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 Nov. 1, 2024
In this issue...
Reflections from Oregon Health Authority's (OHA) Child and Family Behavioral Health (CFBH) Director
As we welcome the rainy days and misty air of November, the shorter daylight hours remind us that the year is winding down. The time change brings darker evenings, inviting us to slow down, reflect on the months behind us, and enjoy the warmth of home. This time of year invites us to gather with family and friends, whether through cherished traditions or moments of quiet connection and gratitude.
While Thanksgiving holds different meanings for many, we recognize that it holds disparate meanings for others, especially for Native Americans. November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to honor the rich histories and cultures of Native American peoples. November is a time to reflect on their experiences and contributions, as they are deeply woven into the fabric of this nation. As we celebrate this month, I invite you all to take a moment and reflect on these stories and foster deeper respect and understanding within our communities.
In Oregon, the Nine Federally Recognized Tribes play a vital role in collaboration with OHA to eliminate health inequities by 2030. OHA deeply values its government-to-government partnership with the Tribes and actively works to strengthen this relationship, ensuring their voices and traditions are respected.
November also serves as a reminder for me for compassion and understanding. The International Day for Tolerance, observed on November 16, encourages us all to deepen our appreciation for diverse cultures, beliefs, and way of life. True tolerance is not just about accepting differences but embracing those differences.
As we did last year, we want to share with you the gratitude we feel for our work, homes and families. Please read to the end of the newsletter to see our thoughts. Together, we stand united in our mission to make Oregon a better, safer place for children and families. Thank you for being a part of this journey with us.
As I will be away on vacation, next month’s chat will feature Christa Jones, OHA Behavioral Health Deputy Director for Service Delivery.
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This summer, the Mid-Valley Suicide Prevention Coalition spoke with local first responders, including firefighters, police, and emergency medical services responders and discovered that many were unaware of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support 24/7 through phone, text, or chat for anyone in need.
“First responders often see people at a time when they are really struggling. Providing the 988 resources could be a lifeline to getting them the help they need,” says Kelly Martin, who works at Marion County and is one of the coordinators of the coalition. First responders have a stressful job and ensuring they have training and resource information is essential.
The Coalition, which serves Marion and Polk counties, printed and delivered 988 information cards in both English and Spanish to 35 first responder agencies. The response was overwhelmingly positive. Over the course of three weeks, responders used the cards immediately, shared the information on social media, and expressed a desire for more training for their staff. As a result of this outreach, 50 first responders have been trained in suicide prevention with QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer). More information on how you can find QPR training can be found in our mid-month newsletter.
For more information on OHA supported Mental Health Promotion and Prevention programming, please contact Fran Pearson, fran.pearson@oha.oregon.gov
OHA released the strategic plan (2024-2027) for our agency, and we want to make sure we are elevating and amplifying your voice as we further develop and define future priorities for Child and Family Behavioral Health. Please give feedback from your perspective about children’s behavioral health in Oregon.
The survey was built to be as accessible as possible – with just three simple questions:
- When you think about children’s mental health or behavioral health in Oregon, what is going well? What should we keep doing?
- When you think about children’s mental health or behavioral health in Oregon, what is not going well? What are the gaps, barriers, problems, needs?
- What else do you want those leading and supporting children’s behavioral health in Oregon to know?
Please fill out this short survey that contains those questions.
The information will be used by our team in strategic planning for the children’s behavioral health system. We will share the themes that we gather here and in other feedback loops.
In 2024, the Oregon Legislature passed new legislation which became law: Senate Bill (SB) 1557. This law has different parts, but one important part focuses on young people living with serious mental illnesses. It aims to make services easier to access and work together so families can thrive at home and in their communities.
The law is based on leveraging money from the federal Community First Choice program, also known as the "1915 K Plan", for young people living with serious mental illnesses. The Community First Choice program helps young people stay at home instead of going to hospitals or other facilities. Right now, the Community First Choice program is available for youth with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.
The preliminary report required by SB 1557 was issued on October 1, along with an executive summary. A final report is due March 1, 2025. We will continue to seek input from youth and families, and we are contracting with Oregon Family Support Network to support this.
One focus for conversations will be around the institutional level of care (LOC) criteria. We currently do not have a standardized set of criteria for individuals under 21 to receive psychiatric services under the “Psych Under 21” (Psychiatric services for individuals under age 21) Medicaid benefit. These criteria are under development and will need consultation with youth, families, and our partners. We will provide more information on this next month.
