The CATS Model
The Crisis and Transition Services (CATS) was a state sponsored program, funded through Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and available to youth and families regardless of which insurance they had. The program provided short-term, intensive support to children and adolescents experiencing a mental health crisis who presented to an emergency department or crisis center. The program served as a bridge from the crisis care setting to long-term outpatient supports.
CATS offered a variety of in-home and community-based services, including: individual and family therapy, family peer support, psychiatry, care coordination and 24/7 crisis support.
Among these services, Family Support Specialists (FSS) worked side by side with clinicians to support families in a variety of important ways. For more detailed information on family peer support services, see Family Support Specialist Role Description & Activities (Updated Feb. 2022). An additional resource that supported families during enrollment in CATS was the CATS Guide for Families, available in both English and Spanish.
The image below describes the tiered approach, with support from clinical staff and peer support staff, starting with the initial crisis, moving through stabilization services and ultimately transitioning the youth and family to outpatient services to meet their ongoing needs.
The CATS program grew to include 13 programs in 12 counties throughout Oregon. Youth and families accessed the program through select emergency departments and crisis centers, outlined below.
Referring Hospital or Crisis Center: Samaritan Health Services ED
Clinical Team: Samaritan Health Services, Benton County Mental Health
Family Support Team: Oregon Family Support Network
Referring Hospital or Crisis Center: Providence Willamette Falls ED, Providence Milwaukie ED, Clackamas County Urgent Mental Health Walk-In Clinic
Clinical Team: Catholic Community Services
Family Support Team: Catholic Community Services
Referring Hospital or Crisis Center: St. Charles ED, Deschutes County Stabilization center, Deschutes County Mobile Crisis and Assess Team (MCAT)
Clinical Team: Youth Villages
Family Support Team: Youth Villages
Referring Hospital or Crisis Center: Asante Rogue Medical Center ED, Asante Ashland, Providence Medford
Clinical Team: Jackson County Mental Health
Family Support Team: Jackson County Mental Health
Referring Hospital or Crisis Center: All referrals come from mobile crisis team; can be ED, school, or home
Clinical Team: Klamath Basin Behavioral Health
Family Support Team: Klamath Basin Behavioral Health
Referring Hospital or Crisis Center: Riverbend Hospital & Medical Center, University District Sacred Heart Medical Center, Cottage Grove Hospital PeaceHarbor ED
Clinical Team: The Child Center
Family Support Team: The Child Center
Referring Hospital or Crisis Center: Linn County Mobile Crisis
Clinical Team: Linn County Behavioral Health
Family Support Team: OnellAnother
Referring Hospital or Crisis Center: Salem Hospital ED, Youth and Family Crisis Services, Psychiatric Crisis Center
Clinical Team: Marion County Behavioral Health
Family Support Team: Marion County Behavioral Health
Referring Hospital or Crisis Center: OHSU ED, Randall Children's Hospital ED, Cascadia Walk-In Clinic
Clinical Team: Catholic Community Services
Family Support Team: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Multnomah
Referring Hospital or Crisis Center: Grande Ronde Hospital
Clinical Team: Center for Human Development
Family Support Team: Center for Human Development
Referring Hospital or Crisis Center: Hawthorn Walk-In Clinic
Clinical Team: Catholic Community Services
Family Support Team: Lifeworks NW
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Referring Hospital or Crisis Center: Providence St. Vincent ED
Clinical Team: Catholic Community Services
Family Support Team: Catholic Community Services
See more about CATS: