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Multnomah County reports 606 law‑enforcement referrals in first year of deflection program; board presses for clearer outcomes
Summary
Multnomah County health staff reported 606 law‑enforcement referrals to the county’s deflection program in its first year and told the Board that 392 people (65%) engaged with services while 113 (29% of engaged) accessed treatment or recovery services within a 30‑day window.
Multnomah County health department staff on Thursday summarized the first year of the county’s deflection program, reporting 606 law‑enforcement referrals and 520 unique individuals between Sept. 1, 2024, and Aug. 31, 2025. Interim Behavioral Health Director Anthony Jordan said 392 people (65%) voluntarily engaged with services and 113 people (29% of those who engaged) accessed at least one service in the program’s 30‑day window.
“These numbers show we are connecting people in the moment and learning how to improve engagement,” Jordan said, describing the program as a front door that connects people to tailored recovery pathways rather than a single treatment model.
Natalie Amar, the county’s deflection program supervisor, told the board that 81% of those who completed the deflection “accessed substance‑use and recovery support services,” including sobering, detox and residential treatment; 22% of the completions went directly into sobering services. Amar said data collection requirements and the county’s reporting to the State Criminal Justice…
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