Free Virtual Training Opportunity! Register for the Re-imagining Behavioral Health: Race, Equity & Social Justice Conference

Sherronda Jamerson has invited us to attend the 4th Annual “Re-imagining Behavioral Health: Race, Equity & Social Justice” Conference.

This conference is a free virtual conference that will will explore the intersectionality of substance use disorders, mental health, and social justice.

The two-half day virtual conference is designed to empower individuals and teams who want to advance health equity and support diversity and inclusion in behavioral health care.  *CEU’s will be available for behavioral health care professionals.

This year’s conference theme is: “Breaking Barriers, Driving Change across Systems”

DATES/TIMES*

Thursday, September 28, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. (PT)

Friday September 29, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

*The virtual conference platform will be accessible 30 minutes before and after each day’s program. This time will provide an opportunity for all attendees to connect and network with each other.

PLACE: Virtual

COST: The conference is free to attend.

To register, please visit: https://bhinstitute.uw.edu/resj-2023-register 

 

OCEACT Nurse Trainer Position Open!

Want to join the OCEACT team? We are hiring an OCEACT Nurse Trainer to provide training and technical support to nurses that provide evidence-based Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) across the state. There will be extensive travel required. Go to the Options for Southern Oregon website to apply: Recruitment (adp.com)

$5,000 Hiring Bonus (Prorated by FTE) 

  • Benefits include: 
    • Family medical, dental, long-term disability, 403(b) plan with 6% match, and more. 
    • Generous paid time off policy.  (Annual accrual up to 208 hours – based on FTE status and available to use upon accrual).  Plus, 11 paid holidays annually. 
  • Bilingual skills a plus; Options pays a premium for employees who can conduct business in Spanish and provide certification of a language proficiency test approved by the Oregon Health Authority that meets a proficiency level of “High Intermediate”.
  • Position may be eligible for loan repayment– visit https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/ for more information.

Schedule: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm- may involve some evening hours depending on travel

Responsibilities

Develop trainings specific to the role of the nurse on ACT teams.

Conduct assessments and develop customized trainings for onboarding new nurses for ACT teams statewide.

Provide on-site trainings which requires travel around the state to visit ACT programs. Training topics will include: setting up MAR, psychopharmacology, nursing interventions to treat common mental health conditions, health promotion, managing chronic comorbid health conditions (diabetes, cardiovascular diseases), community nursing, working with a pharmacy and medication management systems.

Collaborate in weekly meetings with OCEACT teams.

Collaborate with national partners (other state centers of excellence or training centers) – advise national partners on the training and curriculum developed for the ACT nurse role.

Conduct technical assistance calls for RNs statewide on a regular basis, such as monthly.

Develop relationships with nursing education programs statewide at the community college and 4 year nursing school level to help develop a pipeline for new ACT nurses (preceptor opportunities with ACT programs)- help community mental health agencies to develop workforce retention strategies, address worker shortages, especially in rural and frontier communities.

Assist in the development of continuing education curricula and ACT certification program for nurses, may include developing online learning modules, videos, simulations and tests for knowledge and competencies.

Participate in the OCEACT advisory committee meetings.

Promote the values of client choice and promote recovery oriented, person centered care, and shared decision making.

Provide trainings to new ACT programs implementing ACT as provisional providers regarding the RN Role which will include important training in the Role of the ACT nurse, medication management system, nursing assessments, interventions, and documentation.

Qualifications

Education and training sufficient to obtain Oregon nursing license.

Unrestricted, valid Oregon nursing license. Registered Nurse, RN, required.

Certified Personal Medicine Coach

Knowledge of state regulations regarding ACT nursing delegation.

Minimum of 2 years of ACT nursing experience is required.

Prior experience teaching and providing trainings to nurses or nursing students preferred.

The ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally is required.  Must be comfortable with public speaking and presenting information to large and small groups. Extensive report writing is required for this position.

Candidates must be able to use e-mail, compose documents, save and locate documents electronically, and learn to use our Electronic Health Record (EHR) system. Proficiency in Word and other MS Office applications preferred.

Must pass state-required background and DMV checks; possess a valid OR driver’s license and a satisfactory driving record. Candidate must be able to work independently and flexibly, under general supervision.

Options for Southern Oregon recognizes that in order to best serve the healthcare needs of our communities and fulfill our mission, we must learn, grow, incorporate, and value the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in our work and in our lives.  We are committed to the continued development of an aware, diverse, and culturally responsive workforce and an organizational culture that is supportive and affirming for all staff and clients.  Options acknowledges that incorporating EDI principles in our practices is an ongoing learning process and we are committed to using our voice to effect positive change.  We recognize that making an impact on health inequities in our community will take more than just a statement and, to this end, our goals, planning, and actions aim to promote and develop equitable and effective health care services to reflect the needs of our diverse communities.

