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Mental health facility selected as demonstration site

Herald and News - 1/10/2017

Klamath Basin Behavioral Health has been selected by the Oregon Health Authority to participate in a two-year long federal demonstration project, aimed at benefiting the mental health of community members.

The project is designed to improve behavioral health sciences in local communities and is part of a comprehensive national effort to integrate behavioral health with physical care, increase consistent use of evidence-based practices and improve access to high-quality care for people with mental and substance use disorders.

Across the nation 24 states applied to become demonstration sites and Oregon was one of the eight states selected. KBBH was then chosen as one of 13 certified community behavioral health clinics in Oregon to become a demonstration site, KBBH Chief Executive Officer Stan Gilbert said.

Over the past year and a half, Gilbert said KBBH has been working to put itself in a position to become a certified community health center.

“On one hand we’re very pleased, it’s an honor for us and the state has acknowledged that we’ve been moving in the right direction,” Gilbert said. “It also carries a lot of responsibility.”

Expanding services

As a demonstration site, KBBH plans to expand its services within the community to provide care to more individuals and expand the substance abuse treatments, Gilbert said. It’s also an opportunity to provide a higher quality of care to more people.

In 2015, KBBH provided service to 5,000 individuals, Gilbert said.

KBBH has been in existence since 1980, starting out as a child mental health provider. Over the years it has expanded it services to treat both children and adults and now acts as a community mental health program for Klamath County.

Federal data shows that at any one time, 25 percent of the population has a psychiatric disorder that would benefit from treatment, Gilbert said, adding that there are a lot of people in Klamath County that are in need of mental health services but don’t seek them out.

“If people in Klamath County are suffering from anxiety, depression, or even schizophrenia, help is available and we encourage folks to seek out assistance,” Gilbert said. “Many folks are suffering and don’t need to be.”

Among the eight states selected for the demonstration program are Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Jersey, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon and Pennsylvania. Each state has until July 1 to begin its two-year demonstration program.

“It’s an honor for us to be selected by Oregon and we’re pleased Oregon was selected as a state,” Gilbert said.

KBBH Chief Executive Officer Stan Gilbert

Submitted photo

Klamath Basin Behavioral Health located at 2210 N Eldorado Ave.

Submitted photo

Klamath Basin Behavioral Health located at 2210 N Eldorado Ave.

Submitted photo