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Strategic Healthcare Investment for Transformation (SHIFT)

Advancing behavioral health in Oregon 

CareOregon’s Strategic Healthcare Investment for Transformation (SHIFT) program is a new investment in transforming specialty behavioral health organizations across Oregon. It has been created to ensure that people with behavioral health needs are truly at the center of care delivery and care teams thrive. Through a collaborative process, SHIFT will build member-driven, outcome-focused, team-based care models that reduce health disparities, assure timely access to care and prepare providers for advanced value-based payment models.

Why now?

CareOregon is committed to a vision where members in each of its regions have access to a high-performing behavioral health home. After decades of systemic underinvestment in behavioral health at the local, state and federal levels that have resulted in the significant access challenges and health inequities seen today, we are entering a new phase of opportunity for transforming behavioral health. New and significant financial investments are being made to shore up specialty behavioral health services, and we must capitalize on this opportunity to reimagine and transform the practice of care delivery. 

SHIFT components

Over the next five years, the SHIFT program will support clinical, financial and operational transformation by: 

  • Defining the principles and operational components (“building blocks”) of excellent behavioral health care, in collaboration with community stakeholders
  • Engaging 8-10 diverse behavioral health organizations to implement the building blocks, and providing them with intensive technical and financial resources toward accomplishing program goals
  • Depending on the success of earlier stages, refining and expanding to include additional behavioral health organizations across CareOregon’s networks 

Timeline for SHIFT

  • April 13, 2023: SHIFT Learning and Advisory Council launch meeting 
  • September-December 2023: Behavioral Health providers apply for and are selected for SHIFT 
  • January 2024+: Behavioral Health providers selected to participate in the first SHIFT cohort will be guided through a comprehensive self-assessment and planning process before beginning implementation 

SHIFT Learning and Advisory Council

We are excited to announce the launch of the SHIFT Learning and Advisory Council, and we welcome our valued council members! 

The SHIFT Learning and Advisory Council will be providing strategic advice and guidance to CareOregon for the SHIFT program during at least the program's first launch year. Specific responsibilities of the Council will include: 

  • Guiding the development of, recommending and endorsing a set of “building blocks” for delivery of excellent behavioral health care to be used in the SHIFT program.
  • Advising on the components of companion tools and technical support strategies for SHIFT participating providers.
  • Advising on the evaluation plan for the SHIFT program .
  • Advising on the eligibility and selection process for SHIFT Participating Providers  .

SHIFT Learning and Advisory Council members for the April 2023-March 2024 year.

In late 2023, providers across all CareOregon networks will be invited to apply to be part of the first cohort of organizations receiving operational supports through the SHIFT program. To stay up to date on SHIFT provider cohort application information and timelines, continue to check back on this website, or email SHIFT@careoregon.org. 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

The eligibility and selection process for the first SHIFT cohort has not been determined; advising on that process will be a responsibility for the Learning and Advisory Council. Once decided, there will be an application process in September through December of 2023. 

Participation in the Learning and Advisory Council does not suggest later participation in SHIFT’s first cohort of providers. There will be a separate application process for the Learning and Advisory Council and SHIFT program participation. 

Unlike Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), that have a formal designation/certification and are required to serve clients across the lifespan,  and both mental health and SUD services, SHIFT is not a certification program and will intentionally support providers who serve specific populations or offer specific service arrays (e.g., mental health only, or SUD only). We envision that CCBHCs will benefit from the operational structure and processes to be outlined through SHIFT. 

“Building blocks” are the core components of specialty behavioral health care necessary to deliver the SHIFT vision. They include the specific operational processes and structural elements required for behavioral health agencies to operate efficient and effective services according to the guiding values. The full set of building blocks to be used in SHIFT will be guided by the Learning and Advisory Council. The concept of building blocks is modeled off of a similar framework established for person-centered primary care homes. 

The full support plan will be developed over 2023 but is anticipated to include: 

  • Organizational assessments, support for business plan development
  • Financial resources around $1.5-$3.5m for achieving milestones
  • Operational playbook development to promote systemization, technical assistance, leadership coaching
  • Financial monitoring and forecasting tools
  • Engagement from CareOregon leaders and technical teams, National Council for Mental Wellbeing, financial consulting firm CohnReznick, and the Center for Outcomes Research and Education

The Learning and Advisory Council is initially being established for the program’s first launch year, and its membership and objectives will be re-evaluated in 2024. 

The SHIFT program as a whole is currently resourced to support approximately 8-10 behavioral health agencies, but we are hopeful that, with successful outcomes, the program will be able to expand its reach in the future.

Have more questions? Contact the SHIFT program team at SHIFT@careoregon.org.