Psychiatric day treatment is an important part of the continuum of services and supports keeping youth in their community, while they still receive intensive mental health treatment. The Meadowlark Day Program opened in Salem in October. This is a partnership between Trillium Family Services and Salem-Keizer Public Schools.
It took dedication from several collaborating partners to bring this essential behavioral health care service to the Salem community. It will be beneficial for children and families as they will have access to intensive treatment while continuing their education and remaining in their community.
One of five psychiatric day treatment programs operated by Meadowlark Day Program will serve around 20 youth between the ages of 5-17. We at OHA wish to join in congratulating Trillium Family Services and Salem-Keizer Public Schools on this huge accomplishment.
Classroom at Meadowlark Day Program
Oregon Health Authority (OHA), the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and staff of the Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission (ADPC) have partnered to create resources to support educators, administrators, community partners, youth, and families in responding to the crisis of youth and adult opioid overdoses and deaths in Oregon.
The updated Fentanyl Toolkit for Schools aims to strengthen prevention, harm reduction, and response efforts related to opioid use, including fentanyl. This toolkit was created to support school administrators and staff in responding to opioid use among youth and young adults in Oregon.
Throughout the toolkit are resources schools can use to:
- Educate the community about the impact of fentanyl and opioids in Oregon
- Develop school plans and policies to prevent and respond to substance use, and
- Build community partnerships for a comprehensive substance use prevention and intervention approach.
The State agencies also co-developed lesson plans for implementation in schools on the dangers of synthetic opioids and counterfeit drugs and Oregon’s Good Samaritan Law as required by Senate Bill 238 passed in 2023. These lessons are available on the ODE Health Education web page.
These lessons and toolkit are part of an ongoing, comprehensive effort by the State of Oregon to prevent and reduce substance use among youth and young adults. We look forward to continuing our cross-agency work in collaboration with schools, community partners, youth and their families to prevent substance use and promote wellness in our communities.
Please share with your education community.
Fentanyl Toolkit for Schools
OHA, in partnership with the Oregon Department of Education (ODE), is looking to the 2025 legislative session for investment in student mental wellness. The proposed policy option package (POP 555) is designed to help students get better mental health support by making several improvements. The goal is to make mental health services more available and effective for all students.
Here’s what it aims to do:
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Use Medicaid effectively: Ensure that schools get the most possible funding from Medicaid for health services.
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Expand services: Grow the number of mental health services available in schools through two main programs:
- School-based Health Center Program: Provides more health services in schools.
- School-based Mental Health Program: Offers more mental health support in schools.
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Support specific needs: Focus on preventing youth suicide, especially within different cultural communities.
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Improve coordination: Make sure that different agencies and organizations work well together to support students.
Medicaid
Oregon's Medicaid program now allows schools to get reimbursed for more services, including mental health services. However, there are still big challenges that make it hard for schools to take full advantage of this. To address these challenges, the funding from this plan would increase the state's ability to help schools enroll as Medicaid providers and access Federal funding. This would further increase access to services that students need and help keep them engaged in school.
School-based health centers (SBHCs)
SBHCs are trusted places where students can get health care. They are especially important for helping students who face health challenges. This funding plan aims to increase funding, expand and increase flexible services. It will help communities find new ways to meet their health care needs, such as using telehealth and mobile clinics and ensure that SBHCs engage with youth in ways that respect and reflect their cultural backgrounds.
School-based mental health
Young people receive mental health care in schools more frequently than any other setting, including doctors’ offices and mental health clinics. Trauma, stress and conflict can interfere with almost every aspect of a young person’s learning. Schools are familiar, natural environments and often partner with local programs to increase student and family access to mental health services and supports. These services and supports improve students' physical and psychological safety and create healing pathways that offer an alternative to exclusionary discipline events such as suspensions and expulsions.
Culturally specific suicide prevention
This funding plan aims to improve and continue suicide prevention efforts for different cultural groups by supporting Tribal efforts, training for school staff, supporting Black youth, enhancing school plans and improving programs.
Improving coordination
This funding plan will help improve coordination and teamwork across different parts of the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and with other state agencies. The plan’s goals are to improve partnerships, support planning and collaboration. We want to use data more effectively and track and understand health metrics for youth and their families. The aim is to engage with local communities to ensure that data about child health is used fairly and justly to improve policies and programs.
