Families across Oregon have a new source of hope and healing. A secure inpatient treatment facility has opened in Eugene through a partnership between Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and Nexus Family Healing. With 12 new beds, the state can now support more youth who need a safe, structured place to heal.
A supportive environment for youth
Youth who come to secure inpatient programs often need care that goes beyond what community providers can offer. These programs give young people a chance to stabilize, learn new skills, and build confidence. Most stay six to nine months, working with people who are trained to help them navigate difficult challenges.
With the 12 new beds in Eugene, Oregon now has 44 secure inpatient program (SIP) beds for youth—20 in Corvallis for youth ages 12-17, and 12 beds in Portland for children ages 5-11.
Jessie Eagan, OHA’s child and family behavioral health manager, shared that growing Oregon’s secure residential options is vital to ensure young people with complex behavioral health challenges get the right level of care in a safe, healing environment.
A bigger commitment to behavioral health
The new Nexus facility is one of several youth behavioral health projects underway across the state. Many of these efforts began in 2024 and will continue through 2027. Through House Bill 5024 passed in 2021, OHA invested $6.8 million to support new treatment facilities including:
- Madrona Recovery Center in Washington County
- Community Counseling Solutions in Morrow County
- Looking Glass in Lane County
- Live. Grow. Share. in Eugene
By the end of 2027, Oregon will have 311 SIP beds for youth across the state, meaning that youth can get the care they need sooner, and closer to home.
A growing system of care for all people in Oregon
As youth services expand, Oregon’s adult behavioral health system is also growing. The state is adding 1,660 licensed residential treatment beds for adults—an increase of more than 45 percent. Over 1,000 of these beds are already open, and nearly 600 more are expected to open within the next two and a half years. The state funded 960 of these beds.
The new campus
The new Nexus campus was funded through a $3 million grant from House Bill 5024 (2021). Toni Miller, executive director at Nexus, said the campus was designed to help youth heal, learn, and grow. She said the new space shows the strong commitment from both Nexus and the state to support Oregon’s youth.
Starting September 2, Nexus began accepting youth ages 10–17. Access to the facility will be managed by OHA.
Nexus Family Healing provides specialized residential and community-based mental health services for youth and families, with programs in both Portland and Eugene. Their work centers on compassion, stability, and helping young people discover brighter futures.
As Oregon continues to strengthen is behavioral health system, the opening of the Eugene Nexus facility represents more than added beds—it shows a community coming together to support its youth. The work that goes into these new spaces reflects the belief that every child deserves safety, understanding, and the opportunity to thrive.