County outlines Pathway Center expansion and plan for permanent 24/7 sobering and crisis stabilization center

Multnomah County presented updates on an expanding temporary Pathway Center and planning for a permanent 24/7 sobering and crisis stabilization center that county leaders say will divert people from jails and emergency departments and provide medical screening, peer support, and withdrawal-management services.

The county said it is expanding the Pathway Center (a temporary site) to operate 24/7 and add 13 sobering recliner beds in a Phase 2 opening scheduled for March; the expanded temporary site will provide medical screening, peer support, comfort medication protocols developed with Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), transportation and care coordination. Anthony Jordan, senior manager of addictions and prevention services, said the Pathway Center launched field-based deflection services on Sept. 1 and opened the center in October to centralize deflection referrals and medical screening.

For the permanent facility, Heather Mirasol, Behavioral Health Division Director, and Greg Hocker from the Department of County Assets said the county has executed a purchase-and-sale agreement for property at 1901–1907 Southeast Grand Avenue and is in a 60-day due diligence period that concludes April 3.…