About the Older Adult Behavioral Health Initiative 

What is the goal of the Behavioral Health Initiative?

The goal of the Behavioral Health Initiative for Older Adults and People with Physical Disabilities (Behavioral Health Initiative) is to better meet the needs of older adults and people with disabilities by improving timely access to care from qualified providers who work together to provide coordinated, quality and culturally responsive behavioral health and wellness services.

How is the Behavioral Health Initiative meeting this goal?

The Behavioral Health Initiative is housed in the Oregon Health Authority. Funding supports a Project Director and 24 Behavioral Health Specialists located in communities across Oregon. They are working with their community partners to:

• Improve the population’s access to behavioral health providers, services and benefits;
• Improve the knowledge and skills of people who provide services or care to the population; and
• Improve the population’s knowledge about signs and symptoms of behavioral health problems and how to address them.

Learn more about the outcomes of the Behavioral Health Initiative by visiting the Reports page.

What do Behavioral Health Specialists do?

Behavioral Health Specialists have three key job functions that contribute to the goal of the Initiative: 

Below are factsheets about some of the projects Behavioral Health Specialists have brought to their communities.

Why focus on this population?

Today 15.4 percent of Oregonians are 65 years or older. By 2030, that figure will increase to 20 percent. The 75-and-older age group will grow even faster. This trend has significant implications for the health care system, including behavioral health. At least one in five Americans over 65 have one or more mental health or substance use conditions.

For example:

See more data about this population in the infographics on the Resources page.