of Care Champion (Organization)
- Roxanne Wilson and the Alliance to Prevent Suicide – System of Care Champion (Legislative)
- Annette Lambert – System of Care Champion (Parent Advocate)
To learn more and to participate in Children’s Mental Health Acceptance Day events, please contact Schellen Cato.
In July 2021 the Oregon legislature passed House Bill 2417, which creates a 988 call center and crisis response system. The legislation recognizes that a mental health crisis can occur at any point in someone’s life. For children, youth and young adults it sets up a specially made crisis response system, Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS). More than $31 million in new investment and existing crisis service funding will go toward the enhancement and transformation of the crisis system to support 988 and associated services. $6.5 million additional funding will be used for the new child- and youth-focused response.
988 call center: Someone to call
The 988 call center will launch in July 2022, taking crisis calls at any time of day or night every day of the year. It will:
- Be staffed by people trained in assessing and addressing a crisis and
- Offer support and local resources centered around the needs of children and families.
The 988 call center will have a strong relationship with 911, so people can get the right help for their situation. We are working to provide the call center and the wider MRSS system with faster pathways for young people to find the right care and treatment.
MRSS teams: Someone to respond
A core value of this service is that young people and their families define what the issue or crisis is in that moment and get the help and support they need. Sometimes face-to-face help is needed and that will be mutually decided by the caller and 988 call center.
Launching in January 2023, a two-person MRSS team, with specialized training working with children, youth, young adults and their families, will provide that in-person response. MRSS teams can be a blend of mental health providers, and family or youth peer support specialists who will prioritize immediate and ongoing needs. The crisis response service may last 72 hours and could be followed by up to eight weeks of stabilization services and supports.
Connection to community resources: A community of support
The primary goal of MRSS is to connect children, youth, young adults and their families to the care they need when they need it, preferably at home or in their community. This means community resources and support systems are used throughout the crisis and stabilization period. The mix of services and supports will be broad and may include elements like peer support, suicide prevention, substance use disorder treatment, housing resources, connections to food pantries and community organizations, and other needed resources.
Two challenges and opportunities
- Equity training and providing culturally responsive services are especially critical to support the success of this initiative for young people and their families who are from communities of color, and for all young people and their families.
- The current workforce shortage is a concern for the development of this important new service. We are and will continue reviewing how to best use the set of existing supports in each community and support the development of new resources.
First steps: Listening to community
We are prioritizing listening and responding to community voices throughout the process and have taken the information to many groups and communities, held multiple community conversations and worked with the Crisis System Advisory Workgroup (CSAW). CSAW provides insight and guidance from those with different lived experiences and diverse backgrounds who navigate the behavioral health care system. CSAW input has helped create staffing and training requirements, determine the role of law enforcement, and develop an inclusive and equitable vision for both the 988 call center and MRSS.
Moving forward
The CFBH team is writing and modifying existing Oregon Administrative Rules for MRSS. The team is also drafting contract language for the 988 call center, in preparation for the launch in July 2023. MRSS is expected to go live in January 2023.
A call to action
Every voice of lived experience that is shared moves us closer to a more inclusive and equitable children’s 988 and MRSS system. Please join us in a community conversation to help develop a 988 and MRSS crisis response system that will meet the needs of children and families in all Oregon communities.
Schedule for our upcoming Community Conversations:
- Monday May 9, from 10 to 11 a.m.
- Tuesday May 24, from 9 to 10 a.m.
- Thursday June 16, from 3 to 4 p.m.
Click here to join the meeting
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After 14 years of service at OHA, Laurie Theodorou has retired. Since she is most passionate about helping the youngest children, we thought you would enjoy a photograph of Laurie as a child.
Join us in wishing Laurie a long, happy retirement and thank her for the difference she has made to so many Oregonians.
We asked Laurie to reflect on her most memorable achievements and what she’s most looking forward to during retirement.
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From Laurie:
One of the highlights of my time at OHA has to be the development and annual update of the Oregon Early Childhood Diagnostic Crosswalk. It is incredibly important that when children are exhibiting social-emotional or behavioral problems at a young age, that behavioral health providers assist families as soon as possible, and that providers are reimbursed for those services. This crosswalk is a guidance document to assist providers in accurate diagnosis of young children.
Another key accomplishment during my time with OHA was the collaboration with West Virginia University and the University of Arkansas to publish the analysis of Oregon Parent-Child Intervention Therapy (PCIT) data in the research article Reconceptualizing attrition in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy: “Dropouts” demonstrate impressive improvements. Oregon has the largest database of PCIT outcomes in the world. This research demonstrated that even when families receiving PCIT do not complete treatment, they show positive outcomes far exceeding the outcomes of most other common mental health treatments for young children.
