December 5, 2012 -- When Jim Russell steps down as executive director of Mid-Valley Behavioral Care Network early next year he can point with pride to his accomplishments since taking over the helm in 1997.
“My biggest success is participating in the leadership of people who experience mental health issues and sharing that leadership with providers,” he said.
Currently his organization offers mental health services to more than 100,000 people in Linn, Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties, and has contracts with the coordinated care organizations in those communities – Willamette Valley Community Health, Intercommunity Health Network and Yamhill County Community Organization.
Under Russell’s leadership, Mid-Valley introduced what’s known as the Early Assessment & Support Alliance, intended for young people experiencing psychosis, a program that originated in Australia.
“We were the first ones to bring it to the United States,” said Russell, who learned about the program through a literature search. “Now it’s the statewide standard of care and is spreading throughout the country.”
The program emphasizes the relationships with family and friends, helping people get through school, find a job and set goals. Research shows that 70 percent of people who experience psychosis end up on disability for the rest of their lives without such help.
Since introducing the program, Mid-Valley has received national awards and been published internationally for its success.
Now, as Russell reflects about his work over the past 15 years, he’s drawn inspiration from people who’ve faced serious mental health problems. “Seeing their courage in how they can continue their lives in the community in the face of very difficult challenges, I feel moved seeing that kind of courage.”
Those thoughts are encapsulated in the motto of Mid-Valley Behavioral Health that Russell came up with -- “together pursuing best we can imagine.”
Anyone interested in applying for his position can find details at www.mvbcn.org.
