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County deflection center provides immediate referrals; judges and advocates say longer‑term tracking and capacity remain limited
Summary
Multnomah County officials told councilors Sept. 9 that the county’s HB 4002 deflection center gives officers an immediate pathway to clinical screening and referrals, but year‑one access was largely limited to law‑enforcement referrals and longer‑term outcome tracking depends on provider verification and varies by service.
Multnomah County officials described the county’s deflection model on Sept. 9 as an on‑ramp for people encountered by police with small‑amount possession charges to receive an immediate clinical screening, peer support and a care plan. County staff and judges at the Community and Public Safety Committee discussed the program’s early results, how completion is measured and the limits of current follow‑up.
Natalie Amar, Multnomah County’s deflection coordinator, said the program was created under House Bill 4002 and is based at the county’s coordinated care pathway center. In year one, Amar said referrals into deflection were almost entirely from law enforcement; a leadership team with representatives from police, courts, the district attorney’s office and county leadership sets the program’s eligibility and…
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