Multnomah County outlines system-level "CLP Plus" plan to restructure behavioral health services

Multnomah County's Health Department presented the first of three briefings on a Comprehensive Local Plan Plus (CLP Plus) intended to move behavioral health planning from a program-level checklist to a population- and systems-oriented blueprint.

Rachel Banks, the county health department director, told the Board the briefings are designed to balance statutory requirements with urgent operational needs, community engagement and resource constraints. "We want one that promotes optimal behavioral health for all," Banks said, explaining the department's intent to synthesize 10 years of assessments, produce a CAST-driven substance use continuum analysis and identify prioritized system investments.

Heather Mirasol, director of behavioral health, summarized the county's role as the Community Mental Health Program (CMHP) and reviewed statutory delegation under Oregon Revised Statute 430.630: the Board serves as the local mental health authority and the county operates as the CMHP in concert with OHA and the region's coordinated care organizations. The speakers stressed that multiple partners (OHA, CCOs, hospitals, community-based organizations) share responsibility and funding for behavioral health services.

Commissioner Myron reviewed past systems analyses and presented an eight-category blueprint that emerged from cross-sector convenings: shared vision, housing and homelessness, data sharing and analytics, workforce, trauma-informed culturally responsive services, cross-sector coordination, quality improvement, and parity between physical and behavioral health. Myron highlighted four priority investments identified by stakeholders, the most central being a coordinating "brain" for data management and analytics to create consistent operational leadership across agencies.

Staff said they will return in two weeks with the CAST assessment and a data-driven needs synthesis and will seek Board direction on prioritized investments and budget strategies by late December. Commissioners asked for clarity on deliverables, the supplemental materials to be submitted to the Oregon Health Authority, and how the CLP Plus aligns with the county's homelessness response; staff said they expect to seek Board approval of the supplemental plan and to continue coordination with state and regional partners.

The three-briefing sequence is intended to produce a prioritized, draft system transformation plan and recommended budget strategies for Board consideration by the end of the calendar year.