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Credit: Alyson Yates (Cropped from original)
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What are Community Conversations?

Coast to Forest has supported multiple rural Oregon counties in setting local policy priorities. We adapted the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Community Conversations about Mental Health — a best practice toolkit that supports community collaboration for addressing mental health needs.

These conversations have allowed local leaders to reach informed consensus and commit to priorities. Action plans have been used to:

  • Prioritize funding and inform opioid settlement investments.
  • Guide decision-making by Coordinated Care Organizations (CCOs).
  • Put investments into practice.
  • Increase collaboration around the top action areas.

In 2025, the Oregon Legislature directed the OSU Extension Family and Community Health program to continue to use this approach around the state. Read more about Oregon Senate Bill 920.

Extension and local stakeholder in conversation in rural outdoor setting.
Credit: Stephen Ward

Community reports

Coast to Forest has partnered with rural counties in Oregon to deliver Community Conversations about Behavioral Health. For additional information, please refer to the final reports below.

Malheur county Community Conversations about Behavioral Health final report

These Community Conversations took place at the Oregon State University Extension Service office in Ontario, Oregon on November 1–2, 2023.

Coast to Forest

Union county Community Conversations about Behavioral Health final report

Four Community Conversations sessions took place in-person in La Grande, Oregon, during April and May 2022.

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Tillamook county Community Conversations about Behavioral Health final report

Tillamook county Community Conversation sessions took place virtually between September and November 2021.

Coast to Forest

Columbia County Community Conversations about behavioral health final report

Columbia Community Conversations consisted of two sessions that took place July 14 and 28, 2023.

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A needs assessment for public health and public safety partnerships in the Oregon Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area

In 2022, the OSU Center for Health Innovation (OCHI) conducted a needs assessment for the 16-county Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) with funding from the University of Baltimore Center for Drug Policy and Prevention. The goal for the project’s first year was to understand local needs in such a way as to envision a forward-focused “2.0” vision for public health and public safety partnerships in the region. View the summary. Also see the addendum, which includes Perspectives on the Drug Addiction Treatment and Recovery Act (Measure 110).

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Community Conversations about Behavioral Health toolkit

The toolkit’s facilitator guide was adapted from Community Conversations about Mental Health, an evidence-based tool from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The original tool was developed for engaging communities about mental health issues facing youth. Coast to Forest adapted it to involve community leaders to address a broader spectrum of mental health and substance use challenges in their communities.

The toolkit below offers tips for facilitators by providing:

  • Presentation, handouts and system maps templates.
  • Preparation steps for delivering a Community Conversation.

If you have questions after browsing the guide, contact us.

Access the Community Conversations Toolkit
Credit: Alan Dennis (Cropped from original)
Group of community members in discuss at a table.
Credit: Stephen Ward

Community Conversations facilitator webinar training

Interested in convening Community Conversations in your local community? This webinar-style training equips future facilitators with the necessary skills to lead discussions and action planning on mental health, opioid use and substance use. Participants will also learn how to convene diverse partners to engage in challenging conversations.

The webinar is appropriate for anyone interested in convening these conversations in their local communities. This can include, but is not limited to:

  • Extension, public health, behavioral health or school-based professionals.
  • Representatives from community-based organizations.
  • Traditional health workers.
  • Other community stakeholders.
Facilitator webinar training

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