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Aug. 1, 2024

In this issue...

• Chelsea's Chat
• Wraparound engagement sessions
• Access to mental health assessment, treatment or services for children and youth up to 21 with intellectual or developmental disability
• Workgroup: Families leading children’s behavioral health policy systems — K-Plan draft recommendation consultation
• Youth Intellectual and Developmental Disability Mental Health Summit – August 20 and 21
• Fidelity Wraparound expansion – Request for Grant Applications posted
• Building Bridges Initiative
• Roger Brubaker joins CFBH youth suicide prevention team
• Thank you note to Black Youth Suicide Prevention Policy Academy participants
• Over 3,000 storage devices for lethal means distributed
• What we are reading or listening to
• Events – Opportunities – Resources

Chelsea's Chat

Reflections from Oregon Health Authority's (OHA's) Child and Family Behavioral Health (CFBH) Director, Chelsea Holcomb

July started with two weeks away from work for me. Current science backing up self-care tells us that taking at least five days off in a row is vital to well-being, resilience building and health. I agree, as I have returned with fresh eyes and renewed energy. As we rush through our work lives it’s important to plan in these breaks and take that breath!

While summer comes to an end and our young people return to their classrooms, I want to recognize that this is “Don’t Be a Bully Month.” We need to think about the impact that bullying has on children and young people. I hope you will take a moment to learn about what you can do to take action and stand up for those who find themselves in an unsafe environment that fosters bullying. 

What is bullying? Sadly, we all recognize this: It is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. Different types include verbal, social, and physical bullying. As a parent you can help your child recognize the signs of bullying, provide support and encouragement, and let children know that they are not alone. If your child is the one exhibiting bully behavior, know that bullying is a learned behavior. It can be unlearned and replaced with more positive behaviors.

All of us can create environments for children that are safe, foster kindness and empathy, and aim to build resilience. I know that I will be making sure to take a few moments to talk this through with my son in the coming weeks as he prepares to enter fourth grade.

Next month I look forward to reporting on the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors annual meeting. It is always grounding to have opportunity to connect with peers and understand what is happening in other states.

I hope your summer is busy and productive and that you find time for a little self-care.

Wraparound engagement sessions

If you and your family participated in the Wraparound process, we want to hear about your experiences. Please join us for an open discussion about what went well, what you would change, and any other feedback you and your family have for our team. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information about joining the meeting.

Session for Youth and Young Adults

When: Wednesday, August 7, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Session for Family Members and Caregivers

When: Thursday, August 8, 5 to 7 p.m.

Session for Everyone

When: Tuesday, August 27, 5 to 7 p.m.

For people who speak or use a language other than English, people with disabilities or people who need additional support, we can provide free help to participate in this meeting.  Please email kidsteam@oha.oregon.gov.

Access to mental health assessment, treatment or services for children and youth up to 21 with intellectual or developmental disability

Section 5 of Senate Bill (SB) 1557 (2024) requires that organizations and licensed practitioners not deny children or youth under the age of 21 access to mental health assessment, treatment or services on the basis of their intellectual or developmental disability.

Please take time to review this memo. It specifically references access for intellectual and developmental disability in SB 1557. The memo includes details on the scope of the law, what organizations and providers need to do, and our next steps.

We will host a listening session with Medicaid and Behavioral Health leadership to hear from community on feedback, participation and support needed to implement this law.

• Date: Friday, August 9
• Time: 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. 
• Meeting ID: 160 648 7077
• Passcode: 316754
• Phone: 669 254 5252

Workgroup: Families leading children’s behavioral health policy systems — K-Plan draft recommendation consultation

Section 4 of SB 1557 (2024) requires OHA to report on youth and family access to home and community-based support, how it has helped youth avoid higher levels of care such as the hospital, and recommendations for ensuring access to this support for youth and families with behavioral health needs.  OHA must submit the report to the legislature by Oct. 1, 2024.

