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Update: A community meeting about the Board of County Commissioners’ interest in purchasing the former Clackamas Elementary School property to develop a recovery center is slated for Thursday, July 25 at 6 p.m. at the property site (15301 SE 92nd Ave. in Clackamas).
While the primary audiences for this listening session-style event are the immediate neighbors of the site (both residents and businesses), other interested stakeholders are welcome to attend.
Please note that due to technological limitations at this site, the meeting will not be streamed. However, notes will be taken from the meeting and offered on this webpage. An FAQ addressing themes from the questions and comments posed at the meeting will also be available on this webpage in the forthcoming weeks.
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On June 25, 2024, the Board of County Commissioners publicly expressed interest in purchasing the former Clackamas Elementary School property to develop a recovery center. The property is located at 15301 SE 92nd Ave. in Clackamas, and is currently owned by the North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District (NCPRD).
A recovery center is simply that — a facility or campus dedicated to providing a full continuum of services and supports to help people successfully return to the community. Our center would be focused on individuals struggling with substance use disorder.
The creation of such a center was a key recommendation coming out of the Clackamas Addictions Recovery Summit. That summit, held last September, brought together local, national and international experts on addiction and homelessness.
A recovery center is a key component of the county's recovery-oriented system of care (ROSC), passed by resolution by the Board of County Commissioners in April 2023. A center would provide a comprehensive range of services and supports included detox, residential treatment, outpatient services, job skills, transitional housing, and care coordination to help individuals return to the community.
As many paths lead to recovery, many paths lead to the recovery center. Our services and program details will be developed with a selected provider and will include referrals from hospitals, community partners, first responders, law enforcement, mobile crisis teams, and families. A key focus of the center will be immediate access for individuals in need.
We envision a campus setting with onsite services from community-based providers and inclusion of peers with lived experience throughout each person's journey. The initial population will be adult men and women. A recovery center is not a shelter or drop-in location.
The Board of County Commissioners' overarching belief is that recovery is possible for everyone, and that there are many pathways to recovery. A center would provide another critical path.
Intended outcomes of our center include: Helping individuals gain immediate access to services and supports for their substance use disorder, and supporting them through recovery to successful reentry into the community. Further, this center will reduce inappropriate placements in jails and unnecessary admissions to emergency rooms.
Next steps
County staff was directed by the Board to conduct outreach with residents and businesses of the surrounding area. Public feedback to the potential action will be discussed with the NCPRD Board of Directors and the Board of County Commissioners for consideration prior to a final purchasing decision being made. The NCPRD Board of Directors is comprised of the five county commissioners. If the decision is to move forward with this site, a purchase and sale agreement will be finalized.
We are planning a community meeting on July 25 at the property. Clackamas County understands there will be concerns about a facility like this for any surrounding area, and we will work with the community throughout the development process. We are committed to doing the hard work on behalf of those in need, their families, and their communities who want a thriving Clackamas County.
Resources
| June 25, 2024 | Board of County Commissioners shows interest in purchasing site for recovery center |
| June 25, 2024 | Issues session Video | Memo |
| April 15, 2024 | Commissioners advance Recovery Center |
| April 10, 2024 | Policy Session – Recovery Oriented Service Center Data Update Video | Packet |
| Oct. 31, 2023 | Board receives expert recommendations to address addictions crisis |
| Oct. 31, 2023 | Issues session Video | Memo |
| Sept. 2023 | Clackamas Additions Recovery Summit |