Oregon Counties and the state of Oregon don’t always get along, but something exceptionally negative is coming to the mental health field. I would like to ensure that the public is aware of another attempt by the state to deflect its responsibilities in mental health, in this case away from the state hospital onto counties. This is especially problematic since the Oregon State Hospital is being found in contempt of a federal judges orders as of June 7th, 2025.
The state is pushing for a new evolution in local services, which at face value sounds great. In meetings I’ve been in they’ve asserted they will provide funding and and even technical assistance.
The problem is that we’ve seen this before, and that the agreement was not honored. In 2005 a roadmap for mental health services in Oregon was developed which included reducing the size of the state hospital and increasing local care. Anyone who has been paying attention to Oregon mental health care for any duration of time is going to see that this was not followed.
Regarding technical assistance, providing support to all 36 counties seems impractical when the state has spent over 20 years failing to run just one state hospital.
For 20 years no positive progress has been achieved; how can we as counties trust that state leadership will suddenly take this agreement seriously once they’ve divested themselves of a measure of responsibility?
When the state government has spent 20 years being a bad partner in the mental health field, we cannot take them at their word with vague assertions in a six-year contract. We need explicit confirmation in our contracts that requires the state to provide funding for the responsibilities it defers to us.
This isn’t opposition to providing aid & assist and civil commitment services locally; it would be great to keep our citizens in our communities while they receive care. The problem is that we cannot trust the state to commit to this ideal to the same extent that we will.
When I hear that representatives of the state are calling the contract section requiring payment a “loophole”, what are we supposed to think?
I’ve heard that some state offices say that counties just have a ‘trust issue’ with the OHA; lets be clear, I have a trust issue with a state riding on 20 years of failing persons with mental illness, not OHA. OHA can only work with what it’s given. I have a trust issue with the legislature’s budgeting priorities and the budgeting priorities of 20 years of governors. If they wouldn’t even fund their own OHA properly, how can we trust that they will fund counties for the same services?
It is wholly illogical to have the state government and/or federal courts dictating terms in our contracts moving forward. Both have demonstrated more than 20 years of failure in addressing the systemic collapse of Oregon’s mental health system.
From the perspective of this one county commissioner with more than eight years of experience in local government and working in or around Oregon’s mental health system, I have watched first-hand the consequences of this systemic failure and the deaths in our community resulting from the state’s inadequate support of the state hospital. The state and the feds need to take a step back and allow counties to drive the process for a while.
If they’re willing to let us start doing their job, that’s great, but they also need to indemnify us from the liability caused by their 20 years of failure, and provide assurance in writing that we will receive adequate funding to do the job.
As a county commissioner I am committed to local control, but I’m not willing to let the state throw our citizens under a bus to get a little more of it.
Drew Farmer is a Coos County Commissioner, having started his term in January 2025 following eight years as a Coos Bay City Councilor. He has seven years of experience running multi-county nonprofits, hold a Bachelor's of Science in Sociology, and is a Navy veteran. His previous work includes running nonprofits, consulting for non-profits experiencing challenges, and a particular focus in the field of supported employment for disabilities. He received his start in supported employment working for a program specific to persons with severe and persistent mental illnesses.
Thought of secession? This is your best option. You kinda have a moat. I think counties are at the mercy of the state and the feds, always. Good luck with pointing out deficiencies in the age of austerity and retraction. Your in for one heck of ride. I wish you luck and success.