Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare

Timbers Army sends Cascadia consumers to the game

admin — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:59:12 +0000

For the second year the Timbers Army included Cascadia on its short list of organizations that they support with tickets to the popular local Major League Soccer team’s preseason games.

From Angela Markham at Cascadia’s Rain Garden in Wilsonville: ”The first game, our staff member Meghan (also a huge Timbers fan) took a great group of guys. They had Pizza at Hot Lips and found great seats in the upper levels of the TA section. Two of the guys are huge Timbers fans and attended several games last season with our facility. They were very excited to see the Timbers play again, see captain Jack (who is their favorite Timber), and just be back in Jeld-Wen. For the 3rd guy, it was his very first Timbers match, but he was very excited. The other guys helped him find Hot Lips pizza, helped him find his way around Jeld-Wen, and taught him some of the cheers. Our staff member began to tell him the basic rules of soccer and he explained that he that played soccer as a young adult in the Portland area. They enjoyed the game very much.”

Thank you Timbers Army!

Derald Walker quoted in Oregonian and OPB stories about police response to suicides

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:47:21 +0000

Portland Police Chief Mike Reese Tuesday morning went on the offensive, defending his officers’ use of force as he presented a report to a downtown public safety group about the increasing number of suicidal calls to police in the city.

“We’re trying to do good in a very broken system,” Reese said, speaking in the Rose Room of City Hall.

Quotes from Derald Walker:

“The problem is with the system that fails to provide the supportive preventive services,” Walker said.

“Walker said the best way to approach someone who is suicidal is to take your time, be empathetic and supportive, and help the person solve their problems and recognize there are other options than taking their life. But he said that when someone is suicidal and under the influence of alcohol or drugs, it’s a “highly unpredictable situation.”

Read the Oregonian article

Listen to Kristian Foden-Vencil’s OPB story

Next year a 9-1-1 mental health emergency call won’t automatically bring a Portland cop

admin — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 19:14:51 +0000

Cascadia was part of a multi-agency team to develop the new Multnomah Call Center integration with 911. It launches in January.

Read the story

New York Times profiles mental illness success stories

admin — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 19:08:31 +0000

Written by Benedict Carey of the New York Times, Lives Restored, is a fascinating read. It’s a series of profiles about people who are functioning normally despite severe mental illness and have chosen to speak out about their struggles. We recommend taking some time to read the articles and watch the videos to better understand mental illness and how people can recover successfully.

Part One: Expert on Mental Illness Reveals Her Own Fight

Part Two: Learning to Cope With a Mind’s Taunting Voices

Part Three: A High-Profile Executive Job as Defense Against Mental Ills

Part Four: Man Uses His Schizophrenia to Gather Clues for Daily Living

Portland police using new ‘step back’ training to deal with people in mental health crisis

admin — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:13:43 +0000

Among others in the professional mental health community, Derald Walker was quoted in a story about the most recent success in the way Portland Police handled a case of a potential crisis with an individual with a mental illness. A grant from the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law helped fund an initiative where police supervisors study how to eliminate unnecessary police encounters with people suffering from mental illness. This is a significant change from previous practices and Cascadia is proud to be a leader in this movement.

Read the article

Oregon group wants to rein in use of mental health drugs

admin — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 18:54:44 +0000

Meghan Caughey, Senior Director of Peer and Wellness Services at Cascadia, was featured in an Oregonian article about the growing debate over the long-term efficacy of psychiatric drugs. The article profiles a few individuals in the mental health community and their perspectives on this important and very present issue. This is a must read for anyone in the field, and demonstrates how Cascadia works beyond its borders to improve behavioral healthcare services.

Read the article

Spreading the message about how to “Get Free Help”

admin — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 19:43:43 +0000

Cascadia took to Tri-Met busses in August to let people know about the free help with gambling addictions that are available to anyone who lives in Multnomah County (also available in Clackamas County). One can be seen here near downtown Portland.

The Problem Gambling program provides free treatment for adults dealing with problem/pathological gambling. Services include individual, group and family/significant other inclusive treatment.

More information: 503-239-5952

Cascadia Board Chair Rick Cagen departs

admin — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 18:01:49 +0000

The Board of Cascadia BHC announces the departure of Chair, Rick Cagen, an expert navigator during Cascadia’s financial crisis. He’s assuming the role of president of Silverton Hospital Network, precipitating this change. At the same time we welcome Captain Donna Henderson, Portland Police officer since 1988 and graduate of Lewis & Clark Univeristy’s Masters in Counseling program.

Mr. Cagen first joined Cascadia’s Board in 2007, assuming the role of Chair in early 2009, when he helped Cascadia navigate through many transitions and challenges. Under his leadership, the organization has gained financial health and stability, and the Board has added seven new members. He came to Cascadia well-prepared, having spent more than 30 years leading complex healthcare systems to higher levels of performance. He has recently been named President and CEO of Silverton Health System in Silverton, Oregon (his new responsibilities keep him in Silverton many evenings as well as every day!).

Cascadia CEO Derald Walker says of Mr. Cagen, “Rick has been phenomenal in his role as Chair and has remained a calm, wise leader during an extremely challenging period for our organization. For me as the CEO, Rick’s generous time and invaluable counsel was always available on a moment’s notice regardless of his other professional and personal demands. In his capacity as the Chairman, he served as my supervisor, and of the many that I’ve had in my career, he was second to none.”

