Multnomah County is on the hunt for expert opinions to help set up its new behavioral health drop-off center, slated to open doors come September. With a recent Request for Information (RFI), the county extends an invitation to organizations versed in Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and co-occurring mental health conditions, aiming to fine-tune the facility's services, according to Multnomah County.
The drop-off center, a component of House Bill 4002 passed by the Oregon State Legislature, will start functioning as an entry point for voluntary deflection programs from Sept. 1, 2024. As directed by this legislature, the center is primed to offer individuals a suite of services referred by law enforcement agencies, including pathways to treatment and recovery support, housing, case management, and various other services.
"We are taking many steps – including this RFI – to shape the services offered at our behavioral health drop-off center and successfully increase a continuum of resources for this community,” said Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, as per Multnomah County. Emphasizing the importance of this initiative, she added, “With this milestone, we actively bring partners into this work and move one step closer to having deflection in place by Sept 1."
Key services proposed for the center cover 24/7 specialized support, sobering service beds, and Medication-assisted treatment specifically for opioid use disorder. The center will also be equipped to provide thorough screening, care assessment, and coordination services, combined with access to necessities and help with transportation. Interested organizations are called upon by Multnomah County to pitch in on discussions related to service coordination, ideal staffing models, and program implementation protocols. Critical factors to be considered include drop-off protocols and screening, plus identifying what other pimped-out services could be potentially integrated.
