A critical component of Measure 110 directed 70% of Oregon’s cannabis tax revenue to SUD treatment and recovery, making expansions in care possible for organizations such as Morrison Child & Family Services.
The group was able to hire six additional parent mentors in Multnomah, Clatsop, Clackamas and Washington counties.
The additional staff has so far helped 52 more people get 1-on-1 support with substance use and navigate the child welfare system. The new mentors will allow the program to reach 84 more clients at a given time.
The parent mentor program at Morrison Child & Family Services began in 2005 and boasts 46 mentors across seven counties. Each mentor serves 12-to-14 clients and typically spends six to 12 months providing support.
Morrison parent mentor Matthew Porter said his clients often have a “lifetime of trauma,” and the support he provides often includes joining court hearings and family decision meetings, maintaining relationships with parents during treatment or incarceration, connecting parents with community resources such as housing and recovery options, and guiding parents through the stressors of recovery while caring for their family. He emphasized the importance of empowering the client.
“We’re just meeting them where they’re at,” Porter said. “They do the work, and we’re just supporting them through it – it’s a beautiful thing to watch.”
Prior to the funding received through Measure 110, the organization’s parent mentors had to wait for a referral from a caseworker to work with a client. It was a hurdle that often delayed support. Now, Porter said, “there is an advantage being a mentor through Measure 110.”
In addition to getting referrals from the recovery community and community partners, now mentors can attend preliminary hearings, speak to a parent directly, and the parent can “self-refer” if they are interested.
One of Porter’s clients has been going to a group SUD recovery program for six months, and, without prompting, recently expressed interest in trying inpatient SUD treatment. Porter can connect the client with a local residential treatment facility through a “warm hand-off.”
In addition to its client-led philosophy, Morrison Child & Family Services intentionally recruits a diverse team to reflect the communities it serves. A large percentage of clients are from Black and Brown communities. The organization matches mentors who share child welfare and SUD experience, and also share cultural backgrounds. About half of Morrison’s parent mentors are bilingual.
“Having someone who looks like them, who has gone through the system, the trust gets built faster, and that same person helping them find their voice – it’s magnetic,” said Belinda Kjensrud, peer supervisor at Morrison Child & Family Services.
For other information on the impact of Measure 110 funding, check out OHA’s blog and the Measure 110 dashboard.
If you or someone you love is looking for help with substance use, check out this link or call the Alcohol and Drug Help Line at 1-800-923-4357. You can also contact your local community mental health program for help.
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