Prior to Silverton, Mr. Cagen served as CEO and administrator of Shriners Hospital for Children in Portland. As well, he was CEO of Providence Hospital in Portland for several years, and spent 20 years in leadership at the renowned Intermountain Health System in Idaho and Utah. Rick expresses his deep love for Cascadia, respect for the challenging work performed graciously by staff and the continued mission of the organization. He has offered to serve as a community member when the Board establishes a subcommittee on Quality. We will truly miss him.

Best wishes, Rick!!

Every departure has its rewards and with that Mr. Cagen leaves the Board in good hands, as Captain Donna Henderson assumes the role of Chair. She joined the Board in March 2010 and has served as Vice-Chair. With the Portland Police since 1988, Ms. Henderson has been the highest ranking female officer there for the past couple of years. She currently heads the Family Services Division.

In 2009, she completed her Master’s degree from Lewis and Clark University in Counseling, doing her internship with Cascadia’s Project Respond – and thereby becoming very connected to Cascadia and wishing to serve its Board. She admires the work of the organization, is a seasoned leader, and welcomes the opportunity to meet regularly with her fellow Board members: Phill Guay, Secretary/Treasurer (Finance Committee), Dick Cowan, Harold DuCloux III (Finance Committee), Keith Hyde (Finance Committee), Michael Kaplan (Finance Committee), Gregg Lowe, Harris Matarazzo, Martin Morris, and Felesia Otis.

Cascadia appreciates the support and guidance of this remarkable group of volunteers.

CFO Beth Barker Honored with Non-Profit CFO of The Year

admin — Tue, 31 May 2011 19:54:19 +0000

The Portland Business Journal named Cascadia’s Chief Financial Officer, Beth Barker, CFO of the Year at their annual awards luncheon on May 5. She was recognized for playing a major role in Cascadia’s recovery after the organization nearly collapsed in 2008.

Read more about Beth and her efforts in the complete story (pdf).

Cascadia’s Derald Walker Honored with National Visionary Leader Award

admin — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 18:23:34 +0000

Derald Walker, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare is being recognized by the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare with the 2011 Award of Excellence for Visionary Leadership. His visionary leadership not only saved Cascadia from bankruptcy, but has since expanded services and resources available in the community.

Derald’s Beginnings
Derald Walker was appointed CEO by the Board of Directors in April 2008. Six days later, Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare was on the brink of insolvency. The bank called in loans and froze all assets, putting the entire organization at risk of being shut down and the individuals they serve from being abandoned. Through the initial days of uncertainty, Derald kept his calm, and stepped forward to ease the concern of staff, clients, and the community. His experience in the behavioral healthcare industry allowed him to negotiate a loan with the State of Oregon and Multnomah County, to cover $1.5 million in payroll and services, and enabling Cascadia to keep their doors open. Derald then sat down with the board, staff, and representation from both those served and the community, to create a vision for the future of Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare, and to successfully make the necessary changes, both cultural and logistical, to fix the struggling organization.

Making The Vision A Reality
Cascadia then set to work on developing a culture of clinical quality, compliance, and improved productivity. A solid management team took over the responsibilities of making Cascadia a data-run organization. New partnerships were developed to include community feedback in the process. Today, Cascadia employs more than 800 staff and is a thriving, healthy nonprofit organization. Housing is provided for more than 700 individuals and in total, 12,000 people walk through Cascadia’s doors each year. In short, Derald Walker was able to lead Oregon’s largest safety-net provider of mental health, substance use treatment and housing services through circumstances that many believed were impossible to survive.

“Derald Walker has fundamentally transformed Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare,” said Linda Rosenberg, MSW, President and CEO of the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare. “Through his leadership, Cascadia has surfaced from near bankruptcy, restructured, and is now counted amongst the most innovative and quality service providers in Oregon. He has created a vision for a safer, healthier community, establishing Safer Steps Portland with the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law to identify barriers to treatment and intervene before individuals interact with law enforcement.”

As a major nonprofit Oregon service provider, Cascadia delivers mental health and addictions treatment services to some of the state’s most vulnerable, yet resilient people. Housing is provided in residential areas to more than 600 individuals in multiple locations throughout the state. Workforce includes approximately 800 staff and a mobile outreach center. With their clients in mind, they create hope and opportunity for the people with mental illness and addictions in Oregon.

“Derald is truly a visionary leader” said Rick Cagen, MBA, Board Chair. “Even through financial hardship, Derald has remained focussed on Cascadia providing the best possible care to our community, and safe homes for those in need.”

About The National Council Awards
Each year the National Council honors individuals and organizations that are the best and brightest in mental health and addictions treatment and services. These are the programs and the people who are ahead of the trends, pioneering new service delivery models, engaging in innovative use of technology, and demonstrating positive outcomes for individuals and families. The Visionary Leadership Award is presented to individuals like Derald Walker, who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in the behavioral healthcare field, and who exemplify the values and ideals embraced by the National Council.

The Awards of Excellence will be formally presented to Derald Walker and his fellow nominees on May 3, 2011 in San Diego, California during the 41st Annual Conference of the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare. For more information on the 2011 National Council Award winners, and to view winners from previous years, please go to www.thenationalcouncil.org/awards.

The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) association of 1,800 behavioral healthcare organizations that provide treatment and rehabilitation for mental illnesses and addictions disorders to nearly six million adults, children and families in communities across the country. The National Council and its members bear testimony to the fact that medical, social, psychological and rehabilitative services offered in community settings help people with mental illnesses and addiction disorders recover and lead productive lives.

About Cascadia
Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare’s mission is to serve those with significant mental illness or addictions, whether resolving a crisis, seeking housing, or wishing for stability in Recovery. Working in partnership with those we serve, their families, payers, and community partners, Cascadia provides programs, services, and resources for the people of Oregon to reach the goals of their lives.