GOBHI Providers Behavioral Health Newsletter July 2026
- 2 hours ago
- 7 min read
Register for the 2026 Oregon Peer Workforce Conference!
Join Us in Pendleton! GOBHI's third annual Peer Workforce Conference will take place August 20 and 21, 2026 at the Pendleton Convention Center.
Our Peer Workforce Conference is a place for peers working in behavioral health in Eastern Oregon and across the state to connect, learn, and grow together.
This year’s theme, “The Power of Us: Fostering Belonging,” highlights the strength of peer support and the importance of creating spaces where everyone feels valued, connected, and supported. The conference will feature a keynote presentation from Elliott Hinkle of Unicorn Solutions, along with engaging sessions designed to support and strengthen the peer workforce across Oregon.
Register now to take advantage of early-bird pricing! You can also submit a proposal to present.
2026 Oregon Peer Workforce Conference
August 20-21, 2026
Pendleton Convention Center
We look forward to gathering with peers, providers, and partners from across the state to celebrate the power of community and belonging.
Learn at OCBH's Essentials Academy
Looking to earn continuing education credits while strengthening your behavioral health knowledge? The Oregon Council for Behavioral Health's Essentials Academy offers a series of virtual trainings covering key topics such as ethics, suicide prevention, cultural competence, implicit bias, and social determinants of health. Designed for behavioral health professionals, the trainings provide practical, evidence-informed learning opportunities that support high-quality, person-centered care while helping participants meet CEU requirements. Learn more and register by visiting the OCBH Essentials Academy.
GOBHI to Lead Behavioral Health MedQuest Curriculum this Summer
GOBHI will participate in two additional MedQuest Camps this summer, continuing its commitment to building the future behavioral health workforce in Eastern Oregon. The Rural MedQuest Camp will took place in La Grande in June, which will be followed by the Frontier MedQuest Camp in July in Burns. These camps provide high school students with hands-on exposure to healthcare careers, with GOBHI bringing a focused and immersive behavioral health component to the experience.
GOBHI has designed and implemented an engaging behavioral health curriculum tailored specifically for students in rural and frontier communities. The program introduces participants to a wide range of career pathways within behavioral health, helping them better understand the opportunities available in their own communities. Through interactive sessions and real-world insights, students gain a deeper appreciation for the impact and importance of this field.
A key strength of the curriculum is its comprehensive and experiential approach. Students have the opportunity to engage with professionals across disciplines, including collaboration with law enforcement to better understand crisis response and community safety. The program also highlights the importance of wraparound services, peer support, and integrated care models that are essential in rural healthcare systems.
In addition, students are introduced to innovative and person-centered approaches such as art therapy, as well as the value of shared lived experiences in supporting recovery and resilience. These elements not only broaden students’ perspectives but also emphasize empathy, connection, and the human side of healthcare.
By participating in MedQuest Camps, GOBHI is investing in early exposure and career exploration for young people across Eastern Oregon. These efforts aim to inspire the next generation of behavioral health professionals while strengthening the long-term workforce pipeline in the region. Through this work, GOBHI continues to support sustainable, community-driven solutions to meet the growing behavioral health needs of rural and frontier communities. GOBHI also donated $10,000 to support sustainability of this program.
GOBHI Has Moved!
Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc. (GOBHI) has officially relocated its administrative office to 412 Washington Street, The Dalles, OR 97058. Our new downtown location reflects GOBHI's continued growth and commitment to serving communities across Eastern Oregon. Please update your records with our new address. Our phone numbers, email addresses, and services remain unchanged, and we look forward to continuing our partnership from our new home.
Family Search and Engagement Services
GOBHI partners with Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Child Welfare to provide relative search and engagement services that support relationship permanency for children and youth. Services include identifying and engaging birth family members and other supportive adults, developing comprehensive contact lists and family trees and genograms, supporting appropriate family contact, and facilitating family meetings when appropriate or necessary to promote stability and long-term support regardless of placement.
Services are time-limited, typically provided for up to six months, and are available to children and youth of any age with permanency plans of reunification, adoption, guardianship, or APPLA.
Who Can Be Referred?
Children and youth of any age in the care and custody of ODHS child welfare
Permanency plans may include reunification, adoption, guardianship, or APPLA
Priority Populations for Referrals:
Children in non-relative care within 3–9 months of entering substitute care who need relative search and engagement support
Children in substitute care with higher needs, including BRS, QRTP, or extended time in care
Children in non-relative care with no identified relatives or supports after unsuccessful diligent search efforts
*We only accept referrals from ODHS staff.
