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Legislative Action Team

 

We work with bipartisan policy advocates at the state and federal levels to advance legislative policy that is research-driven and supports our mission – preventing substance abuse and suicide and promoting mental wellness. 

We need your help! Your legislators need to hear about what these issues mean to you. Sign up here to join our Legislative Action Team and be alerted when in-person lobby days, letter and phone campaigns, or other direct action is needed to make change in our communities. 

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Here’s What Oregon Won in Previous Sessions 

 

With Lines for Life’s help and your support, legislators approved the following changes to state policy. 

2021: 

  • Create a statewide coordinated crisis system consistent with the framework of the National Suicide Hotline Act of 2020, establishing 988 as the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. 
  • Establish incentive program for behavioral health workforce aimed at increasing the number of providers who are people of color, tribal members, or residents of rural communities who can provide culturally responsive behavioral health services. Establishes a program to support the provision of clinical supervision. 
  • Prevent suicide by educating behavioral health care workers in suicide prevention, intervention and treatment. Require providers to complete continuing education related to suicide risk assessment. 
  • Establish four peer-supported respite centers (Portland metropolitan area, Southern Oregon, Central/Eastern Oregon, and the Oregon Coast) to serve individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis. 

2019: 

Suicide Prevention: 

  • $10 million commitment to youth suicide prevention 
  • Adi’s Act (partnership with Basic Rights Oregon) – requires schools to have suicide prevention plans in place and requires specific consideration for populations at increased risk 
  • Create Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory Committee 
  • Require schools and universities to report student suicide deaths 
  • Funding for suicide prevention in schools 
  • Schools allow excused absences for mental health reasons 

Substance Abuse Prevention 

  • Declare substance use disorders as chronic illnesses 
  • Expand Naloxone access to prevent overdose deaths 
  • Establish a Prescription Drug Takeback program