Overview
Families, parents and caregivers play a prominent role in their children’s care and protection. Children, youth and young adults rely on their family and caregivers for emotional and financial support. At school, in health care settings and in case management settings, professionals look to the family to provide guidance and make decisions about the child’s treatment.
Because of their importance in children’s lives, Oregon Health Authority supports families to help them advocate for their needs, navigate multiple systems and get the care they choose.
Share your questions and concerns at OHA's weekly "A Time for Families"
Family and Caregiver Resources
This guide was created with input from other families who have lived
experiences navigating complex behavioral health needs of their children and navigating services
and supports. It includes
what families wanted to know or would have liked to know when facing similar circumstances.
View the Guide for Families
Family Support Specialists are found in many places:
- Family network organizations,
- Crisis teams,
- Hospital emergency rooms,
- Residential treatment facilities,
- Outpatient clinics and
- Some specialized clinics/health services.
The Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) has funded peer delivered services provided by Family Support Specialists and Youth Support Specialists since July 2013. Coordinated care organization (CCO) members can contact their CCO to learn how to access local Family Support Specialists.
OHA provides funding for counties to deliver these services to families who do not have Medicaid.
Some private/commercial insurance plans offer coverage for Family Support Specialist services.
Each county or region may offer Family Support Specialist services through different organizations, including family organizations such as the Oregon Family Support Network. To find your local Family Support Specialist contact, visit www.reachoutoregon.org.
The non-profit Oregon Family Support Network (OFSN) is the primary contractor for behavioral health, parenting and wellness-focused Family Support Specialist services. The network:
- Exists to connect, empower and educate families and their communities. This ensures improved outcomes for children and youth experiencing behavioral health challenges.
- Refers families to other family networks and organizations. They make sure they stay connected to callers until the connections are made.
- Fulfills a significant role in facilitating family/youth voice in local and state policy making. They do this by preparing family members to serve on boards and committees.
OFSN staff members are:
- Almost all parents (biological, adoptive, extended family and foster) or caregivers who have raised a child or several children living with mental health, behavioral and other significant health challenges.
- Familiar with navigating the systems of behavioral health, physical health, developmental disabilities, special education, child welfare and juvenile justice.
To learn more, call 503-363-8068 or visit www.ofsn.org.
Funded by OHA, Reach Out Oregon, a part of the Oregon Family Support Network, has a "warm line" at 833-732-2467 for parents, families and caregivers. It also has a website and a chat room.
Family Support Specialists with special training and practical experience parenting their own children, youth or young adults answer the warmline and chat room. For issues related to mental health disorders, substance use and the complexities of physical health, they provide:
- Information about community-based and statewide resources.
- National and other information about parenting, behavioral health concerns and conditions, treatment and parent-to-parent connection.
- Support, hope and help to make getting care as simple, meaningful and responsive as possible.
To access these services, visit www.reachoutoregon.org or call 833-732-2467.
You have many ways to share your concerns about the Oregon Health Plan. You can share concerns about the services you get through OHP. You can also share concerns about not being able to access the services you need through OHP.
- If you are a coordinated care organization (CCO) member, talk to your CCO.
- You can file a complaint with your CCO or OHP.
- If you do not feel comfortable filing a complaint, you can contact OHA's Ombuds Program. They will listen to what happened and help make a change. They can do this without using your name or just make sure the solution gets made.
Reporting your concerns helps OHA and our partner agencies work together to improve Oregon's system of care.
How to Advocate for Your Loved One During a Crisis