Portland, Ore. (August 19, 2024) — Chair Jessica Vega Pederson today announced an updated timeline for Multnomah County’s deflection and sobering center, recently named the Coordinated Care Pathway Center. The center—originally slated to open Sept. 1, 2024—is now expected to open mid-to-late October. This will allow sufficient time to meet critical staffing levels and training standards for registered nurses and other staff at the Center and give more time for neighborhood and community engagement in the process.
Until the center opens its doors in October, the County will offer deflection through mobile outreach. The Health Department will deploy behavioral health providers and professional peer specialists to respond to law enforcement in the field. They will conduct referrals, arrange and connect the eligible person to services. The County is finalizing medical and procedural guidance to support law enforcement in determining when and how to refer someone for deflection.
“I’ve stated we will open the Coordinated Care Pathway Center as long as we are ready and can safely provide deflection services,” Chair Vega Pederson said. “After listening to subject-matter experts, neighbors and the community, we are going to take the additional time we need to open in a way that’s safest for the people we are trying to serve, for staff, and for our community.”
Unlawful possession of small amounts of controlled substances will become a misdemeanor penalty in Oregon again under House Bill 4002. People suspected of the misdemeanor penalty may choose the option of treatment instead of legal system involvement, as long as they don’t have a warrant or other criminal charges at the time of their law enforcement encounter.
Multnomah County has worked to develop a deflection program with direct input from a leadership team including Portland Police Chief Bob Day, Gresham Police Chief Travis Gullberg, Multnomah County Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, and other behavioral health and criminal justice experts.
As part of its deflection program, and along with plans for mobile resources, the County set an ambitious four-month schedule to open a deflection center — the first in the state. The County leased and is renovating a temporary site for the Coordinated Care Pathway Center in Southeast Portland and contracted with Tuerk House, Inc. — a Baltimore-based behavioral health provider with more than 50 years of experience.
The earliest the center’s certificate of occupancy will be granted is Aug. 28, 2024. As soon as the certificate is granted, Tuerk House will enter the facility and begin training and operational processes, including safety and security protocols. Tuerk House is currently hiring and onboarding staff and will train them in the center as soon as it’s ready for occupancy.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States has also faced a nursing shortage. And while Tuerk House is making progress hiring and training enough nurses to safely operate the center, more time is needed to recruit, onboard, and ensure compliance with licensing and credentialing requirements.
The updated timeline also allows for a more extensive community engagement process. In recent weeks, community members have asked for more time to provide input on the center. Chair Vega Pederson said she is committed to listening to neighbors and being responsive to their questions and concerns. Chair Vega Pederson’s staff, Commissioner Sharon Meieran, and Health Department staff will meet with members of the Good Neighbor Advisory Committee this week to continue discussing the framework for a Good Neighbor Agreement.
Over the coming weeks, the Chair will work with the Board of County Commissioners to finalize details on Multnomah County’s deflection plan. The next briefing on the County’s plan will take place Tuesday, Aug. 20, at 9:30 a.m. The briefing will be streamed online.
“I’d like to thank Health Department staff for working tirelessly to develop a deflection model in partnership with Tuerk House,” Health Department Director Rachael Banks said. “We are committed to providing deflection services safely, guided by behavioral healthcare best practices.”
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