Empower Oregon

Spurred by Governor Kitzhaber’s vision for better, more coordinated and less costly health care, the legislature has created a new entity, the Coordinated Care Organizations, to administer the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) as community-based care.

This overhaul has enormous implications for all of us, especially those in long term care and mental health/addictions services. In the right hands, it has the potential to improve the quality and access of health are for over 600,000 Oregonians, but if elements of the insurance and medical industries get their way the Health Care Transformation could have the opposite impact.

Now is the time for us to weigh in on the right side of this issue. The Oregon Health Policy Board is holding hearings around the state to gather public input on OHP transformation in eight cities around Oregon. We are mobilizing to be sure our voices are heard.
Sign up to speak out at the hearing in your area:
http://seiu503.seiu.org/page/s/speak-out-for-mental-health-services

Locations for other meetings around the state are coming soon. Sign up now and you will be notified of the locations as soon as they are announced.

Roseburg: Monday, Sept 26, 6-8pm, Umpqua Community College, Campus Center Building, Dining Room, 140 Umpqua College Road.

Medford: Tuesday, Sept. 27, 6-8pm, Santo Community Center, 701 N Columbus Ave.

Pendleton: Monday, Oct. 3, 6-8 p.m., Pendleton Arts Center
214 N. Main Street
Pendleton, OR 97801

Florence: Wednesday, Oct. 5, 6-8 p.m.,The Florence Events Center
715 Quince Street
Florence, OR 97439

Bend: Thursday, Oct. 6, 6-8 p.m., Location TBD

Portland: Monday, Oct. 10, 6-8 p.m., University Place Hotel & Conference Center
310 Lincoln Street
Portland, OR 97201

Eugene: Wednesday, Oct. 12, 6-8 p.m.
Campbell Senior Community Center
155 High Street
Eugene, OR 97401

Astoria: Thursday, Oct. 13, 6-8 p.m., Location TBD

Sign up today! http://seiu503.seiu.org/page/s/speak-out-for-mental-health-services

At Rosemont we provide a therapeutic treatment environment for girls ages 13-17 who struggle with alcohol and/or drug addiction or behavioral issues. As Residential Skills Specialists, we provide consistent support and positive role modeling. We teach and encourage positive healthy relationships and basic life skills. We enjoy our work because we have a chance to reshape the lives of young women. We provide quality of care that most have not experienced in their life up to this point.


For the last 3 months, we have been in bargaining with Morrison for a new union contract. We have put forward proposals for better staff to client ratios (to improve safety and treatment), a cost of living increase (to hold on to skilled staff), and to stop the contracting out of food services (to maintain a more therapeutic environment). Our goal is to deliver the treatment that our girls deserve and need to be successful. 
 


Management is proposing a three-year wage freeze, contacting out nutrition services (to a vendor who will deliver prepared daily meals), and no improvements to a bare bones staffing schedule. 
 
We strongly believe management’s proposals will negatively affect the current challenging treatment environment by undermining staff longevity and add a more institutionalized environment to an already challenging treatment environment. 
 


We believe that we can improve the treatment environment by addressing the core issue that we are proposing.

Please take action today to show your support for Rosemont workers and the people they care for.
 


Thanks for your support!

Heather Gatter,
Residential Skills Specialist,
Rosemont School and Treatment Center for Girls.