Where do you start?
Start with the person's case manager, if they have one. If they do not, contact the community mental health program in the county where they live.
If the person has the Oregon Health Plan, their coordinated care organization (CCO) can also help.
Residential care in Oregon generally needs a referral and an authorization. The person is usually assessed as needing that level of care before a placement happens.
A case manager or county program typically helps with each step.
Step 1: Talk to the people already involved
Whoever already supports the person is the best first call. That could be:
- Their case manager.
- Their psychiatric provider or therapist.
- A social worker or discharge planner, if the person is in the hospital.
- A county or community program they already work with.
Tell them you are looking into residential care and ask what they recommend. They may already know which settings fit and how to start a referral.
If the person is in the hospital, ask about discharge planning early. Hospital staff often help arrange the next setting before someone leaves.
Step 2: Contact the county mental health program
Every county in Oregon has a community mental health program, often called a CMHP. It is usually the main public door into mental health services in that county, including residential care.
Call the program for the county where the person lives and ask how to request an assessment for residential treatment. If the person has no case manager, ask how to get connected to one.
Names and phone numbers vary by county. Search for your county name along with community mental health program, or ask any provider the person sees.
Step 3: When the person has the Oregon Health Plan
The Oregon Health Plan (OHP) is Oregon's Medicaid program. Most people on OHP are members of a coordinated care organization, which manages their physical and mental health benefits.
Call the member services number on the person's OHP card and ask about care coordination for mental health and residential treatment. The CCO can explain what is covered and how authorization works for that person.
If the person is not on OHP, ask whether they may qualify. A case manager or county program can usually help with an application.
If the person has private insurance or plans to pay privately, call the insurer or the homes directly. Coverage for residential mental health care varies a great deal.
Step 4: The assessment
Before residential care is arranged, someone will usually look at whether that level of support fits the person's needs. Depending on the situation, this might be someone from the county program, a CCO care coordinator, or a provider.
The assessment looks at how the person is doing day to day, what support they need, and what has and has not worked before.
Honest, specific information helps. If you are family, share what you see, with the person's knowledge.
The result helps decide which settings the person can be referred to and what funding is available.
Step 5: Referrals and openings
Once residential care is recommended, a referral goes to one or more homes. Each home reviews it and decides whether it can meet the person's needs.
Residential treatment homes are small, so openings can be limited. Ask the case manager how many homes the referral can go to, and whether the person can be considered by more than one at a time.
Visiting is a normal part of the process. Our list of questions to ask when touring works for any home.
What should you ask when you call?
Calls go better with a short list in front of you. Useful questions for a case manager, county program, or care coordinator:
- What level of care do you think fits, and what is that based on?
- What is the next step, and who takes it?
- Is an assessment needed, and how do we request one?
- Which homes or programs could the person be referred to?
- What will funding cover, and is there anything the person would pay for?
- Who should I call back, and when?
Write down names and dates. If you are calling on someone else's behalf, staff may need the person's permission before they can discuss details with you.
What can you do while you look?
- Keep a simple record of who you called, when, and what they said.
- Gather contact details for the person's providers and their insurance information.
- Ask the person's providers what support is available now, while a placement is arranged.
- Look after yourself too. Family support groups can help.
NAMI Oregon offers education and support programs for families of people living with mental illness.
When the person is not sure they want to move
Most residential treatment is voluntary, so the person's agreement matters. An adult generally decides where they live.
Talk about it honestly and early, and visit together if you can. Focus on what the person wants, like more stability or a step toward their own place, rather than on what you are afraid of.
If someone has a guardian appointed by a court, the guardian may have a role in decisions about where they live. A case manager can explain how that works.
When there is a crisis
Finding a residential home takes time.
If someone is in crisis now, call or text 988. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. Our resources page lists these numbers.
Taking the Next Step
If you are still learning what these homes are, start with what a residential treatment home is.
To see how admission will work at Melrose Residential, read our admissions page. We are pending licensure and not accepting residents or referrals yet. If you have questions, contact us.
