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Oregon Health Authority

Oregon’s System of Care

Cross-System Collaboration to Support and Engage Youth and Families

System of Care is a philosophy based on cross system collaboration that supports youth and families who have complex and significant behavioral and mental health needs.

State law (Oregon Revised Statute 418.976) defines “System of care" as a coordinated network of individualized services and supports to youth that:

  • Integrates care planning and management across multiple levels of care;
  • Recognizes disability as a natural and healthy part of the human experience;
  • Is culturally and linguistically competent;
  • Is designed to build meaningful partnerships with families and youth in the delivery and management of services and the development of policy;
  • Has a supportive policy and management infrastructure at the state and local levels; and
  • Is community-based with relationships at the local level.

The goal is to create an array of services and supports that are youth- and family-driven, community-based, and culturally and linguistically responsive.

The System of Care Advisory Council (SOCAC) is a Governor-appointed council. The SOCAC will

  • Develop and maintain a state System of Care policy and comprehensive, long-range plan for coordinated system of care. 
  • Create and update a plan biennially and submit plan to interim committee of Legislative Assembly and Governor.
  • Develop annual reports, recommend legislation and make recommendations to Directors of the Oregon Health Authority, Oregon Youth Authority, Oregon Department of Education and Oregon Department of Human Services regarding Systems of Care. 
  • Award grants to support local system of care governance and carry out recommendations in council's long-range plan for coordinated System of Care
  • Oversee and continually monitor the children's System of Care data dashboard.

​Local Systems of Care exist across Oregon. To resolve barriers experienced by youth and their families, each of Oregon's coordinated care organizations convenes these groups:
  • Practice Level Workgroup: Filters and analyzes barriers submitted from professionals and consumers. Addresses practice barriers and refers system barriers to Advisory. 
  • Advisory/Steering Committee: Advises policy development, financing implementation, reviews fidelity and outcomes, and addresses system barriers submitted by the Practice group.
  • Executive Council: Develops and approves policies, shared decision-making regarding funding and resource development, and identifies unmet needs in the community to expand the service array.

Learn more about Oregon's local Systems of Care​.

System of Care Data Dashboard

As required by Senate Bill 1 (2019), the System of Care Data Dashboard displays data for young people involved with child-serving systems and combines data from Child Welfare, the Office of Developmental Disability Services, Oregon Health Authority and juvenile justice. 

Reports and Recommendations





Learn More

Local Systems of Care

Barrier resolution for local Systems of Care

System of Care Advisory Council

2022-2025 Strategic Plan:

System of Care Data Dashboard

SOCAC Racial Equity Tool

Resources

NAMI Multnomah Report

Minor Rights and Access to Care (English) (Spanish). This guide tells you:

  • The types of services minors can get on their own, and
  • How their health information may be shared.

Links

  
Alcohol Drug and Policy Commission
Evolution of the System of Care Approach
OHSU’s Data Evaluation and Technical Assistance Team
Oregon Alliance to Prevent Suicide
Oregon Center for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs
Oregon Children and Family Behavioral Health
Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care
Oregon Department of Education Mental Health and Wellbeing
Oregon Department of Human Services Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities
Oregon Department of Human Services, Child Welfare
Oregon Family Support Network
Oregon Youth Authority
Oregon Youth Resource Map
Youth ERA
Youth Experiencing Homelessness Page
Public Health Youth Suicide Prevention

Get Involved

Are you a young person, family member, caregiver or provider with experience in the System of Care? We need your voice. There are lots of ways to get involved.

Keep Informed

Sign up to receive email updates about OHA's System of Care

Questions?

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