We have reached the end of Season 3 on the Center Collaborative. Closing out this year, we’re bringing you a fascinating discussion about how professional peers are making a difference in first responder culture in Eastern Oregon. Peer Coordinator Sergeant Tyler Reddington, Retired Firefighter and Department Chaplain Kevin Coleman, and Dr. Lindsay Tice PsyD, Clinical Psychologist, discuss:  Fire and police often experience the same traumatic events, which is why it made sense to...

Holly Harris, LPC, Deschutes County Behavioral Health Director, and Sheriff L. Shane Nelson, Deschutes County Sheriff discuss: The benefits of having a 24 hour walk-in crisis stabilization center with therapists on staff. The stabilization center takes anyone unless there is a safety concern, and law enforcement can voluntarily drop people off in lieu of taking them to jail. The attitude is, “Coming from a place of yes.” The staff can de-escalate situations early for people by...

Dr. Andrew Orf, partner of Lithia Forensic and Consulting LCC and a certified forensic evaluator, discusses: Oregon began the certification for forensic evaluators in 2012 for fitness to proceed evaluations, and the courts now prefer Certified Forensic Evaluators for pre-adjudication services. The level of nuance between evaluations, as it is combining the clinical perspective with the legal perspective.  The many clinical components to consider, such as neurocognitive conditions,...

Sue Goldberg, Senior Director Decision Support for Umpqua Health Alliance Coordinated Care Organization and Cheryl McDonald, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Crisis Program Director for ADAPT Integrated Health Care discuss: IMPACTS Grant can uniquely meet people’s previously unmet needs. Grant covers 3 full-time outreach navigators, 1 part-time therapist housed in the E.D., 23-hour crisis resolution room, and a sobering center. Doesn’t require cohort members to engage in treatment to...

Kailee Evans, Oregon Department of Corrections Lead Correctional Counselor, Team Lead for the Peer Support Team, and CIT Coordinator for High Desert CIT, discusses:  History of the Memphis Model CIT curriculum development, and how she altered the format to fit within the corrections environment. How the Oregon Way was developed through a partnership with the Norway prison system, and involved staff from the prison in Oregon traveling to Norway to learn about the different cultural...

Lane County Jail Captain Clint Riley and Sergeant Chuck Hardy, discuss: Programming in jail started due to a desire to improve behavior of the Adults In Custody (AIC) through teaching new skill sets to address their behavioral health conditions, and thus providing a better environment for AIC’s and staff. Multi-disciplinary team meets weekly to discuss the needs of the AIC’s and staff. The team can be assembled as needed for interventions. Wellness and socialization program provides...

Dr. John Gotchall, Pulmonary and Critical Care Doctor, The Arc of Benton County Justice Advocate, and The Arc of Benton County Board Member; Diane Scottaline, Executive Director of The Arc of Benton County; and Cody Gotchall, Self-Advocate and The Arc of Benton County Board member, discuss:  How a person receives services through the community Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) services program, and how accommodations are accessed if a person doesn’t meet services criteria. ...

We are taking a break. We are at the end of a fantastic second season and in the midst of interviewing and editing, so we can bring season three to you in the new year. Thank you so much, listeners, guests, and supporters of our podcast. We could not do this without you. We look forward to bringing you fantastic interviews and nuanced conversations in 2023. Happy Holidays. For more information about the intersection between criminal justice and behavioral health in Oregon, please reach out...

Quinn Berry, MS, LPC, CACD-I, owner of Wallowa Health Services and Brandon Miller, CSWA, CADC-I, Wallowa Valley Center for Wellness Mental Health Therapist, Crisis Coordinator, and CIT Coordinator discuss: Establishing a CIT program in a small community presents unique challenges, but also better opportunities for connections and trusting relationships between community partners. Building those relationships outside of the crisis situations pays dividends when the next crisis occurs....

Alton Harvey, Jr., CADC-I, Mentor, Public Defense Services Commissioner, and man in recovery discusses: His story and what was helpful in his recovery; One man’s journey from addiction to inspiration. Alton’s personal journey and insights into the perspectives that helped him realize he was ready for recovery. The important role of mentors, and how they can show a person a new way to live based on lived experiences. Supporting clients during their own personal process, and applying the...

Captain Lee Eby, Clackamas County Jail Commander; Cierra Brown, owner of the Metro Law Group and Member of the CIDC Consortium; and Dr. Alexander Millkey PsyD, Northwest Forensic Institute, discuss Clackamas County’s Rapid Process for “in-house” fitness evaluations: This collaborative venture was born out of necessity after recognizing a 1,000% increase in individuals with SPMI being seen in the jail with a need for forensic evaluations to determine fitness to proceed. Previous processes...

OCBHJI wanted to turn the usual approach to privacy law training (i.e., HIPAA and CFR 42, part 2) on its head - we didn’t find the typical training centered on jargon and what you can’t say very helpful and figured neither did you. The result is this privacy laws radio play presented via our podcast. The radio play focuses on scenarios to demonstrate what you can say, not just what you can’t say. The Center collaborated with GOBHI employees while drafting the script and during production. We...

