Firm gives Cascadia advice, road map on improving financial condition

The outlook for Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare looks to be getting better as the mental health provider continues to seek ways to trim costs and improve its business practices. The result both Multnomah County and Cascadia are looking for will allow Mental health consumers to continue to receive services, while ensuring Cascadia’s fiscal health.

In late August, the County hired the California-based firm of Alvarez & Marsal to assess Cascadia’s business plan. The firm, led by George Pillari, determined in a report that with improvements, Cascadia’s plan could steer the agency into a vastly improved financial situation.

The report calls for making improvements in Cascadia’s billing and collection system, strengthening oversight of the agency by its Board of Directors, and developing ways to improve fiscal accountability. To see the full report, click here.

The County’s Board of Commissioners will hold a briefing on Mental Health issues on Oct. 14 at 501 S.E. Hawthorne. The time has yet to be set.

Plan to transfer Downtown Clinic to Central City Concern moves ahead

Officials with the Department of County Human Services continue to work with Central City Concern regarding the transfer of the Downtown Clinic to the longtime social service agency. Financial details and other aspects of the transfer are being worked out so that CCC can begin seeing clients before the end of the year. Currently, the clinic serves more than 300 clients, providing services that include both mental health and addiction services.

Calls to the Mental Health Call Center drop off as outlook improves

In the spring, calls to the County’s Mental Health Call Center seeking help spiked, more than likely a result of the news about Cascadia’s problems. But as stakeholders continue to find solutions to improve services, the calls have slowed. In March, there were 4,357 calls to the Call Center. A month later, the tally hit 4,231.

By August, the calls had dropped to 3,741. And this month (through Sept. 18), there have been 2,138 calls. The decrease is a sign that clients and others seeking information about Mental Health are feeling more confident about the system as stakeholders work to make improvements.

The priority remains to make sure clients receive all needed services. Anyone with questions about services should call the Call Center at 503-988-4888. The Call Center is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.