Portland and state leaders partner together to expand outreach program in Portland
By KATU News
PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — Gov. Tina Kotek, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, and Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson announced Wednesday they are partnering with theMental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon (MHAAO) and law enforcement to expand outreach efforts in Portland.
Officials say the program is being expanded at the request of the Unified Command of the tri-government fentanyl emergency.
In December, the Portland Police Bureau's bike squad partnered with outreach workers at the Mental Health Addiction and Association of Oregon to canvass city streets for people publicly using drugs and offer them access to services like shelter and drug treatment.
“Cops are phenomenal at doing the cop role. Our jobs as a peer are phenomenal in doing the peer role,” said John Karp-Evans, MHAAO’s senior program manager.
When the bike squad encounters someone using drugs in public, they offer them the opportunity to meet with a trained outreach worker.
If the person agrees, an outreach team is deployed to their location within 10 minutes.
If the person wants to get into treatment, the outreach workers attempt to get them help that same day.
If it's not available, they put them on a waitlist and stay in touch.
Since Dec. 13 to April 2, 172 people have been offered services. More than 150 accepted help to getting into a shelter, addiction treatment, or detox services.
49% received access to same-day services.
10% received access to same-day detox or treatment.
According to the Health Justice Recovery Alliance, access to same-day treatment in Oregon remains scarce, so 10% receiving it is significant.
Karp-Evans says the drug problem is something that can't be solved overnight, or even in 90 days.
He's glad this program was given the greenlight to continue throughout the next year.
“This expansion allows us to have a dedicated space to really spearhead this into a program and continue to develop and better serve our community,” he said.
The city, Multnomah County and state are paying for the first year of the project, at a cost of approximately $683,000.
The goal is for the team to rent out space at the Mercy Corps building downtown. A representative at Mercy Corps says a deal is in the works, and they expect the team to move in within the next couple of months.
Wheeler says this collaboration is helping to advance this program.
“This program embodies the kind of collaboration and urgency the fentanyl emergency was intended to promote,” said Wheeler. “The partnership between PPB’s Bike Squad and MHAAO has helped build relationships with people where they are, connect them with appropriate resources, and literally save lives. I am so pleased to help expand this pilot and support this critical work going forward.”
The expanded program will include the following:
Four MHAAO peer support specialist-outreach team members;
One program data analyst/project coordinator;
A vehicle to support outreach efforts; and
A coordination facility using leased space from Mercy Corps.