On March 8th, Gov. JB Pritzker, state officials, and local partners announced the launch of a new Behavioral Health Workforce Education Center. The center is designed to help increase Illinois’s capacity to recruit, educate, and retain behavioral health professionals. “We are laying out a plan to build the best behavioral health system in … Read more
Tacoma officials plan to implement a new behavioral health crisis response team to assist community members. Mayor Victoria Woodards announced the initiative at the State of the City address on Thursday. She said the team will be housed in the Tacoma Fire Department (TFD), and will provide healing resources for people experiencing a … Read more
This month’s edition includes coverage of health bills that have passed through their first chamber in the legislature, and information about Washington’s lifting of the mask mandate for healthcare settings next month. As always, thanks for reading! Shane Ersland State of Reform 1. Mask mandate ending next month Washington’s mask mandate for healthcare settings … Read more
After receiving a special delivery in February, the McAlister South Bay Regional Recovery Center in Chula Vista uncovered the county’s first naloxone vending machine. The naloxone vending machine, which went active on March 2nd, is part of San Diego County’s larger effort to reduce opioid overdoses and is a part of the city’s Harm Reduction … Read more
Rep. Rob Nosse (D-Portland) introduced a bill that would provide additional beds for Oregonians suffering from behavioral health problems on Monday. Members of the House Committee on Behavioral Health and Health Care discussed House Bill 2544 during a public hearing. The bill would appropriate money from the general fund to the Oregon Health … Read more
On March 2nd, the newly formed House Subcommittee on Behavioral Health held its first meeting. The subcommittee did not take up any bills but had presentations from Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) including the Community Mental Health Association of Michigan, Washtenaw County Community Mental Health, and West Michigan Community Mental Health. This … Read more
On March 9th, the Pima County Health Department launched the “Not Alone” initiative, which addresses the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on K-12 students and faculty members. The campaign aims to communicate to young people experiencing mental health challenges to know that they are not alone in their struggles. It is funded by … Read more
The deadline for Washington bills to pass out of their original chamber passed last week, so most bills that didn’t receive a floor vote will no longer be considered this session. Several health-related bills passed their house of origin, and are now awaiting votes in the opposite chamber. The following bills passed in … Read more
CareOregon will convert a Seaside hotel into housing for the region’s healthcare workforce and Oregon Health Plan (OHP) members with behavioral health needs. The health plan purchased Seaside’s Red Lion Inn & Suites, and will create 50-60 housing units there, with two-thirds of the units reserved for the healthcare workforce. Columbia Pacific CCO—which … Read more
A new multi-service crisis response center will provide behavioral health services for Washingtonians in north King County. Representatives from Kirkland, Bothell, Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, and Shoreline announced the site of the crisis response center during a press conference on Wednesday. It will be located at 11410 NE. 122nd Way in Kirkland’s Totem … Read more