ORS 430.275: Oregon Health Authority to provide funding for peer respite centers; rules.

(1) As used in this section: (a) “Peer respite services” means voluntary, nonclinical, short-term residential peer support provided: (A) In a homelike setting to individuals with mental illness or trauma response symptoms who are experiencing acute distress, anxiety or emotional pain that may lead to the need for a higher level of care such as psychiatric inpatient hospital services; and (B) By a peer-run organization and directed and delivered by individuals with lived experience in coping with, seeking recovery from or overcoming mental illness or trauma response challenges. (b) “Peer-run organization” means an organization: (A) In which a majority of the individuals who oversee the organization’s operation and who are in positions of control have received mental health services; (B) That is fully independent, separate and autonomous from other mental health agencies; and (C) That has the authority and responsibility for all oversight and decision-making on governance, financial, personnel, policy and program issues in the organization. (c) “Peer support” means assistance provided by individuals who are current or former consumers of mental health treatment in: (A) Addressing financial problems and other issues affecting the social determinants of health; (B) Managing trauma using natural supports; and (C) Assisting with crisis management and coping with potential crisis situations. (2)(a) The Oregon Health Authority shall provide funding to one or more peer-run organizations to operate four peer respite centers to complement existing local crisis response services, one each to be located in the Portland metropolitan area, the southern Oregon region, the Oregon coast and the central and eastern Oregon region. Each peer respite center shall provide up to two weeks of continuous peer respite services to six or fewer individuals. (b) At least one of the peer respite centers must participate in a pilot project designed specifically to provide culturally responsive services to historically underrepresented communities, such as communities of color including Black, African American, Latino, Asian, Asian American or Pacific Islander communities, or to the nine federally recognized tribes in this state. (3) The authority shall prescribe by rule the requirements for peer respite centers receiving funding under this section and may require peer respite centers to provide data and other reports to enable the authority to monitor and evaluate the services provided by the peer respite centers. (4) The authority shall collaborate with county behavioral health departments or contractors of county behavioral health departments to incorporate peer respite services into the continuum of care provided by the departments or contractors to individuals who are experiencing behavioral health crises or who may be at risk of experiencing behavioral health crises. (5) As a condition of the receipt of funding, peer-run organizations must allow the authority or the authority’s designees access to the peer respite centers to conduct investigations and assessments, as necessary, to ensure that residents receive the quality and scope of services required. [2021 c.626 §1]