OABHI Coos & Curry

Oregon Older Adult Behavioral Health Initiative (OABHI) was created by Oregon Health Authority to promote awareness and education about the unique needs of older adults. There are 24 older adult behavioral health specialists (OABHS) assigned to one or more of the 36 counties in Oregon. Oregon Health Authority funds the OABHS positions and contracted to county community health providers or designated CCO in the respective coverage area/county. OABHS are mostly master level educated and QMHP-C with work experiences in the human and social service fields. The core role of OABHS include: promotion of education regarding older adult and mental health needs to develop the workforce competency and also consumer education; provide complex case consultations to organizations/agencies and the older adult themselves or family/natural support; and build relationships with the medical and mental health system to improve services, aligned older adult needs and resources and create opportunities to partner with organizations to improve the overall health outcomes of older adults in their community. The south coast region, OABHI that encompasses Coos and Curry Counties is currently contracted at Coos Health & Wellness. (CHW) However, the OABHI – Coos & Curry serves both counties and ALL older adults regardless if the older adult is NOT a consumer of services at CHW, type of health insurance coverage, and/or organization affiliations.