Our mission is to grow and nourish the network of aging and behavioral health care partners.
Our Priority Focus Areas
- Serious Mental Illness
- Substance Use
Our Purpose
Support the behavioral health of older adults in Oregon.
Theory of Change
Use a system approach to impact behavioral health by leveraging programs, policies and research
Our Work
OCEBHA has four main goals for our work to support older adult behavioral health in Oregon and beyond.
- Serve as a “backbone” organization for partners and community engagement.
- Increase the knowledge and skills of partners in care.
- Become nationally recognized for community-engaged behavioral health and aging research.
- Serve as a resource for policy, innovation, and systems change.
Steering Committee
The Steering Committee is a partnership with local leaders in older adult and behavioral health services. Pivotal to the leadership of OCEBHA, they contribute diverse professional, identity, and community perspectives that help guide the activities of the Center.
Dannielle Brown, LPC
CCO Behavioral Health Director
PacificSource Health Plans
Nirmala Dhar, LCSW, ACSW
Older Adult Behavioral Health Lead Strategist,
Older Adult BH Initiative Project Director,
PASRR Level II (SMI) State Coordinator,
CDC Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Team Oregon Healthy Brain Initiative Team (BOLD)
Rod Harwood, QMHP-C
Older Adult Behavioral Health Coordinator Greater Oregon Behavioral Health Inc. (GOBHI)
Serena Hasworth, MPH
Program Director Better with Age Initiative Research Associate Portland State University Institute on Aging
Melinda Hicks, PPS
Peer Support Specialist Mental Health and Addiction Association of Oregon
Teresa Hogue
Executive Director Redmond Senior Center
Laura Hunker, LCSW
Tribal Affairs Consultant, Aging and People with Disabilities,
Oregon Department of Human Services
Mary Jaeger, MPA, MSG
External Affairs Director Oregon Department of Consumer & Business Services
Peggy Maguire, JD
Board Chair and President Cambia Health Foundation
Mary J. Mayer, USAF (Ret)
Commissioner Governor's Commission on Senior Services
Maureen Nash, MD, MS, FAPA, FACP, DFAAGP
Medical Director, Providence ElderPlace PACE Oregon
Angela Neal
Executive Director Oregon Care Partners
Troy Preble BAAS, CRM
Manager of Aging Well Programming Cascade AIDS Project
Cherryl Ramirez, MPH, MPA
Executive Director
Association of Oregon Community
Mental Health Programs
Bandana Shrestha
State Director AARP Oregon
Laura Suarez, LCSW, LICSW, CADC II
Social Work Manager,
Transitional Care Program Manager,
Division of Care Management, Oregon Health & Science University
Oliver Wallace, BS
Case Manager, Friendly House
Keren Brown Wilson, PhD
Founder and Board Chair, AGE+
Founder and CEO, The Jessie F. Richardson Foundation
Leadership Academy
The Oregon Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health and Aging’s Leadership Academy is a yearly, cohort-based program focused on developing leaders in the fields of behavioral health and aging. The Leadership Academy is designed to enhance participants’ knowledge and leadership skills through collaborative learning with peers across the state.
Tyler Anderson
Helen Beaman
Kristen Jane Bebell
Sharon Bliss
Andrea Cornwell
Samantha Fisher
Missy Fry, LCSW
Alicia Garrison
Yoni Kahn
Jenny Kelson
Kamilla Larson
Erika Moore, LCSW
Molly Osborne
Douglass Ruth, LCSW
Jeni Salazar
Jenna Sant-Wing
Steph Spann
Carmen Young
Prudence Zollinger, LCSW
Our Funders
OCEBHA was established in 2024 through a competitive contract from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) using US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Block Grant funds (IGA #181511).