Director's Message

June 16, 2006

To: All DHS employees

From: Bruce Goldberg, DHS Director

“The fragrance always remains in the hand that gives the rose.”

---Heda Bejar

Everyone who cares about improving Oregon’s mental health system should be delighted with this week’s news that a decision has been made about replacing the aging Oregon State Hospital. The research is behind us and the action plan has been issued.

The decision, made by Governor Ted Kulongoski, Senate President Peter Courtney and House Speaker Karen Minnis, is to locate one 620-bed facility in the North Willamette Valley, one 360-bed facility south of Linn County on the west side of the Cascades, and at least two non-hospital-level 16-bed secure residential treatment settings east of the Cascades.  These locations will allow a significant majority (93 percent) of patients to have convenient access to their home communities and families.

The proposal is based on two reports provided by KMD Architects of San Francisco, the consultant commissioned by the Governor and Legislature to lead the review of the current public mental health system and develop a master plan for redesigning the system.

This decision is about more than just constructing new buildings, although there’s no doubt that new facilities are desperately needed. This is really about redesigning the state’s mental health system to move us toward a more community-oriented approach that will provide an array of mental health services in the communities where our patients live. Most importantly, it will allow us to provide the highest quality of care to those with mental illness.

Even better, not only did our state leaders decide on this model, they also outlined a process that begins no later than next month so that the Legislature will be able to determine the precise locations of the new facilities and approve funding before the end of the 2007 legislative session.

The first action will be a hearing, to be held no later than July 15, to solicit public comment on the plan.

Second, no later than September 1, a group composed of legislative and executive branch representatives will determine site-selection criteria. Likely criteria include available land; access to transportation, utility and other infrastructure needs; and a nearby source of qualified mental health professionals and other employees.

Third, no later than February 2007, the Department of Administrative Services will give the Governor and lawmakers a list of suitable sites for consideration. Sites will then be chosen and then construction can begin.

Construction funding will likely be provided through the sale of Certificates of Participation, which will be paid off over many years in the way mortgages are paid. It will be up to the Legislature to provide funding for the ongoing operating costs of these facilities.

We should all be extremely pleased at the support we have received from the Governor and legislative leaders, and at what that support will make possible – significantly improved mental health services for Oregonians.

Our staff at the state hospital deserves thanks for their patience and persistence during this review process, and for continuing to provide high quality services in spite of difficult conditions. It will be several years before these new buildings are up and running, but the process is under way and the end is in sight. I look forward to the role DHS will play in making this plan a reality.

To provide feedback email: DHS.Directorsoffice@state.or.us

To change to HTML view: Go to Tools -- Options -- Environment. On the Views tab, select the HTML option for the "Default read view." Also select "Use default views for reading."

This message is intended for all department employees. Please read it electronically, if possible. Managers and supervisors are asked to share the message each week with employees who do not have email access.