Questions? Contact familysearch@gobhi.org
OHA Memorandum: New Residential and Withdrawal Management Reporting Requirements into Oregon Behavioral Health Capacity System (OBCS)
Beginning May 1, 2026, OBCS will become the official platform for reporting all licensed adult mental health residential (SRTF, RTF, RTH) and SUD residential and withdrawal management capacity data, and Lines for Life capacity reporting will be discontinued. OBCS provides real-time visibility into statewide bed availability, an essential tool for ensuring timely placements.
To ensure a smooth transition to OBCS for capacity reporting, all providers must begin the onboarding process with OBCC no later than February 3, 2026. Although providers have until May 1, 2026 to switch reporting to OBCS, we encourage you to get fully onboarded as soon as possible to ensure sufficient time for the transition and to resolve any technical difficulties before Lines for Life reporting is officially discontinued.
Once providers are fully onboarded and have consistently reported into OBCS for two weeks (either through manual entry or automated entry), they may discontinue reporting to Lines for Life. This phased approach is critical to ensure that referral agents and providers have full, uninterrupted access to bed capacity data. We apologize in advance for the inconvenience that duplicative reporting may cause during your two-week transition period.
Providers may contact Aaron Kerr, OBCC Operations Manager, with any questions and to begin the onboarding process, via the OHSU General Mailbox: obcc@ohsu.edu.
Talk to Our Behavioral Health Navigator: Here to Support Your Path to Care
GOBHI is pleased to announce the addition of a Behavioral Health Navigator – a role designed to improve coordination of care and help individuals access behavioral health services more easily than ever.
Our navigator is here to:
Help members connect to and schedule behavioral health appointments.
Serve as a direct contact for primary care providers and emergency departments to arrange behavioral health support for members in real time.
This service strengthens timely access to care and supports individuals in navigating the behavioral health system with confidence.
Contact:
Sean Ross
Behavioral Health Navigator
Phone: 541-209-6488
Email: appointments@gobhi.org
If you or someone you support needs help connecting to behavioral health services, please reach out. We’re here to help.
Additional Older Adult Behavioral Health Initiative (OABHI) Trainings
For individuals in behavioral health working or interested in working with older adults, there are upcoming training sessions. GOBHI’s OABHI team provides a variety of workforce training and community education. Look at https://www.gobhi.org/oabhi/training for a list of trainings.
Community Education:
Chronic Disease Self-Management (CDSMP)
Grief and Caregiver Support Groups
Powerful Tools for Caregivers
Program to Encourage Active and Rewarding Lives (PEARLS)
Senior Planet (AARP Senior Technology Lectures and Workshops)
Wellness Initiative for Senior Education (WISE)
Age, Memory and Death Cafes
Oregon Advance Directive
Getting to Know Dementia and other Dementia Caregiver Topics
Contact the GOBHI OABHI team at oabhi@gobhi.org with questions.
2026 Lunch and Learn Training Opportunities
🍽️ Learn Something New Over Lunch! Join us for GOBHI’s 2026 Lunch & Learn Series — bite-sized trainings offering 1 free CEU each month!
🗓️ Every 3rd Thursday | 12–1 PM PT Tune in (camera optional!) while you eat, earn a CEU, and connect with peers as GOBHI experts dive into timely, relevant topics for your work.
Check out upcoming sessions and register at the links below!
Program update - Foster Care
Help Change a Life — Become a Foster Care Champion!
Eastern Oregon is in urgent need of foster homes for youth — and you can make a difference.
GOBHI’s Therapeutic Foster Care program supports youth involved with Oregon DHS Child Welfare by placing them with caring, trained foster families. We offer both full-time and part-time options, and provide all the support foster parents need to succeed.
Even if you’re not ready to foster, you can still help!
✨ Share the word
✨ Refer someone who might be a great fit
✨ Promote the power of foster care in your community
Together, we can build a stronger network of supportive homes for Oregon’s youth.
Learn more about referral incentives and how you can help here. 📩 Or reach out to our Foster Care Team today!
Website: gobhi.org/foster-care
Program update - Triple P Parenting
Bring Proven Parenting Support to Your Community! Looking to offer a powerful, evidence-based parenting program? GOBHI’s Triple P – Positive Parenting Program offers flexible options to meet your community’s unique needs.
Classes are available in English and Spanish for parents and caregivers of children ages 0–18, led by trained and compassionate practitioners.
Interested in partnering? Reach out to Chelsea Maranville to explore contracting options and get started: 📞 541-314-3189 | 📧 cmaranville@gobhi.org
Helpful Links
Read official messages from GOBHI leadership and hear about important training opportunities including the ABA Lunch and Learn.
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