If I leave a legacy, I hope that it will include engaging contractors with mutual respect, collaboration and responsiveness while at the same time holding ourselves and our contractors to high standards and being accountable for what we say we will do.
If I could do one thing differently, I would’ve started sooner, and spent more time, learning how to develop enhanced rates for child and family evidence-based practices that OHA supports, like PCIT, Generation PMTO, Trauma-Focused CBT and Child-Parent Psychotherapy.
I am looking forward to having lots of time to knit, work in our yard, finish all those home projects that need to be done, and exploring more of our beautiful state. When I get bored with those things, I may work on causes such as women’s reproductive rights, climate change and local food security.
Youth ERA is pleased to report that 210 high school students from 19 Oregon counties attended the recent Uplift training. Their team is looking forward to welcoming another cohort in June.
You can visit https://www.upliftpeers.com/ to gain more information. Dates for future Uplift trainings can be found at https://www.upliftpeers.com/events.
Collaborative Problem Solving: Classes available at no charge to participants
OHA recently awarded funding to The Child Center to help families strengthen positive relationships and build the skills needed for success at home, at school, in the community and in life. The Child Center:
- Offers free Collaborative Problem Solving classes to Oregonians; sessions are once a week for eight weeks.
- Is focused on providing services to seven regions in Oregon that have limited mental health provider resources.
For more information, please visit The Child Center’s website and share widely with families across Oregon.
Eating disorder training series: Save the date
Eating disorders affect 30 million Americans and 95 percent of those affected are between the ages of 12 and 25. To address the lack of knowledge and expertise on this subject among health professionals in Oregon, we have engaged Therese Waterhous, PhD, RDN, CEDRD-S, owner, clinician and trainer at Willamette Nutrition Source, LLC, to offer a seven-month training series. Therese will be joined by three guest speakers to address specific health equity considerations in eating disorder treatment.
Save the dates:
- June 8
- July 13 (guest speaker)
- August 10
- September 21
- October 12 (guest speaker)
- November TBD (guest speaker)
- December 7
The trainings are from noon to 1:15 p.m., which includes 15 minutes for Q&As.
Trainings require registration if the trainee desires continuing education units (CEUs) offered through the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). All sessions will be recorded and posted for later viewing; additional materials will also be available. More details will be provided in next month’s newsletter.
Open clinical consultation (intellectual/developmental disability and mental health)
OHA is sponsoring quarterly open clinical consultation with experts from the National Association of Dually Diagnosed (NADD) focused on supporting youth and families dually diagnosed with an intellectual or developmental disability (I/DD) and a mental health condition.
This is an opportunity for clinicians and other professionals working with this population to ask questions and get consultation about best practices for supporting dually diagnosed youth and their families.
If you are interested in bringing a case for consultation, please contact Jessica Stout at jessica.l.stout@dhsoha.state.or.us. Everyone is invited to attend.
Dates:
- Thursday, May 5, from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.
- Thursday, August 4, from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.
- Click here to join the meeting
- Or call in (audio only) +1 971-277-2343, Conference ID: 767 530 249#
Mental Health Approaches to I/DD trainings
In September 2021, OHA sponsored a Mental Health Approaches to I/DD Train the Trainer event. We have a couple of trainers willing to offer trainings for our community partners. If you are interested in hosting a training for your organization, please contact Jessica Stout at jessica.l.stout@dhsoha.state.or.us.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) trainings in 2022
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is a highly rated, evidence-based therapy designed to treat children ages 3 through 17. TF-CBT treats children who have experienced trauma, including children with multiple and complex traumas in their lives.
This free, OHA-sponsored training is a virtual, intermediate-level course designed for Oregon master’s level mental health professionals who work directly with children who have experienced trauma. The training includes up to 20 hours of training and up to one year of consultation with up to 13 Continuing Education Credits available for participants.
Participants are responsible for pre-training expenses of approximately $75 and post-training certification expenses. Training dates:
- May 12 and 13, 2022, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information or to register: http://www.tfcbtconsulting.com/registration/
Sources of Strength
Elementary Coaches training:
This event will be held virtually, please visit the website or contact Darci Brown at darci@matchstickpdx.com for more information.
Question Persuade Refer (QPR)
QPR Training for Trainers
Virtual trainings:
- Wednesday, June 15, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Contact QPR@linesforlife.org for more information.
Youth Mental Health First Aid
Youth Mental Health First Aid Training for Trainers:
- June 7 through 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This is a virtual training with limited availability. If you are interested, contact Maria Pos at mpos@aocmhp.org.
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training for Trainers:
Email Tim Glascock at tglascock@aocmhp.org to learn more.
YouthSAVE
YouthSAVE Training for Primary Care Providers
Two upcoming virtual training dates:
- May 12 and 13, from 7 to 10:30 a.m.
