Oregon Transforms Behavioral Health Care
The Behavioral Health Division helps Oregonians achieve physical, mental and social wellbeing by providing access to health, mental health and addiction services and supports to meet the needs of Oregon’s adults and children. We accomplish this through collaboration with individuals, their families, counties, other state agencies, providers, advocates and communities.
In April 2024, the Division restructured its work to maximize collaboration and resources for the continued implementation of more than $1.35 billion in behavioral health system investments made by the Legislature in 2021.These investments represent a turning point for behavioral health in Oregon, enabling the Behavioral Health Division to meet the Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) goal of achieving health equity by 2030 by:
- Expanding and improving services,
- Addressing the impact of the pandemic on our community and the behavioral health workforce, and
- Investing in infrastructure, planning, and workforce development.
To use the legislature's allocation most effectively, five areas of behavioral health work have been prioritized for transformation and funding: :
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Aid and Assist: Funding to provide treatment, housing and other supports for people who are not competent to face a criminal proceeding due to the severity of their mental health issue.
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Behavioral Health Crisis System and 988: Funding to improve Oregon's system for crisis care and support, including development of a 24/7 hotline for people experiencing a behavioral health crisis.
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Ballot Measure 110 implementation: Funding for drug treatment and recovery services in Oregon counties.
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Behavioral Health Housing: Funding for expansion of residential settings for people with serious and persistent mental illness.
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Behavioral Health Workforce Initiative: Funding for behavioral health providers for staff compensation, workforce retention and recruitment.
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Investment/Innovation: Funding to better coordinate access to care, incentivize culturally and linguistically specific services, invest in workforce diversity and support staff recruitment.
The following report outlines OHA's work to allocate funds, while setting up new programs that will truly transform Oregon's behavioral health care system.
Read OHA's November 2022 progress report about Key Behavioral Health Investments (2021-2023) >>