PORTLAND, Ore — The Regence Foundation announced today it awarded a $45,000 grant to Outside In to integrate mental health care into the primary care services it provides to homeless youth. Outside In is a social service agency that provides health care and transition programs to homeless youth and low-income adults.

"The youth served by Outside In are at-risk for or already faced with mental health and substance abuse problems," said Michael Alexander, Regence Foundation board chair. "By merging mental health support with primary care services, it can help them be diagnosed and treated earlier."

Outside In reports that the number of chronically homeless youth in Portland is increasing. Contributing factors include changes in the economy, lack of services for transition-aged youth and young adults (17 to 30), an increase in heroin use and availability, limited access to mental health care services for the uninsured, and a shortage of affordable housing. Chronically homeless people often have complex health concerns, untreated mental illness and addiction.

With the Regence Foundation grant, Outside In will hire a behaviorist who will go into the exam room along with the patient’s primary care doctor. The behaviorist will assess the patient’s mental health needs, consult with the primary care doctor, and intervene with the patient if necessary. This is a one-year pilot project, and Outside In anticipates it will be able to provide mental health care to 500-600 homeless youth during the year.

"Our mission is to fund collaborative and innovative community health programs," said Michael Alexander, Regence Foundation board chair. "We applaud Outside In for the creative way it’s approaching mental health care in the communities it serves."