Lane County and PeaceHealth announce strategic partnership aimed at expanding critical behavioral health services in Lane County

Lane County today announced a strategic partnership with PeaceHealth to acquire land located off International Way in Springfield with the goal of building a behavioral health campus. The campus will be home to PeaceHealth's new Behavioral Health Hospital on their parcel, and immediately adjacent Lane County will construct the Lane Stabilization Center (LSC).

"This move is a huge leap forward in being able to complete our behavioral health continuum of care and provide critical services for our community," said Lane County Health & Human Services Director Eve Gray. "Not only is the property better suited to meet the needs of those we serve, the proximity to the BHU will mean better outcomes for those who access these facilities and for our partners who will be transporting individuals there."

The land consisted of two parcels being sold together. While acquisition of both parcels was not financially feasible for either organization individually, PeaceHealth and Lane County entered into an agreement under which Lane County will make the initial purchase with PeaceHealth subsequently purchasing one of the parcels from Lane County. On the PeaceHealth parcel the BHU will serve the inpatient behavioral health needs of the region, while on the Lane County parcel the LSC will offer an alternative to the emergency department or incarceration for individuals with behavioral health stabilization needs, and provide a key triage function in conjunction with the BHU. The LSC will also serve as a potential next step for individuals utilizing Mobile Crisis Services of Lane County, or any other crisis provider.

"What we are seeing here has implications that reach beyond this project," said Gray "It is getting harder and harder to stretch limited funding while needs are increasing, but through strategic public/private alliances we can breathe new hope into meeting the needs of our community."

The Lane County Board of County Commissioners authorized staff to make on offer on its parcel which, when combined with PeaceHealth's offer, was accepted by the seller. Lane County will now enter a 90-day due diligence phase during which Lane County will seek public input. Additional opportunities for input directly concerning the LSC facility and programming will be scheduled as appropriate.

For more information on the LSC, please visit: www.lanecountyor.gov/stabilizationcenter.