Mid-Columbia Center for living staff, board members and county commissioners gathered for a ribbon-cutting at the new children's services space, 1935 E. Nineteenth Street, The Dalles, on Jan. 29.
Mid-Columbia Center for living staff, board members and county commissioners gathered for a ribbon-cutting at the new children's services space, 1935 E. Nineteenth Street, The Dalles, on Jan. 29.
THE DALLES — Mental health resources for children just expanded, with Mid-Columbia Center for Living (MCCFL) moving that branch of services to a separate larger building, where parents and guardians can access more parenting classes in English and Spanish, more parent child interactive therapy rooms, assessments and counseling.
MCCFL’s children’s department moved from an increasingly “snug” space on Webber Street to a larger space upstairs at 1935 E. 19th, The Dalles, allowing them to expand their services for children in “a kid-focused, family-friendly environment,” said Executive Assistant Bonita Snyder.
“There’s some increased need” for services in the region, said Kalyn Sherwood, clinical manager for the children’s programs. They’re also expanding to help the schools and filling more referrals, as more people find out what MCCFL offers.
That includes mental health services — diagnosis and assessment, outpatient therapy for groups and individuals, crisis services, psychiatric evaluations, referrals and help with medication. Also, substance use disorder (SUD) services. MCCFL covers Hood River, Wasco and Sherman counties.
The new space in Columbia Crest Professional Center started seeing clients on Jan. 16. “We got to draw it up from scratch,” Sherwood said. “It was just concrete floors and empty rafters.”
Newly added were two new parent child interactive therapy (PCIT) rooms. These friendly, toy-filled rooms separated by a one-way mirror, so trained staff with a Bluetooth earset can coach parents. The child knows the staff member is there, but still gets special one-on-one time with their guardian.
“These walls see some things and hear some things. There’s oftentimes generational trauma, different pieces where parent didn’t learn ways to connect, or be gentle and soothing and nurturing,” said Courtney Reyes, who leads the program. Another common theme is self-esteem problems in the child. This way, parents and children learn simultaneously.
Other services include a drop-in for young adults, currently opens two days a week in Hood River and The Dalles; for information call 541-300-0911. The amount of cake and sofas is comfortable for about 15 youth, but nobody will be turned away for lack of space.
Health insurance pays for routine children’s care, like counseling and psychiatry. While most customers have Oregon Health Plan (which is Oregon’s Medicaid program), MCCFL offers a sliding fee to those who don’t qualify for health insurance. Families can provide proof of income and pay a reduced fee, said Executive Director Al Barton.
Urgent services like crisis response are free, funded by the state and a PacificSource community solutions contract.
Safety net and outreach services are mostly funded by a direct contract from the Oregon Health Authority, and money from a PacificSource coordinated care organization.
Right now, MCCFL serves an estimated 300 kids, according to Reyes. She hopes the ripple effects grow much larger as siblings and families benefit.
Sherwood acknowledged that asking for help can be hard. “Sometimes parents are hesitant because they think they’re gonna get judged,” Sherwood said. She and Reyes said she’d rather have people come in and address their concerns — even if it turns out the child is fine — than lose the chance to help a kid or parent in difficulties. “I always say it never hurts to come in and ask that question. So someone could call and kind of run through a scenario,” Reyes said.
A mental health assessment is given to each child. If that proves a child is not eligible for a program, the child’s guardians still get a therapist’s recommendations, or a referral.
MCCFL’s website holds an overwhelming amount of information, for those comfortable on the web. But the easiest way, Sherwood said, is call the front desk and ask about these services. Staff can help find the right program.
Three years ago, MCCFL was “financially strapped, had significant leadership challenges, was faced with a workforce departure and trying to cope with the pandemic. The fact that I’m speaking to all of you now, literally as the organization grows and is able to create new investments where both staff and families can experience care is a great accomplishment,” said Sherman County Commissioner and MCCFL Board Member Joan Bird.
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