Columbia Behavioral Health updates: Baker Building housing, new Seaside clinic and school-based services
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Summary
Columbia Behavioral Health told the HSAC it is on track to open 32 units of permanent supportive housing in Astoria, is adding clinic space in Seaside for children, expanding school-based substance-use services, and is reallocating staff amid funding shortfalls.
Columbia Behavioral Health (CBH) representatives updated the Human Services Advisory Council on local service expansions and operational changes, including a housing project and clinic additions. Shaira, CBH representative, said the Baker Building in Astoria—"our 32 units of permanent support housing in Astoria"—is scheduled to open in December and is on track.
CBH also plans a new Seaside clinic space aimed at separating youth outpatient services from adult urgent-access clients. Shaira said the new Seaside site "opens next week, and it's specifically for kids who are receiving, outpatient services so that we can try to kind of limit the population mix of adults who are experiencing an urgent clinical need and kids who are coming in for care." She said CBH already operates rapid-access clinics in Astoria and Seaside that offer same-day assessments. "CBH has 2 rapid access clinics in the community, so we offer same day assessments for anybody who wants to walk into our clinic in Seaside or Astoria, 8 to 5, Monday through Friday," she said.
On school-based services, Shaira said CBH is working with Astoria School District and will meet with Seaside and Nahcotta (note: meeting said 'Napa' but context suggests another district) to operationalize substance-use treatment in schools. She described CBH's plan to offer same-day access, outpatient services up to 45 days through rapid-access clinics, and transfer pathways to regular outpatient clinicians.
CBH also told the council it is adjusting staffing in response to statewide funding pressures. "We are not in any kind of place of layoffs or anything like that, but I am making some structural staffing decisions, and having to cut positions where I can and moving people into critical, service positions where I can," Shaira said, describing constrained funding and shifting resources toward direct service.
CBH said it does not currently report wait lists for adults or children and has added clinicians to meet anticipated demand. "We don't have a waiting list. No," Shaira said when asked about wait times; she added CBH had added two adult outpatient clinicians and has capacity in wraparound and intensive in-home programs for children.
The council asked for addresses and outreach details for the new Seaside clinic; CBH agreed to provide those details to staff.
Why this matters: the expansions aim to increase local capacity for behavioral health and to reduce barriers for children and families, while staffing and funding changes reflect broader state-level financial constraints.
