Ontrack, Inc

Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program for Paraprofessionals - Short Description: Ontrack Requests a $1.4M Bhwet Grant to Expand On-pace, Ontrack’s Peer and Counselor Education Program. Ontrack Will Expand Its Didactic Curriculum and Community-based Experiential Learning to Increase the Skills, Knowledge and Capacity of Up to 20 Level 1 Trainees Each Year Who Are Preparing to Become Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors (cadc). With Ontrack’s New Family Treatment Campus Slated to Open in 2026 and a New Contract to Place a Cadc in Every Middle and High School in the Medford School District, Ontrack Is Also Seeking to Enhance Services for Children and Families. On-pace Will Increase Opportunities for Trainees to Develop Knowledge and Understanding of the Needs of Children, Adolescents, and Transitional-age Youth, Who Have Experienced Trauma and Are at Risk for Behavioral Health Disorders Including Anxiety, Depression, and Substance Use Disorders. On-pace Will Also Emphasize Developmental Opportunities and Educational Support in Interprofessional Collaboration by Using Team-based Care in Integrated Behavioral Health and Primary Care Settings to Improve the Distribution of a Well-trained Behavioral Health Workforce. Ultimately, Ontrack Aims to Recruit a Workforce That Is Interested in Working in Our High Demand, High Need Region of Southern Oregon, at Ontrack or Another Agency. Needs Addressed: Oregon Has Some of the Highest National Rates for Substance Use Disorders (suds), But Some of the Lowest Rates for Treatment Access. Within Ontrack’s High Need, High Demand Service Area of Jackson and Josephine Counties, the Prevalence of Suds Are Among the Highest in Oregon, and There Is a Significant Workforce Shortage to Address the Needs, Which Leads to High Levels of Hospitalization and Can Lead to Death. Jackson County Is Estimated to Have an Overall 47% Gap in Sud Treatment Services, Including a 44% Gap in Cadcs, and Josephine County Has a 42% Gap in Sud Services, and a 40% Gap in Cadcs. Because Funding for Alcohol and Drug Primary Prevention Is Limited, Youth Are Needing Treatment From Cadcs at Higher Rates. Proposed Services: Each Year Ontrack Will Recruit Two Six-month On-pace Cohorts of Ten Full-time Level 1 Trainees. Each Trainee Will Receive at Minimum 150 Hours of Alcohol, Drug and Addictions Education, the Required Hours to Become a Cadc in Oregon With at Minimum 25 Hours Focused on Youth. Each On-pace Trainee Will Also Receive 84 Experiential Learning Hours at Four Field Placements That Have Interprofessional Teams and Telehealth: at Ontrack, 30 Hours at an Outpatient Clinic, 30 Hours at a Residential Treatment Facility, and 8 Hours at Emergency Lodging; and 16 Hours at a Community Partner Site That Is a Primary Care Facility, a School, or a Community Outreach Partner. Population Groups: Ontrack and Experiential Sites Serve Individuals, Youth and Families in the High Need, High Demand Areas of Jackson and Josephine Counties, Both of Which Are Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas With Scores of 19. Most of the Patient Populations Served by Ontrack and Experiential Learning Sites Are Vulnerable Populations Are Living in Poverty, Are Living in Rural Communities (20% of Jackson County and 45% of Josephine County Are Rural Areas) With Isolation From Services, Are Unhoused, and Experience Other Factors That Impact Their Ability to Access Services. Funding Priority: Ontrack Is Requesting Funding Priority 1. Evidence That Our Programs Emphasize the Role of the Family and the Lived Experience of the Consumer and Family-paraprofessional Partnership Are in Attachment 8. Funding Preference: Ontrack Is Requesting Funding Preferences 1 and 2. Evidence of How On-pace Has Achieved Both a High Rate and a Significant Increase (in the 2-YEAR Period Preceding the Fiscal Year for This Award) of Placing Program Completers in Practice Settings That Have a Principal Focus of Serving Residents of Medically Underserved Communities Is in Attachment 8.