Every Oregonian should have access to healthcare, including behavioral health services and supports – no matter where they live or what they can afford. Governor Kotek is mission-focused on building a behavioral health continuum of care that will meet people where they are and provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services to meet their mental health and addiction needs.
During her first 60 days, Governor Kotek directed the Oregon Health Authority to launch a statewide assessment of the state’s need for mental health, substance use and recovery services, treatments and supports and a multiyear plan to meet that need. She has appointed a new behavioral health director at the Oregon Health Authority and is creating accountability and oversight for the over $1 billion in investments made by the 2021 legislature when she was Speaker of the House.
The requested investments, coupled with Governor Kotek’s early direction to state agencies, are focused on three areas of crisis:
- Too many Oregonians cycle between the streets, jail and the Oregon State Hospital or Emergency Rooms. Governor Kotek’s early actions on housing and homelessness, along with budget proposals to focus on this population will begin to address this crisis.
- Oregon must sharpen its focus on deaths due to opioid overdose. Governor Kotek proposed legislation and funding to ensure access to life-saving overdose reversal medications, and access to prevention, treatment, recovery and harm reduction services.
- Oregonians are turned away from treatment and services every day because there is not enough workforce to meet the need. Governor Kotek requested funding to double the current ongoing investment to grow and diversify the behavioral health workforce. She will also work to streamline and create efficiencies in the licensing and certification processes.