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How Clatsop County's deflection program works: warm handoffs, two referral paths and a 12-week engagement
Summary
Officials describe two pathways into the county's 12-week deflection program, clinician warm handoffs at the scene, intake procedures and the program's minimum outpatient requirement.
Christina Schultz said Clatsop County uses two distinct referral routes into deflection: an on-scene offer when a resident is found in possession of a controlled substance, and a referral pathway for known substance users from law enforcement, parole and probation or Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare.
"So pathway 1 is where an officer is out with a subject that is in possession of a controlled substance," Schultz said. "Pathway 2 ... law enforcement, parole and probation, CBH can refer a known substance user to our program, and they do not have to be in possession of a controlled substance at that time."
Isaiah O'Neil described the clinician response and intake steps when a referral occurs: clinicians aim to respond to the scene for a warm handoff; if they cannot, they schedule an intake and the officer issues a citation that is held in abeyance while the person enrolls. "That that's our goal is to report to the scene," O'Neil said.
The program requires active engagement in a 12-week period; O'Neil said outpatient treatment is the minimum requirement and staff assess needs for withdrawal management or residential treatment during a biopsychosocial assessment. The team also said they can support sober-living arrangements with program funding when appropriate.