Some may be familiar with what is called the Community First Choice Option or “K Plan” in the intellectual and developmental disability world. OHA is working to apply the same idea to mental health support. This report will help inform OHA’s efforts.

OHA seeks youth and family recommendations and experiences related to access to home and community-based supports. If youth and families cannot, or do not want to, share feedback at an online meeting, we will send a survey for written feedback once we draft recommendations for the report.

Feedback opportunities in English and Spanish:

August 13, noon to 1:30 p.m.

• Meeting ID: 160 152 2773 
• Passcode: 682297
• Dial by your location: 1 669 254 5252 

16 de agosto, 1 a 2:30 p.m.

• ID de reunión: 161 342 3834
• Código de acceso: 091313
• Número de teléfono: +16692545252

Please note this is a space for youth and families only. OHA will seek feedback from other community and partners at another place and time.

Youth Intellectual and Developmental Disability Mental Health Summit – August 20 and 21

We look forward to seeing many of you at this year’s summit later this month in Corvallis. Pediatric occupational therapist Greg Santucci is this year’s keynote speaker. He will focus on reframing behavior: embracing advances in neuroscience and using the power of connection and collaboration to help people thrive. Oregon Senator Sara Gelser Blouin, an enthusiastic intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) advocate, will join the event on Tuesday afternoon for a conversation about IDD and mental health.

Why attend?

• Attend sessions designed to facilitate building connections with other attendees who serve youth with IDD and mental health diagnoses.
• Discover new resources, collaborate with colleagues, and contribute your expertise to our shared goal of supporting youth with dual diagnoses.
• Learn about latest research, best practices, and techniques.

Fidelity Wraparound expansion – Request for Grant Applications posted

OHA received American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to improve access to services for children and families. OHA will use some of this funding to expand Wraparound care coordination in Oregon. A Request for Grant Application (RFGA) is now open on Oregon Buys.

The goal of this grant is to provide programs with funds to support Fidelity Wraparound Expansion (FWE) primarily for fee-for-service (FFS, or “open card”) Oregon Health Plan (OHP) members. Applicants may apply for grants to support one or more of the following allowable program activities:

• Goal 1: Expand FFS Wraparound care coordination
• Goal 2: Expand culturally responsive Wraparound care coordination
• Goal 3: Expand Wraparound care coordination to young adults in transition

OHA anticipates awarding up to five FWE grant agreements. The maximum combined total of all awards under this RFGA will be approximately $500,000. OHA reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to determine the amount of each award from this RFGA. 

Building Bridges Initiative

Five Oregon residential providers are breaking new ground with their participation in the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) Principles to Outcomes-Driven Practice (“P2ODP”) demonstration project:

• Madrona Recovery
• Nexus Family Healing – Walden Crossing
• Parrott Creek Child and Family Services
• Mary’s Home for Boys
• A Village for One

The P2ODP project kicked off in February 2024. The project is a two-year collaboration designed and led by BBI and sponsored by Oregon Department of Human Services. It is a partnership between BBI, the University of Kentucky Center for Innovation in Population Health, the Oregon Department of Human Services, The Child and Family Center for Excellence, and OHA. It offers Oregon’s five participating providers an unprecedented opportunity for no-cost technical assistance and consultation from an array of national experts in children’s residential intervention.  The project is designed to test the application of the BBI Theory of Change for Residential Interventions, a framework for evidence-based practice and quality improvement in residential programs.  Participating organizations recently completed the organizational self-assessment tool and are now in the design phase.

During the six-month design phase, the five residential providers will use the Theory of Change framework to identify and design one or two initiatives (such as family engagement, aftercare, youth guided care, diversity, equity and inclusion practices and trauma-informed care) for implementation and related outcome measurements.  For the next 12 months they will implement, monitor, and measure project activities and results with regular guidance and coaching from BBI experts.  Each provider has frequent calls with their consultation team consisting of a BBI program family peer and youth peer consultant. There are also separate meetings with evaluation consultants from University of Kentucky, along with virtual webinars to support implementation efforts.