Participants must complete two webinars independently, one prior to class and one after. Each webinar takes approximately one hour to complete.
For more information contact youth.save@oraap.org.
System of Care Learning Collaborative
Each second Tuesday of the month from 3 to 4:30 p.m., OFSN, Youth ERA and OHA facilitate a conversation for people involved with System of Care work.
Come with questions and a desire to learn and unlearn. Topics include how to develop skills that center youth and families, how to be culturally and linguistically responsive and how to ensure services and supports are community-based.
Contact Nat Jacobs at nat.jacobs@dhsoha.state.or.us for more details.
A Time for Families
A Time for Families is a weekly drop-in discussion hour for parents and family members hosted by Chelsea Holcomb and OHA’s Family Partnership Specialist, Frances Purdy.
Click here to join the meeting (conference ID 676907).
Warmline
Reach Out Oregon, funded by OHA as part of OFSN, has a warm line at 833-732-2467, a website, a chat room for any family member needing support and a weekly virtual support group.
Emergency department usage:
There are ongoing concerns about the overuse of emergency departments (EDs) as the pathway to inpatient psychiatric services and the number of young people who wait for long periods in EDs for these beds. The CFBH unit tracks data trends on young people who stay more than 24 hours in an ED, known as ED boarding.
Please join our community conversation to discuss the July 2019 – June 2021 data:
- May 12 from 2 to 3 p.m.
- May 26 from 9 to 10 a.m.
How to join:
Restraint and seclusion:
The use of restraint and seclusion in mental health intensive treatment facilities is an important metric for the children’s system. OHA’s Children’s Seclusion and Restraint Report 2018 – 2020 documents these data, with the 2021 report being issued soon. These numbers are compiled as rates per 1,000 patient days, allowing for cross-facility comparison.
If you have specific questions about these data, please email shannon.karsten@dhsoha.state.or.us.
State law requires Oregon Department of Human Services to submit quarterly reports regarding abuse, use of restraints and involuntary seclusion in licensed child-caring agencies to the Oregon Legislature. The quarterly reports generated by Children’s Care Licensing Program can be found on the Child-Caring Agency (CAA) Licensing Reports page.
Capacity in the children’s psychiatric and substance use disorder residential system:
The CFBH unit has been closely monitoring capacity at all Oregon Health Plan child behavioral health residential facilities since spring 2021. The goal is to develop a centralized access process so we know how many children and families need services and we can increase capacity to support them with the right service at the right time.
Goal capacity:
- Acute psychiatric and psychiatric residential: 286 beds
- Substance use disorder residential: To be determined
Operational capacity as of April 13, 2022:
- Acute psychiatric and psychiatric residential: 163 beds (70% operational capacity, 57% goal capacity)
- Substance use disorder residential: 13 beds (21% operational capacity)
Projected operational capacity: Acute psychiatric and psychiatric residential
- By December 2022: 238 beds (83% goal capacity)
- By July 2022: 250 beds (87% goal capacity)
Mobile Response and Stabilization Services ($6.5 million)
See the article above for more details.
Psychiatric Residential Treatment Services ($7.525 million)
Requests for Grant Proposals are in development with funding opportunities centering health equity, and with the enhancement and expansion of this much needed service in Oregon. Due to the ongoing focus on emergency COVID-19 response and staffing needs for our Psychiatric Residential Treatment Services providers, the current anticipated release is May or June 2022. You can access the RFGP once it is posted on Oregon Buys.
Restorative Services and Juvenile Psychiatric Security Review Board services: Proposals sought
The Request for Proposal (RFP) for Restorative and Juvenile Psychiatric Security Review Board Services in Oregon has been released. Complete details can be found at Oregon Buys, Bid Solicitation: S-44300-00002311.
Young Adult Residential Treatment Homes ($9.2 million)
The RFP developed in collaboration with the Intensive Services, Housing & Social Determinants of Health Unit with health equity as a core component is in the final process with the Office of Contracts and Procurement. This RFP focuses on:
- Expansion of the Young Adult Residential programs including up to an additional 20 Residential Treatment Home beds and
- Development of a 10-bed Secure Residential Treatment Facility for young adults with higher acuity needs.
You can access this RFP once it is posted on Oregon Buys .
Interdisciplinary Assessment Teams ($5.7 million)
We have met with many community and system partners to get feedback on the original concept and intention of the Interdisciplinary Assessment Team (IAT) project and the design of next steps. The context for this work has changed because of COVID-19, staffing shortages and shifts in systems and supports. To address immediate assessment needs and test the concept, an IAT pilot project will be operational soon.
If you are interested in this work please contact John Linn, john.r.linn@dhsoha.state.or.us.
For feedback and suggestions for our newsletter and information: kids.team@dhsoha.state.or.us
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