ABOUT US
The Oregon Center on Behavioral Health and Justice Integration (OCBHJI) — started in 2017 — is a statewide program in partnership with the Oregon Health Authority to provide specialized training and technical assistance for behavioral health and justice partners to enhance knowledge and improve practices aimed at treating people who, primarily due to symptoms of serious behavioral health conditions neurocognitive conditions, and/or intellectual/developmental disabilities, are at risk of becoming incarcerated or are already within the system. OCBHJI is a specialized division within Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc. (GOBHI).
PURPOSE
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The OCBHJI helps jurisdictions across the state implement and improve systemic and programmatic efforts in treatment of individuals experiencing serious behavioral health needs, neurocognitive conditions, and/or intellectual/developmental disabilities who come into contact with the justice system, while ensuring accountability and public safety.
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OCBHJI provides information, facilitation, training and technical assistance for anyone working in Oregon’s behavioral health and justice systems including interdisciplinary groups, teams, and individuals with an emphasis on working with and through Local Public Safety Coordinating Councils (LPSCC).
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The Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) provides the organizing framework for information and activities associated with the Center.
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The Center is committed to building strong partnerships among all components of the local justice system, local county leadership, people with lived experiences, and behavioral health service providers.
OUR STAFF
Cynthia Levesque, LPC, CADC-III
Chief Behavioral Health Officer, GOBHI
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Cynthia is an accomplished Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor III, and Approved Clinical Supervisor with over a decade of leadership experience in behavioral health, substance use disorder treatment, and program administration.
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She has a strong track record of developing and overseeing behavioral health policies and services for adolescents, adults, and older adults.
Throughout her career, Cynthia has been deeply committed to enhancing behavioral health services across Oregon. She has worked extensively to improve Medicaid and non-Medicaid-funded programs, foster inter-agency collaboration, and advance quality improvement initiatives.
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Her expertise in evidence-based, trauma-informed care and her dedication to expanding access to mental health and substance use disorder services align seamlessly with Greater Oregon’s mission to provide high-quality, accessible care to communities across Eastern Oregon.
Michelle Brandsma, PhD (a.b.d.), MS, CADC III, MAC, QMHP
Director, Oregon Center on Behavioral Health and Justice Integration
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Michelle has a 21-year history of working in the field of substance use disorders.
Prior to employment at GOBHI, Michelle spent 15 years working with incarcerated men as a Program Director of in-prison substance use disorder programs in both Oregon and California. Michelle began her career with corrections in 2002 by working for Deschutes County Juvenile Justice Center. She has worked closely with Parole and Probation, Drug Courts, and adult corrections.
Michelle is a level 3 Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC III) with certification through MHACBO, a Master Level Counselor certified with NAADAC (MAC), Masters in Psychology (MS) and working on completing her dissertation for her PhD in addiction psychology. Her passion is to be a part of ensuring that the gap between behavioral health, law enforcement and corrections is filled with supportive services.
Ridg Medford
Behavioral Health and Justice Specialist
Ridg brings over 24 years of experience to the criminal justice system—including over 16 years as a certified officer in Oregon. Now focusing on the intersection of public safety and behavioral health, Ridg applies a trauma-informed lens to systemic reform and organizational growth.
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Drawing on his experience as a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Coordinator and a Prosci® Certified Change Practitioner, Ridg specializes in the human element of organizational transition. He works to ensure that complex strategies result in successful adoption by bridging the gap between frontline experience and structured change management methodology. His background is supported by a wide range of credentials, including the Sequential Intercept Model, Trauma-Informed Care, and Mental Health First Aid. He is also a Nationally Certified Anger Management Specialist, a National Certified Crisis Intervention Specialist, and a juvenile fire-setter intervention specialist.
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As an instructor, Ridg teaches officer wellness and crisis intervention at the local, national, and international levels. He currently serves as 1st Vice President of the Board for CIT International and provides guidance on the national advisory board for the NCPI CIT ASSIST program. A dedicated community advocate, Ridg has also lent his leadership to several local boards, including the Housing Authority of Malheur and Harney Counties.
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When he isn’t facilitating workshops or driving systemic change, Ridg is a passionate outdoorsman who finds his balance in the mountains with his family and friends.
Megan Mecouch
Behavioral Health and Justice Specialist
Megan is certified as a Qualified Mental Health Associate and has been working within acute Behavioral Health since 2016. She started at St. Charles Hospital in the Emergency Psychiatric Unit as well as Sage View Psychiatric Center. She then transitioned to Deschutes County Stabilization Center where she has spent her time providing case management, intervention planning and assessments. Megan is a part of the new Community Crisis Response team for Deschutes County. She works with emergency first responders and community partners to assess individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis. In her spare time Megan likes to spend time with her family and be active within her community. Megan looks forward to integrating her knowledge into working with OCBHJI.
Madi Clifford
Behavioral Health & Justice Specialist
Madi is the Sequential Intercept Model mapping specialist for the Oregon Center on Behavioral Health & Justice Integration, specializing in both adult and youth populations across Oregon. Madi has worked within trauma-informed schools and group homes where she was able to provide counseling services, case management, and intervention to students and clients.
She enjoys traveling to the various counties in Oregon to assist them in mapping out their criminal justice system to identify how individuals with mental illness, IDDs, and /or developmental disabilities flow through the system. Helping Oregon counties identify gaps and create action plans on how to better their communities is one of the highlights of her job. In her free time Madi loves to paint, create music, and spend time with family and friends.
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