Older Adult Behavioral Health Initiative

What We Offer

Training

The Older Adult Behavioral Health Initiative offers a variety of educational modules to support community agencies in meeting the unique needs of this growing population.

See the list of courses we offer on our training page:

View Course List

Complex Care Consultations

Older adults have unique behavioral health needs that may be difficult to meet in community settings, particularly with limited access in rural areas. Providers are often asked to provide more specialized geriatric services without adequate resources or support. If you are working with someone with unmet, complex care needs, consult with an older adult behavioral health coordinator for support.

Request a consultation

Older Adult Behavioral Health Coordinators are able to help:

Provide information and referral to services
Provide or recommend staff training/coaching opportunities
Provide guidance on how to access local services
Facilitate discussion among stakeholders
May assist with offering clinical expertise as appropriate

About Oregon's Older Adult 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.

GOBHI currently holds three of the twenty five positions, covering 14 counties across rural Oregon.

The key job functions of the older adult behavioral health specialists are:

Workforce development and community education
Complex case consultation
Collaboration and coordination

Our Regions

Contact

Kai Burgess Nichols (she/her)
Older Adult Behavioral Health Coordinator, MS CADCIII QMHP

Counties: Grant, Harney, Lake, Malheur
Phone: 541-705-4987

Email: kburgessnichols@gobhi.org

Rod Harwood (he/him)
Older Adult Behavioral Health Coordinator, QMHP-C

Counties: Baker, Morrow, Union, Umatilla, Wallowa
Phone: 541-293-1755

Email: rharwood@gobhi.org

Roni Hyde (she/her, they/them)
Older Adult Behavioral Health Coordinator

Counties: Gilliam, Hood River, Sherman, Wasco, Wheeler
Phone: 541-705-4870

Email: rhyde@gobhi.org