Following the year-long implementation phase, the P2ODP project will spend the final six months gathering, analyzing, and making meaning of the data generated by each provider’s project activities.  BBI anticipates the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles as well as a book compilation that will feature each of these pioneering Oregon agencies and share their learning with the national and international community of children’s therapeutic residential care professionals. We are proud of the five agencies who have dedicated staff and resources to the P2ODP and appreciate them for helping to raise the bar of high-quality residential treatment higher for Oregon.

Roger Brubaker joins CFBH youth suicide prevention team

Roger Brubaker

The CFBH team is delighted to announce the addition of Roger Brubaker. Roger joins Jill Baker and Shanda Hochstetler in the work of youth suicide prevention. 

Roger is excited to return to the field of suicide prevention with OHA and contribute to the excellent work going on across the agency.

A bit about Roger:

In early 2023, Roger and his partner left the workforce to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine.

Before coming to OHA, Roger worked as the Suicide Prevention Coordinator and Postvention Response Lead at Lane County Public Health. While there, he developed the Why We Build project in cooperation with local artists and suicide attempt survivors. Roger has a Master of Public Health with a concentration in injury and violence epidemiology from Oregon State University. Before working in public health, Roger facilitated psychoeducational programs for perpetrators of domestic violence, served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand, taught natural resources science for high school students and climbed trees as an arborist. 

Roger works in suicide prevention because it's intellectually and emotionally challenging and requires interdisciplinary knowledge and skills. He sustains himself working in suicide prevention by centering relationships with the people of the Oregon suicide prevention community. He looks forward to expanding that network and working with Oregonians throughout the state to promote population health and social justice. 

Thank you note to Black Youth Suicide Prevention Policy Academy participants

This July marked one year since 10 Oregon leaders traveled to Baltimore to attend the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) first-ever Black Youth Suicide Prevention Policy Academy.  At that meeting, the group recognized that Oregon needed an organizing table for folks interested in the work of black youth suicide prevention. They dreamed of a Black Youth Suicide Prevention Coalition (BYSPC). Then, they made it happen. Oregon’s coalition has met twice per month, and sometimes more frequently, for the past year. They have hosted events, spoken at conferences, secured grant funding, recruited and hired 12 youth leaders, and are hiring a part-time staff person to support the work.

As we mark this one-year anniversary, we wanted to say a sincere “Thank you” to these superheroes. We are so grateful for the work and energy you have poured into creating a safer Oregon for Black, African, and African American young people, and we cannot wait to see what happens next. 

Sincerely,

Ebony Sloan Clarke, Dishanta Kim, Jill Baker

Oregon's attendees at the 2023 SAMHSA Black Youth Suicide Prevention Policy Academy

Over 3,000 storage devices for lethal means distributed

This year the Oregon Alliance to Prevent Suicide, with funding from OHA, provided over 3,000 lethal means safe storage devices to organizations across 29 counties. Community Mental Health Programs and other service providers received gun lock boxes, field cases, long gun cases, keyed locks, and biometric trigger locks to provide free of cost to their clients.

These devices allow folks to securely store their firearms, medications, and other lethal means when there is someone at risk of suicide in their home. Creating time and distance from lethal means saves lives. Providing access to secure storage is an important part of OHA’s comprehensive suicide prevention plan. 

For more information, contact lmichaud@aocmhp.org.

What we are reading or listening to

Oregon Department of Education child nutrition specialist Cathy Brock offered insights on Summer Food Service and Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer to Jefferson Public Radio in Southern Oregon.

Oregon cranks up the summer meals for children across the state

Events – Opportunities – Resources

Find events, opportunities, trainings and resources in last month’s posting on our newsletter page. Many of these trainings are also on our training opportunities web page. We will send updates mid-month — Look for the next one in your inbox on August 15.

Feedback

For feedback and suggestions for our newsletter and information: kids.team@oha.oregon.gov.

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