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CareOregon is proud to announce the launch of the Strategic Healthcare Investment for Transformation (SHIFT) initiative. This program is a new investment in transforming behavioral health organizations across Oregon so that people with behavioral health needs are truly at the center of care delivery, and care teams can thrive. 

Through a collaborative process, SHIFT will build member-driven, outcomes-focused, team-based care models that reduce health inequities, assure timely access to care and prepare providers for advanced value-based payment models. 

Why now?  

CareOregon is committed to a vision where members in each of its regions have access to a high-performing behavioral health “home.” Decades of systemic underinvestment in behavioral health at the local, state and federal levels have resulted in significant capacity challenges and health inequities. 

“We are entering a new phase of opportunity for transforming behavioral health,” says Jill Archer, CareOregon Vice President of Behavioral Health. “New and significant financial investments are being made to shore up specialty behavioral health services, and we must capitalize on this opportunity to reimagine and transform care delivery.” 

SHIFT components 

The SHIFT initiative will support clinical, financial and operational transformation by: 

• Defining the principles and operational components (“Building Blocks”) of excellent outpatient behavioral health care, in collaboration with community stakeholders. 
• Engaging six diverse behavioral health agencies and providing them with intensive technical and financial resources to implement the Building Blocks, learn what works, and accomplish the SHIFT goals. 
• Refining the initiative and expanding its reach to additional behavioral health agency across CareOregon’s networks. 

Who is participating 

Six diverse behavioral health agencies have been selected to participate in the first SHIFT cohort. They are: 

• Cascadia Health
• Clackamas County Health Centers
• ColumbiaCare Services
• Morrison Child and Family Services
• New Narrative
• VOA Oregon

“We're excited to welcome these agencies to the SHIFT community!” Archer says. “We look forward to sharing learnings and outcomes as we begin engagement with this first cohort through 2026. We’re proud to work with our partners to foster environments of healing.” 

For more information, contact SHIFT@careoregon.org or visit www.careoregon.org/SHIFT 

Media Contact:  

Erich Ericson  
Vice President, Branding, Marketing and Communications  
612-226-8741  
media@careoregon.org