Front-line mental health worker Krissy Swanger participates in the Eugene breakout session

A big thank you to all that braved the threat of snow last week to be part of our forum on mental health and addictions issues in transformation.  We had a great turnout of consumers, front-line workers, family members, students, and elected officials who shared stories of success and failure in our current system as well as ways we can make improvements on the system to make it truly work for everyone.   It was amazing to see how much energy and passion people brought to this critical issue and the hunger out there for real and substantial change.  You can see a slideshow of pictures from our forum here.

The stories shared by our panelists as well as the information gathered at our small group breakout sessions was submitted to the Oregon Health Policy Board for their consideration as they finished their final proposal on the implementation of Community Care Organizations (CCOs). Yesterday the Oregon Health Policy Board approved its final propsal for the creation of CCOs for consideration by the legisature next month.  You can view the public comment submitted from our forum here.  You can view the final CCO proposal here.

As the legislature begins to consider the Oregon Health Policy Board proposal you can continue to use our web form to share your experience with the addictions and mental health system.  We will continue to use your stories to educate decision makers as the transformation process moves forward.

However, as was stated Tuesday night, our fight for an addictions and mental health system that really works for workers, consumers, and advocates continues.  We will need to continue to fight for better access, better staffing ratios, and more rights for front-line workers in order to truly have quality services for all.  Our next step will be to watch the process as it unfolds at the legislature in February and at Oregon Health Policy Board meetings throughout the year.  If you would like to stay involved please fill out this form and share your story.

In response to the ongoing efforts to transform Oregon’s health care system Empower Oregon will be hosting a forum on January 17th bringing together key decision makers with mental health and addictions consumers, advocates, and front-line workers about the importance of quality addictions and mental health services.  Empower Oregon with SEIU 503 has highlighted three priorities for Oregon’s health care transformation:

Thanks to the many people that supported CODA workers a few weeks ago when you heard from Rebecca. The remaining goal in negotiations for these addictions therapists is to decrease the rate of turnover at CODA. Currently, over a third of the staff has worked there a year or less. A high turnover rate is not conducive to supporting the clients. The clients need and expect a consistent relationship with CODA employees in order to reach their goals of a healthier lifestyle.

Tell CODA that you respect stability in a therapeutic work force, send an email today to Tim Hartnett, Executive Director of CODA.

In order to reduce turnover and provide the high quality care their clients deserve, workers are pushing to maintain health benefits and scheduled wage increases that reflect their level of experience.  Unfortunately, management is proposing a wage freeze and an increase in the employee’s monthly health insurance premiums.  Resulting in a pay cut for all workers.  CODA is already behind market wages and to make ends meet they may have to look elsewhere for work.

Tell CODA that you respect stability in a therapeutic work force.

A message from the Bargaining Team:

The Union bargaining team at Comprehensive Options for Drug Addiction has been working hard since last spring to negotiate a fair contract for our Union members.  CODA is proposing a pay cut, by freezing wages and forcing employees to pay more out of pocket for their monthly Health Insurance premiums.  We have asked CODA to consider a concept proposal that ties wage increases to future CODA revenue increases.  CODA did not respond positively to this proposal.  On Dec. 15 we will be at the bargaining table again to try to reach an agreement that is fair for our members.

Tell CODA that you respect stability in a therapeutic work force.

Please, join us on December 16th from 11:30AM-1:30PM for an informational picket at CODA’s Portland Recovery Center, 1027 E. Burnside, 97214.  We hope to reach a tentative agreement on the 15th, and then we will be having a celebration instead of the picket.

CODA Union Bargaining Team,

Angeles Viera, CODA Portland Recovery Center

Rebecca Woodward, CODA Gresham Recovery Center (Women)

Saige Gracie, CODA Portland Recovery Center

Harry Hesselgesser, CODA Hillsboro Recovery Center (Drug Court)

Thanks for your support!

Empower Activists Attend Portland OHPB Community Meeting

Last month the Oregon Health Authority finished a series of community meetings across the state to hear from community members about what they would like to see in the transformation of the Oregon Health Plan.  Workers, consumers, and family members from all different walks of life came to these meetings and spoke out with a clear message. Wellness based quality health care starts with quality mental health and addictions services that follow three principles:

1. Puts patients and families first: Not the needs of insurance companies.
2. Empowers consumers to make good choices for themselves.
3. Creates quality health care jobs filled by a well-trained workforce with quality standards for care, compensation, and staffing levels.

Share your story : What is your personal experience with the Addictions and/or MH treatment system and how can we make it more accessible and efficient.

The work done by advocates for quality mental health and addictions services at these meetings has started to have a real impact on the conversation about what’s important in health care transformation.  However, our fight continues as we get closer to real decisions being made about the shape of health care transformation in Oregon.  What is most important now is for people like you to continue to speak out for quality mental health and addictions services.

Empower Oregon created this form to collect stories from people like you about why health care transformation is important to you.  These stories will be used to educate key decision makers on the importance of quality mental health and addictions services.  Please take a minute today to share how your personal experience shines a light on what needs to be fixed with the mental health or addictions treatment system to make services more efficient and accessible.

Please take a minute to share your story today.

2011 Rosemont Bargaining Team

A little while ago, Heather and her colleagues at Rosemont School for Girls asked for your help in their fight for quality mental health services. Many of you responded by signing the petition and contacting the CEO of Rosemont’s parent organization Morrison Family Services.

Workers at Rosemont spoke out for quality care by advocating for better staffing ratios, training and wages to retain and develop skilled staff.  Since so many of you supported their efforts by signing a petition and sending emails to their CEO, here’s an exciting update on the result of our combined efforts.

Organized Rosemont workers focused on winning tangible improvements in order to make a difference in the quality of the treatment environment for both clients and staff. They have won new policies at Rosemont which contain improved standards regarding training and staffing. The new standards affect the required number of Crisis Preventative Intervention (CPI) trained and capable staff which must be on shift at any given time.

Improved staffing ratios make a real difference for clients and workers, because the improved staffing patterns provide for a better balance of capable and experienced staff working across all shifts. This, in turn, makes for a more stable treatment environment, a safer physical environment for both clients and staff, and a more therapeutic treatment unit where dramatic incidents are less likely to disrupt residents who are motivated to utilize the program.

Annotte Golden, a worker at Rosemont, explains how this is helping her deliver quality mental health services:

“Night Staff has been increased to four staff every night and at least 3 [of them are] CPI capable staff every night. I am truly happy about the change in staffing ratios!”

-Antoinette Golden

Victories like this are what is possible when people join together to fight for quality mental health and addictions services. If quality mental health and addictions services matter to you, take a minute today and share your story.