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Choice Model moves to OHA; Outback Strong outlines Christmas Valley transitional housing plans and contract extensions
Summary
County staff said the Choice Model program will be administered by the Oregon Health Authority, Outback Strong plans to gut a Christmas Valley building to create up to three transitional housing rooms (maximum stay cited as 18 months), and several public‑health and behavioral‑health contract amendments were presented for action in regular session, including $9,173.82 in additional OHA funding.
During the Sept. 2, 2025 Lake County work session, Outback Strong Director Heidi Martinez and Public Health Director Judy Clarke presented updates and proposed amendments affecting county behavioral‑health and public‑health services.
Martinez told the commissioners that the Choice Model Program will be administered through the Oregon Health Authority rather than Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc., and that she is "waiting on clarification from OHA regarding the use of flex funds." Martinez said she would rely on a contractor to assess a building in Christmas Valley that the program plans to gut and convert into offices and transitional housing rooms for up to three individuals; she said the maximum stay would be 18 months.
Public Health Director Judy Clarke presented a First Amendment to the Oregon Health Authority 2025–2027 Intergovernmental Agreement that would add $9,173.82 in funding: PE01‑12 for infection prevention training and PE43‑01 to support a staff nurse to administer vaccinations in the northern part of the county. Clarke said the additional funding total was $9,173.82 and noted action/consideration would occur in Regular Session.
Martinez also presented an Amendment 01 to an intergovernmental agreement extending tort liability coverage related to the Psychiatric Security Review Board and a State of Oregon IGA (PO‑44300‑00050115) related to the Behavioral Health Adult Mental Health Program; she recommended accepting the amendments, which she said would extend current contracts to Dec. 31, 2025. The work session record indicates these proposals were presented and recommended for acceptance but that formal action would be taken during the Regular Session.
Why it matters: Changes in administering the Choice Model program and modest additional state funding for infection prevention and vaccination services could affect how services are delivered in the northern parts of Lake County. Remodeling to add transitional housing units represents a local service expansion, though funding and final approvals for that project were not finalized in the work session.
What’s next: Martinez will meet with a contractor to evaluate the Christmas Valley building; Clarke’s and Martinez’s proposed amendments were placed on the agenda for Regular Session action.
