A8
Wallowa County Chieftain
LOCAL
Wednesday, June 16, 2021
Essentially no change to Wallowa
County’s mental health authority
Elimination of a middleman the
main diff erence between county
and state running mental health
By RONALD BOND
Wallowa County Chieftain
ENTERPRISE — In
May, the Wallowa County
commissioners voted to
hand over the county’s men-
tal health authority to the
state level at the Oregon
Health Authority.
What does that really
mean for Wallowa County?
Very little, according to
Wallowa Valley Center for
Wellness Executive Direc-
tor Chantay Jett, saying it
essentially just eliminates a
middleman.
“That’s just it. Nothing
really changes. Honestly,
there is really no changes,”
she said. “It’s positive. It
takes out the county, who
has had a big administrative
burden (on) them.
“The service delivery
doesn’t change. The rela-
tionship with Oregon Health
Authority doesn’t change.
And how we are held to
compliance standards does
not change.”
In fact, Jett said what
the county’s basic service
in being a mental health
authority was to be a “hold-
ing tank” for funding to
be sure the center was in
compliance.
Even the communication
stream with the state will
not change.
“We are still reviewed in
the same way. It was a pass-
through of the funds having
the counties be involved and
having the county serve as
the mental health authority,”
she explained. “Now it just
takes out that middle per-
son, and we are just dealing
now directly with the state.”
Jett explained in an email
what happened when a
county transfers control to
the state.
“A county government
that chooses not to oper-
ate or contract for a com-
munity mental health pro-
gram (CMHP) is not a local
mental health authority
(LMHA). The term LMHA
becomes moot, and OHA
takes responsibility for
direct oversight of the Com-
munity Mental Health Pro-
gram,” Jett wrote. “In this
case, OHA is contracting
directly with Wallowa Val-
ley Center for Wellness, a
private nonprofi t to continue
functioning as the local
Community Mental Health
Program.”
She cited Douglas,
Klamath and Curry counties
as having made this move in
the past decade, with posi-
tive results.
“I haven’t spoken with
them directly, (but) we sit
in a lot of state meetings
together,” Jett said, refer-
encing the other counties.
“I haven’t heard any nega-
tive comments from them
regarding contracting from
OHA. This has come up in
conversion, just not direct
conversation. It seems to
work fi ne.”
The center assists about
900 people in Wallowa
County on an annual basis,
Jett said.
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WHAT’S HAPPENING
THURSDAY, JUNE 17
MOMMY AND ME: MOVE
& EXPLORE: 9-10 a.m. Jose-
phy Center for Arts and Culture.
Parent participation play ses-
sions — move and explore with
music, dance, song, stretching
and story. Wear comfy clothes
and bring a mat and water bot-
tle. Suggested donation: $5 per
family.
SATURDAY, JUNE 19
WALLOWA COUNTY FARM-
ERS MARKET: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Main Street in Joseph near
Stein’s Distillery. Crafts, produce,
homemade goods and some
live music will be on tap for visi-
tors. www.wallowacountyfarm-
ersmarket.com, 541-426-0795
or search for “Wallowa County
Farmers’ Market” on Facebook.
TUESDAY, JUNE 22
BREAST CANCER SUP-
PORT GROUP: 6 p.m. Wallowa
Memorial Hospital conference
room. Support, share resources,
celebrate milestones and lis-
ten to speakers talk about top-
ics relating to mastectomies
and breast cancer. Everyone
is welcome. Virtual link avail-
able. Preregistration required.
541-426-7919.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23 —
THURSDAY, JUNE 24
IN A LANDSCAPE: CLAS-
SICAL MUSIC IN THE WILD:
6-9 p.m. Wallowa Lake State
Park. Outdoor concert featur-
MASON FERRE
P onsore d b y
Sp
OF
THE
ph as
huge week for Jose
Mason Ferre had a times in seven days. He
the Eagles won four ints per game in the four
scored 21.25 po ’s leading scorer three
wins, was the team hted his performance
times, and highlig t in the Eagles’ 75-44
or
with a 28-point eff me win over Enterprise.
ho
roudly
ing a 9-foot Steinway grand
piano on a fl atbed trailer. Music
is transmitted to concert-goers
via wireless headphones. Bring
your own lawn chairs. Tick-
ets are required due to limited
capacity. tickets@inalandscape.
org
THURSDAY, JUNE 24
THE NEZ PERCE STORY —
A WEEKLY DISCUSSION: 1 p.m.
The Josephy Center. A summer-
long introduction to the wal-
wama band of the Nez Perce
Indians who made the county
home for millennia before set-
tler arrival: How did they live?
When and why were they
forced out? Who were Old and
Young Chief Joseph? Where are
the Nez Perce now? The discus-
sions will take place on the sec-
ond fl oor of the Josephy Cen-
ter building, right next to the
permanent Nez Perce display.
No fees, but donations will be
appreciated. For questions, call
Rich at 541-432-0505.
FRIDAY, JUNE 25
WOODLANDS & WATER-
SHED FESTIVAL: 10 a.m. to
4 p.m. Wallowa County Fair-
grounds. Celebrate, play, listen
and learn about what makes
our little corner of Oregon a
wonderful place to live. Spon-
sored by Wallowa Resources
and Maxville Heritage Interpre-
tive Center this family-oriented
event provides opportunities
for all ages to learn about our
county through fun and engag-
ing hands-on activities.
SATURDAY, JUNE 26
MOUNTAIN HIGH BRONCS
& BULLS: 3-7:30 p.m. Wallowa
County Fairgrounds. Big names,
big close up experience and
big fun. Bull riders combined
with ranch saddle broncs, plus
the wild horse race and mutton
busting for the little ones. Free
admission.
ONGOING
A.A. online meetings: ore-
gonaadistrict29.org.
Building Healthy Families:
541-426-9411.
Community Connection:
541-426-3840.
Enterprise Public Library:
541-426-3906.
Fishtrap: 541-426-3623.
Hurricane Creek Grange:
541-605-8233.
Josephy Center for Arts &
Culture: 541-432-0505.
Wallowa Public Library:
541-886-4265.
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