Washington County's Deflection Program has connected 166 people to substance use treatment and support services in its first two years, with two-thirds of unhoused participants finding housing along the way.
The county program, which serves residents across Tigard, Tualatin and surrounding communities, released two-year results on Tuesday, Sept. 1.
As of mid-August, 166 people had participated. Of those, 55 have completed the six-month program and 36 remain enrolled. Every completer underwent a substance use evaluation and stayed engaged in ongoing treatment, according to county data.
The program launched Sept. 1, 2024, under Oregon House Bill 4002 (HB 4002), which recriminalized misdemeanor possession of controlled substances but allowed counties to divert eligible people into treatment instead of prosecution.
The results go beyond treatment. About two-thirds of participants who were unhoused when they entered the program became housed.
Roughly 90% of those who lacked insurance gained coverage. And about 90% of participants who needed language-specific services received them.
Two contracted peer-service organizations, 4D Recovery and The Peer Company, have made more than 960 referrals to over 30 partner agencies for housing, mental health and substance use treatment.
Seventy-six percent of those referrals resulted in people receiving services.
About one-third of participants had never engaged in any substance use treatment before entering the program.
Another third had previously experienced an overdose.
"Our program is personalized to address the underlying causes of substance use and addiction for each individual we serve," Danielle Farr, senior program coordinator with Washington County Behavioral Health, said in the county's announcement.
In an April interview with OPB, Farr described the challenge of reaching eligible people. About 1,200 people were cited for possession in the program's first year, she told OPB, but only about 226 were deemed eligible and 90 actually engaged.
Seventy-five percent of those served identified as unsheltered or homeless. The program gives participants cell phones at first contact to maintain connection with providers.
Participants who complete the program have their charges dismissed, Farr told OPB in April.
In July, the county expanded the program with a new non-citation track. The pathway reaches people at risk of criminal justice involvement who have not been formally cited.
Someone present at the scene of a citation, for example, can now connect with a dedicated outreach peer and a Sheriff's Office outreach deputy to begin recovery.
The Washington County Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 on July 7 to proclaim July 19-25 as National Deflection Week.
Farr and Health and Human Services Director Mjere Simantel presented on the program at that meeting.
The Deflection Program is a collaboration among Health and Human Services, the District Attorney's Office, the Sheriff's Office, Community Corrections, Behavioral Health Resource Network providers and peer-delivered services organizations.
More information is available on the county's Deflection Program page.
