Familycare Health Celebrates Kick Off Of New Behavioral Health Center

PORTLAND, Ore. December 14, 2015 -- Last week, FamilyCare Health was proud to partner with Cascadia Behavioral Health and announce a gift of $500,000 to support the construction of a new $20 million community wellness center located at the Garlington Center in the Eliot neighborhood of NE Portland. The Garlington Center redevelopment will combine 50 new affordable housing units with a new community wellness center in addition to an expanded behavioral health and primary healthcare service center. 

Set to break ground in late summer 2016, the new Garlington Center will provide affordable housing combined with an integrated behavioral health services and a neighborhood wellness center. This creative, mixed use project is responsive to the severe need for more affordable housing and services in N/NE Portland, in neighborhoods which have undergone rapid gentrification and upscale development over the past several years. The campus will house one building for primary care and mental health services and a separate four-story 52-unit affordable apartment building with 10 to 12 apartments dedicated specifically for the mentally ill. Rent for the units will range around $700/month, although those suffering from mental illness will have access to subsidies. The Center will offer mental health, addiction and disease management services, an on-site integrated medical team, preventative care and healthy lifestyle classes. Additionally, the Center will offer wellness resou rces including a kitchen, food pantry, exercise room, and community gardens accessible to all. The projected completion date is projected to be fall 2017. 

In addition to FamilyCare's donation of $500,000, Cascadia has received $250,000 from an anonymous donor, $250,000 from Meyer Memorial Trust, $250,000 from Multnomah County, $100,000 from the Mitzvah Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation and a host of smaller donations from other groups. Additionally, the visionary support of Howard and Jane Glazer, with their $1 million property donation, launched Cascadia's Building a Culture of Caring philanthropic campaign to establish a new model of integrated care for Portland residents. The Glazers were early supports of Cascadia's plans to establish a cornerstone center for health and wellness. Cascadia expects to raise the final $3.5 million over the next six to eight months. 

"Our new campus addresses our community's need for improved behavioral health services and affordable housing," says Derald Walker, Cascadia President & CEO. "We know that together we can help those in need experience better health outcomes." 

"Serving lower-income Oregonians is at the heart of what FamilyCare is all about," says Jeff Heatherington, President & CEO. "Providing assistance for a neighborhood-based clinic combined with supportive housing is exactly what we believe it will take to help people get the care they need, especially those facing mental health challenges." 

About FamilyCare Health 
For 30 + years, FamilyCare Health has been providing patient-centered healthcare to Oregonians. With over 130,000 members, FamilyCare Health is a Medicare and Medicaid managed care organization providing health plan services in Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington and Marion counties. FamilyCare was the first health plan in Oregon to integrate models of physical and mental health. It was the first Coordinated Care Organization in the tri?county area certified by the Oregon Health Authority. More information at http://www.familycareinc.org/