Services for children are a part of the budget that OHA sent to Governor Kotek, known as the Agency Request Budget (ARB). These are five policy option packages that particularly impact children and families.
1. Child and family behavioral health residential investment:
Policy Option Package (POP) 552 would expand behavioral health residential treatment and support services to address insufficient infrastructure for substance use disorders, psychiatric treatment, and co-occurring needs across the state. For youth, the initiative is focusing on reducing long wait times for treatment and reliance on emergency departments.
The proposal aims to increase the capacity of residential programs for youth, young adults, and adults by adding new psychiatric residential treatment facilities and SUD treatment beds, focusing on regional and cultural diversity. The plan includes purchasing, constructing, or renovating facilities, stabilizing current providers, and supporting culturally and linguistically diverse services.
2. Home and community-based services (HCBS):
POP 418 provides access to HCBS for children and youth with behavioral health needs, ensuring equitable service delivery and compliance with federal requirements while enhancing health outcomes and reducing disparities.
3. Behavioral Health Workforce Investments:
POP 550 would provide ongoing funding to address the shortage of behavioral health professionals, particularly in rural areas and substance use disorder services, by attracting, retaining, and supporting a diverse, culturally competent workforce through financial incentives, reduced educational and certification barriers, and expanded training and supervision access. The proposal also invests in peer-delivered services, culturally specific service expansion, and a central resource hub for providers; without this funding, workforce shortages in underserved communities will persist, exacerbating access issues and health inequities across Oregon.
4. Universally offered home visiting:
POP 420 aims to fully fund the current service levels at the four current Family Connect sites.
5. Doula Hubs:
POP 412 allows groups of doulas, registered as Traditional Health Workers, to bill together and creates a collaborative organizational model for referral, supervision and liaison.
You can see the full Agency Request Budget here.
Salma Abdulkadir
We are pleased to announce Salma Abdulkadir has joined our team as the new Strategic Initiatives Policy Analyst. Salma will focus on advancing key projects and policies that support the agency's long-term goals.
Before coming to OHA, Salma worked as a traditional health worker at the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO), connecting immigrants and refugee communities with essential health services. Salma has experience working in the Child Welfare. Salma holds a degree in Biology with a concentration on molecular biology from Lewis & Clark College.
Salma looks forward to expanding her impact at OHA, driving forward strategic projects that align with the agency's vision of a better Oregon for all.
Every quarter there is a tribal suicide prevention meeting for the 9 Federally Recognized Tribes and Native American Rehabilitation Association (NARA) and the NW Portland Area Indian Health Board. In September this took place in Siletz and the focus was a discussion on the “next right steps” for youth suicide prevention and guided by a belief that culture is core to prevention. The group reviews all the camps, cultural activities, ceremonies, youth outreach and programming, and suicide prevention trainings.
We were invited to tour the Siletz Clinic Garden Program. This garden is home to traditional plants, foods, and medicines. The garden includes traditional tobacco that was grown from seeds gifted by the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians. Over 90 Siletz Tribe households receive food from the garden, and many of the medicines are used in their clinic’s apothecary, known as the Healing Corner.
Jill Baker, Roger Brubaker and Shanda Hochstetler from our team were invited to participate in the Siletz ropes course, which featured a talking circle, trust exercises, and the high ropes course. The team says, “many thanks for the generosity of the Confederated Tribe of Siletz Indians for welcoming us into your beautiful spaces and for the powerful reminder that connection to culture is the best prevention.”
Tobacco drying at the Siletz Clinic Garden Program
In partnership with the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB), Matchstick Consulting hosted a Sources of Strength Tribal Training for Trainers at the Portland State University Native American Student and Community Center. This event brought together representatives from tribes and tribal organizations from Oregon, Idaho and California, including participants from NPAIHB, the Native America Rehabilitation Association (NARA), Klamath Tribes, Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, and the Burns Paiute Tribe.
Sources of Strength, an upstream suicide prevention program, empowers peer leaders to share stories of hope, help and strength in their communities. Sources of Strength is supported by OHA as a part of the Big River Programs. Throughout the three-and-a-half-day training, attendees connected through games, shared personal stories of strength, and discussed how Sources of Strength can support tribal prevention efforts already underway in their schools and communities. Every tribe and organization left the training with a unique plan for next steps that fit their context and community. Gratitude, community and hope filled the room as each new provisional trainer left to carry this work forward in their community. Liz Thorne, Director at Matchstick Consulting, noted, “I am so thankful to the Board for their continued partnership in planning this event and hold immense gratitude for our tribal prevention leaders in attendance. I cannot wait to see how this work flourishes with their leadership.”
