Clatsop County expands deflection program to broaden referral pathways and boost treatment engagement

Clatsop County officials on work-session night outlined changes to the South Sub-County Deflection Program aimed at widening who can enter treatment without criminal prosecution and improving follow-up supports.

The program, presented by Kristen Hanthorn, Lieutenant with Community Corrections for the Clatsop County Sheriff's Office, began in April with a single pathway that required a person to be found in possession of a controlled substance. "We initially started our program with just one pathway, which was, by legislation, you had to be in possession of a controlled substance and contacted by law enforcement," Hanthorn said. County staff told the board that pathway limited referrals because officers increasingly do not encounter visible evidence of drug use in public.

Why it matters: The expansion aims to let more people access treatment and support services without entering the criminal court process, reducing barriers that county officials say have limited engagement.

County presenters said they have added a second referral pathway to allow outreach and referrals from non-law-enforcement contacts and to remove some earlier exclusion criteria. "As of February, we removed those barriers to allow people that have low-level crimes associated with their contact, like a disorderly conduct or some minor theft with no victim that needed restitution, we would offer those people deflection," Hanthorn said. The new pathway also permits referrals from social-service agencies, veterans services and first responders.

Program design and supports: Deflection participants work with community behavioral-health provider CBH (referred to in presentation as Hudson Bureau Healthcare/CBH). The county described a 90-day engagement goal focused on "quality of life improvements" rather than strict abstinence: participants must show consistent engagement with treatment and supports, not necessarily complete abstinence. "Our deflection goal is to get people connected to treatment and supports and not solely focus on the abstinence from all substances," Hanthorn said.

County staff reported operational supports added since launch: training for roughly 60 law-enforcement officers on deflection and motivational interviewing; a grant-purchased field testing device to identify substances (fentanyl, meth, cocaine) more quickly; and provision of contingency-management incentives (small, immediate payments via Cash App) and cell phones to improve appointment adherence.

Early outcomes and enrollment: Presenters said the program initially enrolled six participants after its September start and saw enrollment increase after eligibility was broadened. "Since we changed it this month in February, we've done almost double that," presenters said; staff reported 12 people actively engaged at the time of the meeting, with three participants classified as having failed to engage. The presentation also described instances where participants connected to inpatient treatment or detox and where graduates secured housing and employment.

Partners and next steps: The county's deflection team includes representatives from the sheriff's office, the district attorney's office, courts, defense counsel, CBH, and peer specialists. Presenters said they are working to expand uptake by local law enforcement and to create referral pathways from hospitals, fire departments and community-service agencies. They also said they will continue training, track outcomes, and refine data collection.

What officials said: County Manager Tiffany Deals, who introduced the item, said the program's flexibility and partnerships are key to engaging people who need services but may not be arrested. Hanthorn and the program's coordinator, Christina Schultz, briefed the board on emerging best practices and statewide discussions about deflection.

Looking ahead: Presenters said they expect to continue biweekly workgroup meetings, further outreach to law-enforcement agencies and hospitals, and iterative changes to referral protocols as enrollment and data grow. The presenters emphasized that the program remains small but that each successful engagement is a priority for county staff and partner agencies.

Ending note: Commissioners asked about hospital referrals, veterans services and hotspot responses; staff said those pathways are developing and that coordination with peer services and CBH has improved warm handoffs for people in crisis.