Parents, clinicians and advocates urge Multnomah County to preserve school‑based mental health and STI clinic services

A string of public commenters at Thursday’s Multnomah County Board meeting urged commissioners to preserve funding for school‑based mental health clinicians and to avoid cuts to the county STI clinic, which a local HIV planner said is a critical element of prevention and continuity of care.

Erica Larson, a clinician who identified herself as working for the Multnomah County School‑Based Mental Health Program, described services for children in bilingual elementary schools and urged commissioners to "prioritize the Multnomah County School‑Based Mental Health Program." Larson described providing culturally specific services for young students and said clinicians create "a safe place for them to talk and express feelings they might not be otherwise able to."

"Elimination of this program will cause irreparable damage to so many within our community," Larson said.

Dr. Austin Burris, also representing the school‑based mental health team, told the board that program data do not capture the full scope of clinicians’ work. "It's not just a number. It's not just a data point. It's real lives. It's children," he said, describing efforts to increase program sustainability through enhanced billing and an electronic health record transition.

Amy Griffin, a Multnomah County direct clinical services employee and District 2 resident, told the board she had tried community mental health providers for her child and encountered long intake waits. She said the school‑based program is a "vital lifeline, especially for Black, Brown, and TGIQ+ youth and families," and warned that cuts would endanger children who lack access to private care.

Scott Moore, co‑chair of the Portland Ryan White HIV Services Planning Council, urged commissioners not to dismantle services at the county STI clinic. He said the clinic bills for nearly half its budget through reimbursements and warned that dispersing services or reducing funding would disrupt continuity of care for people living with and at risk of HIV, worsen health disparities and increase long‑term costs to the health system.

Public testimony was followed by items on the board agenda. Commissioners acknowledged the testimony; some asked staff to consider coordination and access gaps among county programs. No board action on health program funding was taken at the meeting; the speakers were urging the board as it develops budget and policy choices.

Speakers quoted in this article are listed below and reflect the public testimony given at the meeting.