Older Adult Behavioral Health Initiative
What We Offer
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.
Older Adult Behavioral Health Coordinators are able to help:
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Provide information and referral to services
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Provide or recommend staff training/coaching opportunities
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Provide guidance on how to access local services
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Facilitate discussion among stakeholders​
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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.
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GOBHI currently holds three of the twenty five positions, covering 14 counties across rural Oregon.
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The key job functions of the older adult behavioral health specialists are:
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Workforce development and community education
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Complex case consultation
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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
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