Project Respond

Update due to COVID-19 (posted 6/23/20)

Amid this public health crisis, the Project Respond Mobile Crisis Team will continue to provide community support during this time. The team will be doing as much remote work as possible; working via phone for initial conversation and developing appropriate follow-up plans. Face-to-face will be reserved for the highest acuity and those who cannot be reached by phone.

Our Behavioral Health Response Team will continue to work closely with Portland Police and provide remote, as well as face-to-face, services.

Our Project Respond ED Liaisons, Library Team, Shelter Team are all temporarily on hold until the coronavirus/COVID-19 order is lifted. Please contact the Project Respond Crisis Team for immediate needs.

Project Respond is a mobile mental health crisis response team that provides an array of crisis, specialized, and culturally aware services. Project Respond focuses on helping an individual and/or family regain a sense of control over thoughts, feelings, and events. Individual strengths and preferences are considered during all support interventions.

Project Respond Crisis Team is the core of crisis services. Clinicians provide crisis risk assessment and support to individuals and families in Multnomah County 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Once an individual is referred for services Project Respond crisis clinicians will:

  • Speak directly to referent to gather information
  • Provide on-site risk assessment and safety planning
  • Provide follow-up services to support recovery from a crisis
  • Provide linkage to peer wellness services Crisis teams will respond in groups of two and provide services in the community where the individual/family is located.

Because even in crisis the individual remains the expert on what is likely to benefit them, planning for safety is a collaborative process between the individual and clinician. Project Respond strives to provide the least restrictive option and may provide ongoing assessment or reassessment over the course of days.

  • Emergency Department Liaisons (ED) ED Liaisons provide outreach and support to individuals identified by local emergency departments to help support and assist in access to services and decrease the risk of further crises.
  • Family Crisis Stabilization Specialists (FCSS) FCSS clinicians respond to children, adolescents, and families identified as in crisis or at risk of experiencing a mental health crisis as well as follow-up support and services to bridge the gap to longer-term services and supports.
  • Peer Wellness Specialists (PWS) PWS provide an opportunity for individuals referred by the crisis team to engage in peer-driven services focused on acceptance, hope, options and opportunities, and problem-solving. Services are provided by specialists with similar or shared lived experiences.
  • Library Crisis Services (LCS) LCS provide outreach, engagement and crisis response to individuals utilizing the Multnomah County Library System as well as education and consultation to library staff.
  • Shelter Behavioral Health Team (SBHT) SBHT are a group of counselors and peers who take referrals from all publically funded shelters to provide
    guests experiencing distress with an in-person behavioral health intervention.

Clinicians from Project Respond work on an integrated team with Gresham Police to provide support and assistance to individuals in the community experiencing a mental health crisis and having contact with Gresham Police. All referrals come internally from Gresham Police.

Clinicians from Project Respond partner with the Portland Police Behavioral Health Unit to provide coordinated response teams to assist individuals in a mental health crisis who are having contact with Portland Police. This is a follow-up service and all referrals come internally from Portland Police.

We’re here for you 24/7.
Contact Project Respond via the Multnomah County Call Center 503-988-4888.

Urgent Walk-in Clinic

As of June 22, Urgent Walk-In Clinic will expand hours back to 7:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily.

Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare’s Urgent Walk-in Clinic is open seven days a week from 7:00 AM to 10:30 PM and serves all individuals in Multnomah County regardless of insurance, income, or age. Our Urgent Walk-in Clinic strives to provide appropriate care for those experiencing a behavioral health crisis. Every visitor is treated as a unique individual with their own values, beliefs, culture, and life experiences.

Our short-term services are based on clinical needs, and may include:

  • Counseling
  • Referrals to affordable mental health care
  • Psychiatric prescriber services
  • Substance treatment referrals
  • Other community resources

Our Urgent Walk-In Clinic is open 7 days a week from 7:00 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. 4212 SE Division, Suite 100, Portland, OR 97206. Call us at 503-963-2575.

Crisis Respite

Crisis Respite is designed to provide short-term stability and supports to individuals who are experiencing a mental health-related crisis. This is a community-based alternative to psychiatric hospitalization, or as a step-down from higher levels of care. Respite is a voluntary program, which works collaboratively with residents and community treatment providers to address an individuals’ treatment needs, while also resolving their particular crisis. Respite occurs in a supportive atmosphere, away from everyday stressors that may impact an individual’s sense of wellness.

We provide a stable home-like environment with lounge areas, three meals a day cooked and served by staff, medication reminders and assistance, and safety planning and ongoing support and assessment of needs.

Individuals are supported in their wellness goals and recovery. They are also encouraged to maintain contact with their family, friends, and community during their treatment.

If you are a hospital, community or mental health organization and want to inquire on how to refer a client to Cascadia’s Crisis Respite program, please contact us at the Rockwood Respite 503-243-2236, or our Tigard Respite 503-747-4338.