Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Behavioral Health Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare reports new Uppertown clinic, 32‑unit Baker Building and language‑access steps
Summary
Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare Executive Director Shaira Murillo updated the county commissioners on facility openings, the Baker Building supportive‑housing project, a new strategic plan, efforts to hire in‑person Spanish translation and expanded youth services, and answered commissioner questions about federal funding and data collection.
Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare Executive Director Shaira Murillo gave the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners a semiannual update at a board work session, outlining a new combined Uppertown outpatient clinic, progress on a 32‑unit permanent supportive housing project called the Baker Building, a multi‑year strategic plan and language‑access improvements.
The presentation matters because CBH provides mental‑health, substance‑use and child‑and‑family services across the county; the Baker Building and language‑access work affect service capacity, access for Spanish speakers and coordination with county and regional funders.
Murillo said CBH consolidated adult outpatient and child‑and‑family services into a renovated Uppertown clinic on the east side of Astoria, with separate lobbies for adults and children and new conference space. She described the Baker Building project on Marine Drive as “on track to wrap up in December” and said the organization has laid the foundation and started operational planning, including posting job descriptions for housing‑support specialist positions.
Murillo summarized a new strategic‑planning process led by an outside consultant (Managing Results) that produced five priority areas and implementation plans with point people and deadlines. “We developed 5 different high level, priority kind of buckets for the organization that will be implemented over the next 3 to 5 years,” she said.
Language access was a major focus. Murillo said clinics now display Spanish‑language posters with QR codes that link to translated web content, and CBH is pursuing funding with Columbia Pacific CCO to hire an in‑person Spanish translator instead of relying on telephone or video vendor interpreters. She said CBH has an RFP in development and intends to partner with Consejo Hispano on implementation.
Murillo also described youth services: Child and Family Services are serving about 250 youth and families countywide, with 51 admissions and 50 discharges year to date. She said parenting classes have grown to include a six‑week parenting teens series, an eight‑week nurturing parenting course and a two‑day “connection camp” planned for June. Murillo said CBH is seeking funding to hire a full‑time certified alcohol‑and‑drug counselor (CADC) to provide school‑based substance‑use treatment and a peer specialist to support outreach.
On crisis care, Murillo said CBH’s mobile crisis/response team provides immediate stabilization and then transitions families to follow‑up services through child and family staff for several weeks.
Commissioners asked several operational questions. Commissioner Banks expressed concern about documenting internal diversity, equity and inclusion language in public materials and whether that could jeopardize federal funding; Murillo replied that Oregon leadership and the Oregon Health Authority continue to support DEI priorities and that CBH has not been told to change those practices. Murillo also said federal funds are a portion, but not the majority, of CBH revenue; when asked for a rough figure, she said “a bit like $780,000” in federal funding flows to the organization (some passed through the state). Commissioner Webb and others emphasized the county should note which new planning or policy requirements are state or federal mandates before adopting local “shall” language.
Commissioner Thompson asked whether CBH tracks foster‑care youth specifically. Murillo said foster status is not currently tracked in CBH’s slides but that staff would work with the Department of Human Services regional director Tim and county child‑welfare staff to obtain those data if the board wants them.
Murillo closed by thanking the commissioners for their support and said CBH will continue operational planning for Baker Building occupancy, pursue the translator RFP and coordinate with school and DHS partners on data and program alignment.
The board did not take a formal vote; commissioners provided direction for staff follow‑up on data requests and asked to be informed about hiring and funding developments.