Michelle Brandsma, MS CADC III QMHP-C, Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc. Substance Use Disorder/Trauma Informed Care Manager discusses: Naloxone distribution program and how it saves lives by reversing narcotic overdoses (e.g., fentanyl or heroin) Reducing the stigma of addiction Medication Assisted Treatment as a medical intervention supporting the therapeutic intervention Using peers to enhance engagement, build hope, and meet people where they are; and The need for holistic...

Rod Harwood, Older Adult Coordinator for Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc., discusses: The growing aging population in the U.S. How Dementia impacts the senses and the brain Practical tips on how to provide accommodations when communicating with someone with Dementia The suicide rate among older adults What you can do to mitigate the impact of Dementia The need to maintain connection and meaning throughout the lifespan For more information about the intersection between criminal...

Terry Schroeder, OHA Operation and Policy Analyst for the Certification and Licensure Department, and Jeffrey Gray, PhD, licensed psychologist, discuss: An overview of the role of the mental health examiner as a friend of the court who provides clarification around clinical aspects of a civil commitment hearing;  Their role as a clarifier and a questioner – not just as an expert witness;  How this role is helpful to the judge;  Changes in the law regarding inability to care; and The role of...

Edward Jones, retired Judge and former Interim Executive Director of Oregon Public Defense Services (OPDS) discusses: What OPDS does; Long-term consequences of felonies and misdemeanors;  How misdemeanors can snowball into more serious consequences;  Asking ourselves: is this the right approach for this problem? Is it a criminal justice issue? A public health issue?; Just sending someone to jail doesn’t address the root issues of the behavior resulting in them to going to jail;  What we can...

Chris Bouneff, Executive Director of the Oregon Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), discusses:   What does NAMI do?;    Examples of the education NAMI provides free of charge;   NAMI’s current proposal for a bill in the 2022 short session focusing on addressing wage gaps for those working in the behavioral health field;   Why we need to focus on closing the wage gap and providing more services concurrently – at the same time – instead of consecutively;    ...

Dr. Ericia Leeper and Dr. Andrea Avila, Psychologists and Certified Forensic Evaluators, discuss: How Psychiatric Advanced Directives, or as they are known in Oregon, Declarations of Mental Health Treatment (DMHTs) can direct treatment when a person is within a crisis; DMHTs communicate in writing what treatment works or doesn't work for a consumer; Consumers can appoint a trusted representative to carry out decisions outlined in the DMHT while the person is in crisis, but it ends when the...

In this short episode, host, Chris Thomas, talks about the highlights of Season 1, as well as announces the beginning of Season 2.  Season 2 kicks off with Episode #20 Uplifting Voice and Choice with Psychiatric Advanced Directives with Dr. Ericia Leeper and Dr. Andrea Avila, Psychologists and Certified Forensic Evaluators. Welcome to the conversation starting Wednesday, January 12, 2021! www.ocbhji.org/podcast/

The Oregon Center on Behavioral Health and Justice Integration (OCBHJI) launched our podcast in March of 2021 and after 18 fantastic episodes, we’ve reached the end of season 1.  We’d like to thank our amazing guests for sharing their programs and insights with us, as well as our fantastic listeners for your support.  After a brief holiday break, we will return for Season 2 in the new year with more nuanced and thoughtful conversations about what works.  In the interim, please reach out to...

Kevin Fitts, Executive Director of the Oregon Mental Health Consumers Association discusses: What peer respite centers provide to consumers; Filling gaps by providing services that aren’t covered by Medicaid; Redefining workloads in the system to include more peers; The importance of peer voices within policy groups; Building community and long term supports to bolster hope and support wellness;and The need for damp and wet housing in Oregon For more information about the intersection...

Kevin Fitts, Executive Director of the Oregon Mental Health Consumers Association discusses: The focus of the Oregon Mental Health Consumers Association; The importance of the voices of people with lived experience at the table; The need for a tiered system to meet people where they are when they seek help before they are in crisis; Peer respite to help bolster hope and meaning, support wellness, and build community; and The recent passage of a bill at the legislature for four regional peer...

Judge Suzanne Chanti & Judge Nan Waller, Circuit Courts Judges and Co-chairs of the Chief Justice’s Behavioral Health Advisory Committee (BHAC) discuss: Stigma, lack of resources, and the impact on procedural justice; The role of a compassionate community in changing the system; Building in flexibility to meet people where they are with the acknowledgement of the barriers they face; Engaging treatment courts (speciality courts) participants in their vision of a meaningful life and...

Judge Suzanne Chanti & Judge Nan Waller, Circuit Courts Judges and Co-chairs of the Chief Justice’s Behavioral Health Advisory Committee (BHAC) discuss: The definition of procedural justice, which is also known as procedural fairness; The importance of slowing down and using plain language, listening, and involving people in the court process; How this folds into trauma informed processes; The importance of the judicial system being aware of and suppressing their personal biases and...