New program supports Children Experiencing Homelessness - 07/21/26
July 21, 2026
Media Contact:
Kim Lippert, OHA,Kimberly.l.lippert@oha.oregon.gov , 971-323-3831
Clara Debrun-Sittler, Morrison Child and Family Services, Clara.debrun-sittler@morrisonkids.org, 971-645-2785
New program supports children experiencing homelessness
PORTLAND, Ore. - A new program between Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and Morrison Child and Family Services and Path Home is embedding behavioral health support for infants and young children in a family shelter. The pilot is the first and only one of its kind in Multnomah County.
“OHA is committed to ensuring that every child, regardless of housing status, has access to the emotional and developmental support they need to thrive,” said Ebony Clarke, OHA behavioral health director. “This partnership reflects our belief that behavioral health care must meet families where they are, especially in moments of crisis.”
OHA supported the pilot with $286,000 in funding to Morrison Child and Family Services, part of a larger $2 million state effort to boost mental health services across 12 counties.
Morrison’s Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) Program is using the funds to support the pilot in Multnomah County with Path Home and mental health services across Washington County. Path Home partners with Morrison Child and Family Services to deliver trauma-informed, critical mental health care to low-income and unhoused families.
This innovative collaboration expands access to behavioral care by addressing a gap in services for families with infants and young children navigating homelessness. Program services include referrals for mental health treatment and in-person parenting classes. Families who participate can receive free childcare during classes.
“Children are at the greatest risk for experiencing homelessness during the first year of life yet families with infants experiencing homelessness rarely receive the mental health support they need to thrive,” said Sarah Heal, Morrison’s program director. “Consultation is a powerful strategy as it encompasses a wide array of services to parents, families, and early childhood providers across the environments where infants and young children live, learn, and grow.”
At Path Home, Morrison’s bilingual mental health consultant works with families who have children ages 0-5.
“Working with families who are experiencing severe trauma can create a high-stress environment, so we’re striving to provide a space for the staff to get meaningful support, manage stress, and avoid burnout,” said Yadira Ramirez Ochoa, Morrison mental health consultant.
To learn more about the new pilot program, visit Morrison’s IECMHC Program website.
About OHA
Oregon Health Authority (OHA) works to improve the lifelong health and well-being of all people in Oregon by expanding access to quality health care, strengthening behavioral health services, advancing public health, and reducing health inequities.
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