In a significant push to enhance behavioral health care in Oregon, Governor Tina Kotek recently signed a series of bills aimed at addressing the state’s mental health workforce shortage and increasing treatment capacity.
One of the key figures at the signing event was Kate Gekeler, a La Grande resident who proudly graduated from Eastern Oregon University’s inaugural Clinical Mental Health Counseling program this spring.
After completing five years of demanding coursework and internships, Gekeler earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees debt-free, thanks to state-funded scholarships that are part of Oregon’s efforts to support careers in mental health.
“I wouldn’t be a behavioral health provider today without state tuition assistance, which is one piece of legislation being signed today,” she declared during her speech to a gathering of mental health professionals, elected officials, and individuals receiving behavioral health treatment at Fora Health in Portland.
Among the bills Kotek signed was House Bill 2024, which allocates $6 million to create more incentives for Oregonians to pursue careers in behavioral health, including scholarships, tuition assistance, loan repayments, and stipends.
The governor’s commitment to address the workforce shortage is evident in her establishment of the Behavioral Health Talent Council in May. Led by First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson, the council is focused on developing new strategies to remedy the shortage in the state’s behavioral health workforce.
In conjunction with these efforts, Kotek also signed House Bill 2059, providing an additional $65 million to increase the capacity for residential treatment facilities across Oregon.
This funding will support the statewide goal of adding 465 new treatment beds by the end of 2026, supplemented by another 200 beds over the coming two years.
Complementing this initiative is House Bill 2005, which expands the circumstances under which individuals with mental illness can be detained and committed for treatment by the Oregon Health Authority.
Moreover, Kotek’s signing of House Bill 3321 marks a critical investment of $1 million for the Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission to formulate and implement a substance abuse prevention plan for youth in Oregon.
“Our youth are facing unacceptable rates of substance abuse, and we need to focus on prevention,” Kotek stated during the signing event.
Statistics from the Oregon Health Authority reveal that 5.77% of Oregon youth aged 12 to 17 have a documented substance use disorder, surpassing the national average of 4.08%.
Shelly Turner, a certified peer support specialist at the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Aloha, expressed gratitude for the state’s renewed focus on reducing youth substance abuse.
Having experienced her own mental health challenges, including bipolar disorder and PTSD, Turner is particularly enthusiastic about House Bill 2005.
She believes this legislation provides essential pathways to therapy for individuals with serious mental illnesses who might otherwise find themselves in emergency rooms or jails.
“Knowing that we are lowering barriers for people and providing them with more treatment options rather than sending them to the justice system is very important,” Turner said.
Despite the challenges posed by recent federal funding cuts, Kotek remains steadfast in her mission to enhance health care access throughout the state.
In her remarks, she addressed concerns that the new work requirements for Medicaid might lead to more individuals losing their coverage, further complicating care accessibility.
“I am worried that we will see people not getting the care they need, which will impact providers’ ability to stay open as well,” she noted.
Kotek hailed the recent legislative achievements as monumental wins for behavioral health in Oregon, praising the bipartisan support behind the initiatives.
“The desire for access to care for our communities and loved ones has been voiced across party lines,” she explained, noting that Oregonians want solutions that are both effective and efficient.
Kotek emphasizes that while the new laws will certainly help, no single bill can resolve the state’s complex behavioral health issues.
“We have to do all these things together,” she insisted, highlighting the complementary nature of the bills and their collective potential to facilitate progress.
“This is a set of bills that will help us move forward, but the work isn’t done yet.”
image source from：corvallisadvocate
