Shafer takes charge of Association of Oregon Counties

SALEM – Umatilla County Board of Commissioners Chairman John Shafer is the new president of the Association of Oregon Counties. In his inaugural address, he told members that his 2025 presidential initiative will focus on mental health and behavioral health.

He told his peers that AOC will work toward equipping itself to exercise “all our mental health authority to foster healthy, vibrant, and safe counties across Oregon.”

Shafer’s deep interest in mental and behavioral health began when he worked for the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office. On the job he saw that there was not a cohesive and coordinated system of care providing those essential services. He followed through once he was elected to the board of commissioners, seeking out a service provider that would offer comprehensive services under one community mental health program. He found that service with Community Counseling Solutions.

‘Counties are the local mental health authority,” Shafer said. “We are responsible for coordinating a continuum of evidence-based services and support for mental health and substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery, mobile crisis response, jail diversion, and court-mandated treatment that meet the assessed needs of our residents.”

In his speech, he urged his fellow commissioners to familiarize themselves with their community mental health programs, local service providers, and coordinated care organizations; and to gain a deeper understanding of their counties’ systems of care.

Information and photo provided by the Association of Oregon Counties

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Elkhorn Media Group

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