School districts like Phoenix-Talent hemorrhaged students due to the exodus caused by the Almeda Fire s destruction of housing. While this would normally cause a drop in funding, Rep. Pam Marsh
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Oregon Considers a New Approach to People in Mental Crisis This bill proposes to create safe places where people who’ve had mental health crises themselves i.e., peers would provide the services. House Bill 2980 offers hope. (Chris Nesseth)
BILL OF THE WEEK: House Bill 2980
WHAT IT WOULD DO: HB 2980 would provide funding for three peer respite centers short-term, homelike facilities for people experiencing mental health crises. Currently, people suffering such crises often end up in jail or emergency rooms, neither of which are equipped to handle them. This bill proposes instead to create safe places where people who ve had mental health crises themselves i.e., peers would provide the services. There would be three centers: one in the Portland metro area, another in Southern Oregon, and a third in Eastern O