Multnomah County approves budget changes to fund deflection Pathway Center and temporary sobering capacity
May 12, 2024 | Multnomah County, Oregon
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Multnomah County commissioners on Dec. 9 approved budget adjustments to back the county’s new deflection program and the Coordinated Care Pathway Center, including authorization for lease, security and utilities at a temporary site and conversion of five temporary positions to permanent county FTE.
The board voted to add Criminal Justice Commission grant funding to the deflection budget, convert 5 temporary roles (one manager, one program specialist senior, two clinical services specialists and one data analyst) to ongoing FTE and to cover operational costs including $439,483 for security, $173,240 for lease and $30,000 for utilities, according to Multnomah County Health Department briefings.
The county launched a field‑based deflection program Sept. 1 and opened the Pathway Center on Oct. 14, staff said. Health Department presenters reported that from Sept. 1 through Nov. 15 the program recorded 195 referrals in lieu of arrest, of whom 127 chose to engage and received a total of roughly 268 service referrals. County staff said they will release more detailed outcome data in quarterly reports and are tracking follow‑through on referrals with a 60‑day validation window.
Why it matters: House Bill 4002 created a statutory deflection pathway as an alternative to arrest for possession of controlled substances. County leaders said the center and field teams create a community‑based path to treatment, recovery support and housing services while reducing criminal‑justice contacts for low‑level drug offenses.
How it will operate: The county described a two‑phase rollout. Phase 1 established field teams and peer outreach; Phase 2 (slated for 2025) adds sobering services (13 reclining sobering slots at the temporary site) and medication‑assisted treatment. A permanent county‑owned facility is planned for 2026 and will include full sobering and crisis stabilization services and broader referral pathways (peer organizations, recovery housing, walk‑in referrals and corrections pathways).
Provider role and partnerships: The county selected Turk House, a Baltimore‑based provider, to operate the Pathway Center; Bernard JB Foster, Turk House CEO, told commissioners the facility is matching clients to peer specialists, nurses and caseworkers to create individualized care plans and arrange follow‑up. Commander Brian Hughes (Portland Police Bureau, acting commander, Central Precinct) said police have diverted roughly a third of drug‑related contacts to treatment pathways and credited close coordination with the county.
Concerns and board directions: Commissioners pressed for more and faster data, asking for the specific data fields the county is collecting, metrics of success (beyond referrals offered), and clearer reporting cadence. Several commissioners said they want more real‑time and qualitative reporting on follow‑through and outcomes; health staff said a senior data analyst role will produce regular reports and that quarterly analyses will include referral completion and service types.
Costs and funding: The capital costs for the temporary facility are covered in a separate DCA budget action; operating additions discussed in this item use a mix of Criminal Justice Commission grants, City of Portland contributions and county general fund commitments. Staff described some grant allocations and a county general fund contribution of $2,000,000 to support deflection operations; staff will provide line‑item details in follow‑up budget materials.
Next steps: Commissioners approved the budget modification and directed staff to continue developing data dashboards, finalize Good Neighbor agreements with the surrounding community, and accelerate work on a permanent sobering facility while monitoring outcomes and costs for the temporary site.
The board vote: The budget modification passed on a roll call vote.
The board voted to add Criminal Justice Commission grant funding to the deflection budget, convert 5 temporary roles (one manager, one program specialist senior, two clinical services specialists and one data analyst) to ongoing FTE and to cover operational costs including $439,483 for security, $173,240 for lease and $30,000 for utilities, according to Multnomah County Health Department briefings.
The county launched a field‑based deflection program Sept. 1 and opened the Pathway Center on Oct. 14, staff said. Health Department presenters reported that from Sept. 1 through Nov. 15 the program recorded 195 referrals in lieu of arrest, of whom 127 chose to engage and received a total of roughly 268 service referrals. County staff said they will release more detailed outcome data in quarterly reports and are tracking follow‑through on referrals with a 60‑day validation window.
Why it matters: House Bill 4002 created a statutory deflection pathway as an alternative to arrest for possession of controlled substances. County leaders said the center and field teams create a community‑based path to treatment, recovery support and housing services while reducing criminal‑justice contacts for low‑level drug offenses.
How it will operate: The county described a two‑phase rollout. Phase 1 established field teams and peer outreach; Phase 2 (slated for 2025) adds sobering services (13 reclining sobering slots at the temporary site) and medication‑assisted treatment. A permanent county‑owned facility is planned for 2026 and will include full sobering and crisis stabilization services and broader referral pathways (peer organizations, recovery housing, walk‑in referrals and corrections pathways).
Provider role and partnerships: The county selected Turk House, a Baltimore‑based provider, to operate the Pathway Center; Bernard JB Foster, Turk House CEO, told commissioners the facility is matching clients to peer specialists, nurses and caseworkers to create individualized care plans and arrange follow‑up. Commander Brian Hughes (Portland Police Bureau, acting commander, Central Precinct) said police have diverted roughly a third of drug‑related contacts to treatment pathways and credited close coordination with the county.
Concerns and board directions: Commissioners pressed for more and faster data, asking for the specific data fields the county is collecting, metrics of success (beyond referrals offered), and clearer reporting cadence. Several commissioners said they want more real‑time and qualitative reporting on follow‑through and outcomes; health staff said a senior data analyst role will produce regular reports and that quarterly analyses will include referral completion and service types.
Costs and funding: The capital costs for the temporary facility are covered in a separate DCA budget action; operating additions discussed in this item use a mix of Criminal Justice Commission grants, City of Portland contributions and county general fund commitments. Staff described some grant allocations and a county general fund contribution of $2,000,000 to support deflection operations; staff will provide line‑item details in follow‑up budget materials.
Next steps: Commissioners approved the budget modification and directed staff to continue developing data dashboards, finalize Good Neighbor agreements with the surrounding community, and accelerate work on a permanent sobering facility while monitoring outcomes and costs for the temporary site.
The board vote: The budget modification passed on a roll call vote.
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