(1) That the provision of public assistance to children in very low income families would help keep families together and reduce hardship in times of high unemployment;
(2) That the lack of public assistance to two-parent unemployed families does not produce significant financial savings for the State of Oregon since family break-up increases the number of single-parent families receiving public assistance;
(3) That children in two-parent unemployed families have needs as urgent as those of children in single-parent unemployed families;
(4) That the provision of public assistance to two-parent unemployed families may provide access to medical care for these families, health being one of the prerequisites to seeking and maintaining employment;
(5) That because federal law requires active participation in employment and other alternatives to be eligible for federal funds for public assistance, the availability of federal funds helps those families who are trying hardest to help themselves be self-supporting; and
(6) That additional funds need to be made available in the temporary assistance for needy families program to effectuate this policy. [Formerly 418.180; 2015 c.765 §21]
PILOT PROGRAM
Note: Sections 2 and 4 (2), chapter 574, Oregon Laws 2019, provide:
Sec. 2. Mental and Behavioral Health Pilot Program. (1) As used in this section:
(a) "Coordinated care organization" has the meaning given that term in ORS 414.025.
(b) "TANF" means aid or services provided in the temporary assistance for needy families program under ORS 412.006.
(2) The Oregon Health Authority, in consultation with the Department of Human Services, shall administer a Mental and Behavioral Health Pilot Program to award grants to up to four coordinated care organizations for the purpose of assessing potential gaps in access by TANF recipients to mental and behavioral health services and to drug and alcohol treatment services through the state medical assistance program.
(3) The authority, in consultation with the department, shall:
(a) Select at least one coordinated care organization serving rural areas and at least one coordinated care organization serving urban areas to participate in the pilot program; and
(b) Adopt by rule application procedures and eligibility requirements for grant recipients, including, but not limited to, a demonstrated commitment to partner with local offices of the Department of Human Services, hospitals and health systems that are located in the geographic area served by the coordinated care organization.
(4) At a minimum, grant recipients shall develop and implement a:
(a) Survey or assessment process to identify TANF applicants with a need for mental health or substance abuse services;
(b) Process to refer TANF recipients with identified needs for services to the level of care appropriate to their need; and
(c) Process for tracking the results of the referrals.
(5) A coordinated care organization that receives a grant from the pilot program shall collect and report to the authority, in the manner prescribed by the authority, the following information:
(a) The number of TANF recipients screened for mental health or substance abuse services;
(b) The number of TANF recipients with an identified need for mental health or substance abuse services; and
(c) For TANF recipients with an identified need for mental health or substance abuse services:
(A) The number of TANF recipients referred by the coordinated care organization for mental health or substance abuse services;
(B) The number of referrals that resulted in a visit with a health care provider and the time that elapsed between the referral and the visit;
(C) Whether the TANF recipient was enrolled in a patient-centered primary care home at the time of the visit or as a result of the visit;
(D) The number of TANF recipients for whom a treatment plan was established or who had a follow-up appointment with a primary health care provider and the services provided;
(E) Other factors indicating that the TANF recipient accessed appropriate services in a timely manner; and
(F) The barriers faced by the TANF recipients in accessing the services identified in their treatment plans.
(6) The pilot program shall begin on or after February 1, 2020.
(7) The authority, in consultation with the department, shall evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot program based on the information reported by coordinated care organizations under subsection (6) of this section and based on the evaluation shall:
(a) Develop educational materials containing best practices learned from the pilot program and make the materials available to coordinated care organizations; and
(b) No later than March 30, 2022, report to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to health on the need for mental health and substance abuse services and provide an assessment of the barriers faced by TANF recipients in accessing mental health or substance abuse treatment and services through the state medical assistance program and make recommendations for legislative changes necessary to address the barriers and meet the need. [2019 c.574 §2]
Sec. 4. Sunset. (2) Section 2, chapter 574, Oregon Laws 2019, is repealed on July 1, 2022. [2019 c.574 §4; 2020 s.s.2 c.10 §37(2)]