Building Whole Health Together
Annual Report 2023-2024
Photo Credit: Michelle O’Shea
In a year marked by deep relationship building in our community, along with challenges and growth, Cascadia’s team of extraordinary people showed up. For our clients, for our community, for each other. As we look back, we celebrate the many ways we worked together to improve access to holistic care, housing support, connection, and stability — delivering Whole Health and honoring the courage and strength of those we serve.
Our Goal is Simple
Whole Health is for everyone. Over the past year, Cascadia Health opened up more doors to health and wellbeing by changing the way our communities access services. Here’s how:
People
Investing in our people to deliver Whole Health
After another year of sustained impact, we worked with staff to find ways to better reach clients and amplify how we serve our communities. Every member of our diverse team worked tirelessly last year to make the daily work of Cascadia possible. From our counselors, clinicians, and nurses, to our tech and data experts, project managers, and many more — we’re not stopping until everyone in our community has what they need for Whole Health.
1,245 individuals were employed at Cascadia, representing dozens of departments and hundreds of roles across 65 locations.
Our People Come First
2023 was a year of unwavering commitment to build a safe and welcoming environment where every employee who comes through our doors feels supported and able to thrive. We invested in programs, initiatives, and activities to promote wellbeing, safety, professional growth, and community, including:
Trauma Support Team
Over 100 employees received trauma support.
Strengths Based Leadership
23 employees completed this program that supports staff to explore, develop, and use personal strengths
in their work.
Licensure Supervision Support
70% of current employees received support to achieve at least one mental health, medical, psychiatric, substance use, or peer services credential.
Paid Volunteer Time Off
80 employees used 950 hours of paid volunteer time off, allowing them to give back to the causes that mean the most to them..
Investment in Training
96 interns were supervised and trained, among other investments.
Career Support
30 employees were active in the apprenticeship program, a career pathway that lets staff get on-the-job training.
Care
Opening more doors to Whole Health
Caring for our clients means caring for the whole person. This past year, our teams worked together to make sure our clients who came to us for mental health or addiction treatment could also see a doctor, fill medications, take a shower, have enough to eat, and find connection.
Between July 2023 and June 2024, Cascadia provided mental health and addiction treatment, primary care, housing support, wellness services, and crisis response to over 18,000 unique individuals and families across Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties, including 12,000 ongoing clients.
The Communities We Serve
10,292
received mental health services
1,075
received addiction treatment
2,288
received primary care
1,136
received wellness and community supports
6,115
individuals received crisis response services in the community
1,200
were provided housing and housing support
Transforming Together
Last year was a year of transformation. We took major strides to make sure that every person we serve has easier, faster, and equal access to the care that’s best for them.
What we achieved:
SHIFT
Cascadia participated in the first Strategic Healthcare Investment for Transformation Initiative (SHIFT) cohort. With intensive technical and financial resources provided by CareOregon, we took critical steps to reimagine and transform care delivery so that people are truly at the center of everything we do.
Peer Services
We saw exciting growth in our peer navigator program, increased peer support in staffed housing, and participated in the forensic navigator pilot, helping set the bar for better support of the Aid and Assist population.
Addiction Medicine & Harm
Reduction
We know that when we meet our clients exactly as they are, with acceptance, compassion, and respect, we support them to take steps towards recovery. Cascadia has worked to expand our addiction medication and harm reduction services to support more clients on their journey to hope, health, healing, and more.
Faster & Easier Access to Care
We made access to outpatient mental health care easier, faster, and more client-friendly. By radically changing our intake process, we connected 65% of individuals who came to Cascadia through a hospital discharge to services, and 77% of existing clients were connected to mental health services.
Team-Based Care
We put into practice team-based care, an evidence-based model of care where clinicians and service providers work together. From managing blood pressure or treating depression, to offering wellness services, our teams collaborate to provide the care clients need. Fifteen teams were trained, and over 2,600 clients have been assigned to providers working to meet their needs holistically.
Whole Health Under One Roof
Last year, we moved our Clackamas Health Center to a larger facility in the heart of Clackamas County — a move that allowed us to greatly expand access and broaden services. The new Talbert Health Center opened in November 2023, and now offers:
- 13 additional staff workstations
- A designated child and family space in the lobby
- A resource room (including laundry and shower facilities for clients to use)
- A child-sitting and family services room
- Additional group spaces
- Three additional primary care exam rooms, with the ability to add more down the road
- One extra care coordinator
- An additional psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner
Community
Deepening relationships within our communities, and raising our voices for change
From representing our communities before the Oregon Legislature, to connecting with our community partners and donors, relationships were a key ingredient to our impact last year.
Advocating For Change
Last year, we saw major wins in Salem, one of which was the Oregon Taskforce on Improving the Safety of Behavioral Health Workers. Directly aligned with Cascadia’s deep commitment to improve safety, two Cascadia behavioral health members were selected to serve on this task force that will lead regional collaboration and provide resources to protect those serving in this field. Learn about more our key wins in the 2023 Oregon Legislative Session.
Partnering in our Community
Prioritizing relationships with our partners meant that together we were able to reach and serve more people in our community.
Workgroups & Committees
Cascadia staff served on 45+ external committees
and workgroups.
Job & Resource Fairs
Outreach at over 20 community events, and promoting career opportunities.
Supplies & Donations
$760,918 in donations, 250+ pairs of socks in our Pride sock drive, nearly 100 kids at our school drive and haircut event.
Sponsorships
$28,735 in sponsorship of over a dozen nonprofit events.
Community Socials & Support Groups
Held monthly community wellness socials, bringing clients, families, and neighbors together for music, food, and fun. The Conversations on Aging team tabled at four events.
Spotlight on Safety
Our work is challenging and, at times, presents different risks. The need to recognize, foresee, and plan for safety situations is ongoing. This past year, our leadership and staff prioritized ways to improve and ensure safety and wellbeing for employees and clients alike. Along with creating organization-wide safety systems, Cascadia invested $1 million in safety measures:
- Hired Director of Security and full time Safety Administrator
- Increased safety staffing at each health center and two staff for all overnight shifts within staffed housing
- Updated camera systems and communication technology
- Improved lighting and visibility surrounding Cascadia sites
- Required Pro-ACT training as part of new employee orientation
- Received two appointments on the legislature’s Taskforce on Improving the Safety of Behavioral Health Workers
- Continued to advocate to county and state officials for appropriate funding and to increase safety for both staff and clients
Cascadia’s Employee Resource Groups, Caucuses, Community Groups, & Activities
- Pride Employee Resource Group
- PRIDE Caucus
- Launched the Disability Advocacy Group
- SURE (Show Up for Racial Equity) Resource Group
- Strengths Based Leadership cohort
- STIRY (Supporting Transgender Immigrant & Refugee Youth) group
- Weekly Mindfulness Moments
- Participated in Portland Pride
- Women of Cascadia Leadership Group
Whole Health Rooted in Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Since 2020, Cascadia has worked to weave equity into our daily work. Last year, we made major strides through the leadership of our Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Team who developed the 2024-2026 Equity Action Plan. The Team worked across the organization to engage staff and community in fostering a culture of equity and belonging.
Stewardship
Whole Health: Investing in our future
We know that in order to continue to serve our community for years to come, we must continue to strengthen our systems and stay at the forefront of innovation. Last year, we invested in:
- The new Talbert Health Center that offers more services and care
- Three new sites that expand our housing services
- Improvements to our electronic health record systems
- Higher salaries and benefits for all employees
- Workplace safety and security
Funding
In 2023, Cascadia received a total of $105 million in funding:
- 54% ($57 million) from clinical and residential services (fee-for-service and case rates)
- 38% ($40 million) from contracts and grants
- 8% ($8 million) from other revenue, including investment, rental, and fundraising income
Our Board and Leadership
We are proud to have a dedicated Board of Directors and team of leaders who are passionate about Whole Health. Last year presented many challenges, as well as exciting transformations, and a new vision for the future, and we’re grateful for their leadership through it all.
In 2023, we welcomed Laquida “Q” Landford onto our board of directors.
Our Donors
Our donors enable us to deliver transformative health and housing services to people of all ages. Because of their generous support, we advance our mission of Whole Health year after year.
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