Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and community partners broke ground on Sept. 29 for a new residential mental health treatment facility for youth in Central Oregon. The 16-bed center in Redmond will help young people ages 12–17 who are experiencing a mental health crisis.
Ebony Clarke, OHA’s behavioral health director, said the new center shows Oregon’s commitment to making mental health care easier to access. She said young people and families deserve compassionate care when they need it most.
Funding the project
Community members, mental health providers, and lawmakers spoke at the event and agreed that this center will help fill gaps in behavioral health services in the area.
The project received $3 million through House Bill 5024. Other funding came from:
- Oregon Department of Administrative Services
- Central Oregon Health Council
- Federal appropriations
- Headwaters Behavioral Health, the facility developer
There are two similar youth treatment centers that were funded through HB 5024 in Boardman and Tigard. Combined, the two facilities have 36 beds. When the new center opens in Redmond, Oregon will have more than 50 youth residential treatment beds.
Why this facility is needed
In 2024, St. Charles Health System published a report that showed that Central Oregon doesn’t have enough psychiatric beds and treatment options for youth. Many young people have had to wait in emergency rooms for a long time while staff try to find care.
Molly Wells Darling, senior behavioral health director at St. Charles, said the new facility is something the community has been working toward for years. She said youth in crisis deserve care close to home.
The new facility will offer:
- Therapy
- Medication management
- Life skills training
- Academic support
Youth may stay between 14 days and up to several months, depending on what they need. Headwaters Behavioral Health will operate the Redmond facility when it opens in late 2027.
Continued investment in youth behavioral health
OHA will continue investing in programs that strengthen Oregon’s behavioral health system and improve youth access to treatment.
Learn more about OHA programs for children and young adults on the OHA Healthy People and Families webpage.