Independence and Well-being of People in Residential Facilities

Every person deserves the opportunity to strive for as much independence and self-determination as possible. Oregon should ensure that people with mental illness can live as independently as they’re able.

The State of Oregon contracted with a national corporation, KEPRO, to evaluate whether people with mental illness living in residential mental healthcare placements were still eligible for those services. Residents, guardians, and providers called Disability Rights Oregon with concerns that some people were being moved out against their will, without enough planning for their future. We investigated and found that the Oregon Health Authority wasn’t tracking outcomes for these individuals - they didn’t know whether people who had been moved out were ending up homeless, institutionalized, or even dead.

We pressed the Oregon Health Authority about its program. In response, the agency created a first-ever analysis of the long-term health of people with mental illness in the residential care system. We worked with the state to improve transition planning and ensure a safe landing for people stepping down to a lower level of care. This will help the state to identify people in need and to move the system as a whole towards promoting long-term well-being and quality of life.