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About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 8, 2013)
3 street roots Nov. 8, 2013 Oregon prepares for $20 million mental health roll-out BY JASMINE ROCKOW House Bill 3601. The bill imposed a new tax on cigarettes, adding another $20 million to regon’s mental health care systems OHA’s mental health budget for the 2013- gained attention and new money 2015 biennium. from the 2013 legislative sessions - “We still have a long way to go,” says and more is on the way. While this is good Oregon State Rep. Peter Buckley news for Portlanders, especially those (D-Ashland). “I think it’s a good step, but I experiencing homelessness, mental health think $20 million gets us about a third of problems or addiction, it’s not enough to the way of where we need to be, with a meet the region’s growing need. comprehensive statewide system.” An estimated one-quarter of the nation’s The budget money, plus $10 million of homeless population lives with some kind of the cigarette tax money, is available now. severe mental illness, according to The OHA spent the last month posting requests National Coalition for the Homeless. for proposals to their website. The money And it’s costing them their lives. The has been divvied up by different types of National Association of State Mental Health services — supported housing, crisis Program Directors has found that on services, jail diversion, among others — and average, people with severe mental illness any organization that provides those types die 25 years earlier than the general of services in the community can apply for a population. piece of the funds. These facts have policy makers and “What we are aware of is that there are a health care providers searching for lot of systems that are doing a lot of great solutions. Both groups agree that tackling work,” says Pam Martin, Addictions and such a complex problem requires three Mental Health Director at OHA. “Rather things: money, effective policies and than being overly prescriptive about where efficient execution. this money needs to go, we’re putting out Many mental health care workers are requests for proposals and saying to cautiously optimistic. Health care reforms community mental health providers: What ushered in the coordinated care do you need and where are your gaps? How organizations and their integrated model of would you use these funds to complete your care. The Affordable Care Act allowed for program?” the expansion of Medicaid, extending health The remaining half of the cigarette tax care coverage to Oregon’s poorest citizens. money, another $10 million, has been set And 2013 brings an influx of funds to mental aside for new development in supported health care after years of cuts. But even housing. The state legislature will with the boost in funding, some say that it’s decide what that development nowhere near enough. looks like in the regular February “It will be drunk up very quickly,” says session next year. National Jason Renaud of the Mental Health Alliance on Mental Illness, or Association of Portland. “It’s about one- NAMI, plans to re-submit their tenth of what’s needed.” In July the state’s legislative budget allocated $65.1 million to the Oregon Health STAFF WRITER O "We s till have a long way to go. I think it's a good step, hut I th in k $ 2 0 m illio n gets ns about a th ird of the way of where we need to be, w ith a comprehensive statewide system." — STATE REP. PETER BUCKLEY (D-ASHLAND) proposal that went unnoticed in this year’s legislative session, HB 3332. NAMI’s proposal would install a specialized housing fund. Each region in the state could then apply for funding on projects that meet the specific needs of that population. The state would fund 20 percent of the project’s total cost, and developers would obtain the remaining balance through conventional sources. Supported housing is affordable housing and the services that help people stay in it, all under one roof. Each housing project will vary according to the specific population it serves, with services ranging from peer- delivered services, addiction support groups, job training or child care. In the past, alcohol and drug treatment has been kept separate from mental health services. But the reality is that many people have co-occurring addiction and mental health issues that also co-occur with chronic health issues like diabetes, lung disease, HIV, Hepatitis C, etc. co m m u n ity m e n ta l h e a lth p ro v id ers and A u th o rity for in v e stm e n ts in m e n ta l h e a lth Martin hopes they will have access to funds by January. The state legislature meets in February, with NAMI’s supportive housing proposal on the table. services. The Oregon Health Authority, or OHA, is a government agency that oversees state health care programs including Medicaid. When legislators reconvened for September’s short session, they passed Attention poets! Street Roots is proud to announce the upcoming release of "I Am Not A Poet," an anthology of selected poems from our first fifteen years of publication. All proceeds from the anthology go to support our mission to create income opportunities for people experiencing homelessness and poverty. As per our standard publication agreement, all poems previously published in the paper are eligible for inclusion in the anthology. If your poetry has been published in the paper, but you wish not to have it appear in the anthology, please notify Cole Merkel, 503-228- 5657, BY NOV. 15. The names of poets whose work has been selected for publication will be available at the Street Roots office. I Oregon’s changing health care system is finally starting to catch up with what mental health advocates have been saying for years: mental illness, addiction, physical health and homelessness are irrevocably entwined. Supported housing and peer-delivered services offer the most hope for people dealing with these issues. Jamie Montoya says supportive housing helped her escape homelessness and lead a healthier, more fulfilling life. Two years ago, she was living in a homeless shelter and wrestling with severe symptoms of bipolar disorder. She obtained transitional housing through Cascadia Behavioral Health. “That opportunity made it so that I haven’t had to go back to a hospital,” says Montoya. “My mood has been stable. I’m not worried if I am going to get hurt out on the street. Having a stable home not only helps with my symptom management, but also with my self-esteem, which led to me starting to get off disability and getting a job” Today, she works as a Peer Wellness Specialist with Cascadia Behavioral Health. The position is an important part of the recovery care model. Cascadia’s Senior Director of Peer and Wellness Services, Meghan Caughey has been a leader in bringing peer-delivered services to Oregon. “For some people, having a Peer Wellness Specialist means they are much more comfortable engaging with what can be a pretty intimidating mental health system,” says Caughey. ‘‘Someone is coming across from their own depth of experience, and they have some real tangible empathy, rather than any kind of hierarchy there.” The next few months will reveal more specifics about the direction Oregon’s mental health care is going. In December, OHA will begin awarding contracts to A benefit to support Street Roots Kristina Wright | Real Estate Agent Bellmoore Realty 503/479.5764 Kristina@PortlandHome6alxom * Kevn Kinney 'lik e ” on Facebook @ Portland Home Gal • a knavtedgeabte marketer • with a desgieTs eye • a professional photographer Ashleish Flynn and Chris Funk Artis the Spoonman • arxi a response aged All wrapped into one SM ALTO?* T h e n e w C hinook Book is here! Get yours today and j help the sustainable | economy grow Featuring poetry from our Art Partner, Street Roots . ...__...... ...... . . . / Purchase your tickets today at www.albertarosetheatre.com