Options for Southern Oregon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Oregon Zero Suicide Mini-Grant Funding Opportunity

Oregon Zero Suicide Mini-Grant Funding Opportunity: Grant to Support Zero Suicide Implementation and Suicide Safer Care in Priority Communities (Due Aug. 13; see materials attached)

The Association of Community Mental Health Programs (AOCMHP), with funding from the Oregon Health Authority, will provide up to ten 1-year mini-grants, ranging from $15,000 to $35,000 to healthcare organizations or care coordination partners to support one of the following efforts:

1)      Zero Suicide Initiative Implementation Support: Support implementation of the Zero Suicide framework in Oregon health systems to reduce suicide risk for adults 25 and older. Health systems must have established Zero Suicide efforts in place.

2)      Safer Suicide Care Initiatives for Priority Communities: Support population-specific safer suicide care initiatives in Oregon health systems, care coordination partners, care facilities or community-based organizations focused for three priority communities: (1) older adults (65 and older), (2) adults with serious mental illness, and (3) veterans and individuals that have served in the military.

The funding period is August 29, 2023 – August 28, 2024. Mini-grants funds in the total amount of $270,000 are available through OHA Grant #SM083398 from the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s Zero Suicide in Health Systems grant.  Priority will be given to proposals that include equity and lived experience considerations to inform project implementation.

Given there are two tracks (Zero Suicide Initiative Implementation Support or Safer Suicide Care Initiatives for Priority Communities), there are separate Request for Proposals for each track. Attached you will also find a budget template and a workplan template. Organizations may use the attached templates or a budget/workplan format of their choosing.

2023 Budget and Budget Narrative Template

Zero Suicide in Health Systems Mini-Grant RFP. Track 1 Zero Suicide Implementation

Zero Suicide in Health Systems Mini-Grant RFP. Track 2 Suicide Safer Care in Priority Communities

Applications are due by 11:59pm on August 13. Applications and supporting materials should be submitted electronically to Maria Gdontakis Pos at AOCMHP (mpos@aocmhp.org).

Content questions may be addressed to: Meghan Crane, OHA PHD at meghan.crane@oha.oregon.gov.

An informational webinar was held on July 25. You can watch a recording on the informational webinar here.

TIMING:

  • Information/application posted: July 11, 2023
  • Deadline for applications: August 13, 2023 at 11:59pm
  • Notice of Award: August 25, 2023
  • Project start date: August 29, 2023
  • Project end date: August 28, 2024
  • Final report due: September 30, 2024

Please Welcome OCEACT’s New Statewide Trainer, Liz Middleton!

 

OCEACT would like to announce the hiring of our newest Statewide Trainer, Liz Middleton!

Liz has worked in community mental health in a variety of roles both clinical and supervisory for nearly thirty years. As a QMHP, Liz has provided care in a variety of settings: recovery-oriented partial care, prison, dual-disorder inpatient, SRTF, low-barrier transitional housing and probation. Liz has Team Lead experience in two ACT programs. The most recent has been with Cascadia Behavioral Health Forensic Act Team since inception in 2015 until January 2022.
Liz has received a wealth of knowledge from the following resources: participants, colleagues, supervisors, continuing education trainings, every OCEACT conference and from Temple University School of Social Work. Liz achieved a BSW (Stockton University) and MSW (Temple University) and has been an Oregon LCSW since 2007. Liz is also a proud Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner since 2017.
Self-care activities include hiking, cycling, yoga, reading, thrifting and spending time with friends both two and four-legged. Currently, there are three elder Chihuahua mixes and three playful felines ruling the home in Portland.

You can find her contact info listed HERE on our contact page.

OCEACT & OSECE Leadership Changes

Jeff Krolick, Director of Special Projects for Options of Southern Oregon has stepped down from his role providing leadership for the Oregon Supported Employment Center for Excellence (OSECE) and Oregon Center for Excellence for Assertive Community Treatment (OCEACT). Jeff is an innovative leader who has promoted the adoption of evidence based practices throughout his career with Options. We will greatly miss his vision and the wonderful energy he brings to this work everyday. Fortunately, we don’t have to say goodbye to Jeff just yet, as he will be continuing on with Options at least through the end of 2021.

Heidi Herinckx, has been hired to fulfill the leadership role as the Director for the Oregon Centers of Excellence at Options. Please welcome Heidi in this new role!

Crystal McMahon will continue as Director of OSECE and managing all the day to day operations of OSECE.

A new Director of the OCEACT is currently being recruited to backfill Heidi’s vacancy for this position. The “OCEACT Manager” position can be found on the Options for Southern Oregon website.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.