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Intensive Services

Oversight of Court-Ordered Behavioral Health Treatment

Oregon Health Authority oversees policies, program development and contract administration in the following areas. Partners in development, coordination and oversight include:

  • Oregon State Hospital
  • Community Mental Health Programs
  • Community-based organizations
  • The courts
  • Tribes
  • The residential treatment system
  • Hospitals
  • Local jurisdictions
  • Psychiatric Security Review Board

​Aid and Assist is Oregon's competency restoration program. The program is for individuals who are:

  • Defendants in a criminal court case and
  • Unable to “aid and assist" in their own defense.

This program works to restore the individual's ability to take part in their own defense. Aid and Assist services can occur in the community or at the Oregon State Hospital.

House Bill 2420  (2015) amended Oregon law (Oregon Revised Statutes 166.365 and 161.370) to require courts to review CMHP input about:

  • Services and supervision needed to restore a defendant's ability, and
  • Whether such services are available in the community.

​Civil commitment is a safety net service for people living with mental illness. It is a process for requiring mental health treatment for people who:

  • Are a danger to themselves or others,
  • Cannot provide for their basic needs, or
  • Have been civilly committed twice in the last three years and are in danger of a mental health crisis.

A judge decides whether the person requires civil commitment. Civil commitment may require the person to:

  • Go to a psychiatric hospital or
  • Accept other mental health treatment.

Learn more about civil commitment.

​CMHPs must submit a Plan of Resolution for individuals in intensive treatment when:

  • The individual's care team has recommended discharge,
  • It has been more than 60 days since the recommended discharge date, and
  • The individual cannot be discharged because a more appropriate setting is not available.

The Plan of Resolution serves as a blueprint for the county and OHA. Intensive Services works with the county to approve and coordinate a placement plan. 

The Plan of Resolution must:

  • Identify the barriers in detail.
  • Show how the county has tried to address these barriers.
  • Provide a plan for resolving the barriers.
  • Outline how OHA can help.

Counties must email all Plan of Resolution communications to HSD.IntensiveServicesUnit@odhsoha.oregon.gov. 

​When a criminal court finds a person guilty except for insanity (GEI), the Psychiatric Security Review Board decides the person's care and level of supervision. Intensive Services works with partners to:

  • Help people get the services the Board requires.
  • Oversee the individual's placement and care.

This work includes consulting on cases with complex needs and finding creative ways to fund services.

Learn more and find resources about the Board and GEI on the Board's website.

​Jail diversion services support individuals who are:

  • Living with serious and persistent mental illness and
  • Charged with a crime (non-violent felony or misdemeanor).

Jail diversion helps these individuals access behavioral health services in their community. It also helps them avoid:

  • Admission to the Oregon State Hospital,
  • Incarceration, probation, or institutionalization, and
  • Ongoing involvement with the criminal justice system.

CMHPs provide these services in partnership with local jurisdictions. OHA oversees the funds CMHPs can access to provide these services.