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Sources of Strength Tribal training
As part of our tradition during Thanksgiving, we want to share reflections from members of the Child and Family Behavioral Health unit. This season reminds us not only to give thanks but also to acknowledge the meaningful connections we’ve built. Each contributor highlights the power of collaboration, support, and dedication that fuels our mission in making Oregon a better place for all.
- Hilary Harrison, System of Care policy strategist, expressed, “I am grateful for all the youth and family members that have contributed their thoughts and ideas to improve Oregon's Child and Family Behavioral Health system this year.”
- Jessie Eagan, CFBH unit manager, reflected on the importance of collaboration, saying, “Beautiful fall days, collaboration and partnership, a loving and supportive partner, our amazing team.”
- Julie Graves, Children’s Intensive Services specialist, offered her appreciation, stating, “So, so many things...my health, home, job, fur-kids, friend-family, and pizza to name a few.”
- Amy Chandler, Early childhood program and policy development specialist, shared her gratitude, “Health. Family. Friends. Meaningful work.”
- Tamara Bavaro, Administrative specialist, reflected on the importance of relationships, stating, “I am grateful for relationships built during re-design work for the Children's System Advisory Council. It has been amazing to learn from the dedicated volunteers who care so deeply about improving the children's behavioral health system and have shared their time and expertise so generously.”
- Jill Baker, Youth Suicide Prevention Policy Coordinator, offered her reflection, saying, “A beautiful array of humans doing hard work to make our world better.”
- Shanda Hochstetler, Youth suicide prevention program coordinator, mentioned, “The really caring humans who work in our schools making Oregon's future brighter every single day.”
- Kathleen Burns, CFBH team lead, shared her personal gratitude, stating, “I’m grateful for the hardworking CFBH team, collaborative OHA colleagues, the ability to work from home, my health—and for my family, friends and fur babies.”
- Christianna Rhoads, Wraparound and System of Care coordinator, conveyed her deep appreciation for the community, noting, “I am thankful to the Wraparound community for welcoming me with openness and having patience as I onboarded into the role. I appreciate the reciprocal relationships and transparency amongst one another that allowed us to talk openly in community engagement about what is going well and what can go better with Wraparound.”
- Anis Zaman, Portland State Universityexpressed gratitude for the support received, stating, “I am grateful for the support and cooperation, I have received for getting me oriented with Child and Family BH unit, and OHA. I am also grateful to my supervisor and manager for helping me in all regards to make significant progress in my work.”
- Roger Brubaker, Youth Suicide Prevention Program Coordinator, shared his appreciation for youth, saying “The youth in Oregon who contribute their voice and actions towards improving public health.”
- Brian Pitkin, Children's 988/Mobile Response and Stabilization Services coordinator, shared his appreciation for community feedback, saying “I am grateful for those community members that are able to provide feedback on the services and supports they receive. These shared experiences, good and bad, really help focus our work and provide valuable lessons and insight.”
- Fran Pearson, School-based mental health program and policy coordinator and mental health program policy analyst, reflected, “I am grateful for the opportunity to work with amazing, dedicated, caring people all across Oregon!”
- Sage Neilson, Children’s Intensive Services Coordinator, shared “I am so incredibly thankful for the continued partnership and collaboration with our youth residential providers on our RCM system, capturing critical data on referrals and program capacity. It is no small feat to participate in this project! I am so very grateful for the opportunity to do this work with you all!”
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“Social Studies” by Laura Greenfield: A docuseries that focuses on a group of diverse Los Angeles teens, exploring their experiences with social media in a post-pandemic world. The five-part series offers a deep dive into how social media has reshaped modern childhood, touching on issues like bullying, beauty standards, racism, and identity struggles.
- "Still Come Home" by Katey Schultz: A novel by the National Indie Excellence Award-winning author, is set in Afghanistan, following the lives of a civilian woman, an American soldier, and an Afghan man. The story examines the personal toll of war, survival, and loyalty amidst the chaos of conflict.
- "The Parents Aren't Alright" from The Daily podcast: The episode explores the stress of modern parenting, particularly how intensive parenting practices may be negatively affecting the mental health of parents themselves.
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 November 15.
For feedback and suggestions for our newsletter and information: kids.team@oha.oregon.gov.
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