FOLK-TIME INC

EXPANDING SOCIAL PROGRAMS: OUR SOCIAL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING FTBM AND OREGON CITY, CONTINUE TO PROVIDE VITAL SPACES FOR CONNECTION, SKILL-BUILDING, AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION. MEMBERS SOCIALIZE, MAKE FRIENDS, LEARN NEW SKILLS, AND SHARE THEIR TALENTS IN A PEER-LED ENVIRONMENT. INCREASED MEMBER ENGAGEMENT: WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY GROWN MEMBER PARTICIPATION AND FOSTERED A MORE DIVERSE MEMBERSHIP, ENSURING A MORE INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY.LAUNCH OF PEER RESPITE: IN 2025, WE ESTABLISHED ONE OF THE FIRST TWO PEER RESPITES IN OREGON. IT OFFERS NON-CLINICAL CARE IN A RESIDENTIAL SPACE FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING A SELF-IDENTIFIED MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, PROVIDING PEER SUPPORT 24/7/365 AND ALLOWING GUESTS TO NAVIGATE CRISES WITHOUT THE RESTRICTIVE AND OFTEN TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE OF A HOSPITAL VISIT. GUESTS CAN STAY UP TO 2 WEEKS AND HAVE UNIVERSALLY REPORTED INCREASED WELLNESS AND GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE UNDERLYING CAUSE OF THEIR CRISIS.WELLNESS & ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES: OUR PROGRAMS INCLUDE NUTRITIOUS LUNCHES, ART, CHORUS, WRITING GROUPS, GAMES, FIELD TRIPS, INTERNET ACCESS, BOWLING, SING-ALONGS, KARAOKE, TAI CHI, YOGA, AND MONTHLY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS. BOTH OUR CONNECTION CENTER AND OUR PEER RESPITE HAVE COMMUNITY GARDENS, WHERE VOLUNTEERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND (AT THE CONNECTION CENTER) PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS CAN COME TO GARDEN AND CONNECT WITH NATURE.PROVEN IMPACT: RESEARCH CONFIRMS THAT PARTICIPATION IN OUR SOCIAL PROGRAMS LEADS TO FEWER MENTAL HEALTH CRISES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS, REINFORCING OUR COMMITMENT TO PEER-LED RECOVERY AND WELLNESS.

FOLKTIME PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS: PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS AND HEALTH CENTERS, OFFERING COMPASSIONATE, PEER-LED SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS NAVIGATING MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. FOLKTIME PEERS ARE EMBEDDED IN TWO OUTPATIENT HEALTH CENTERS AND FIVE COMMUNITY PROGRAMS SERVING ALL OF CLACKAMAS COUNTY, WHERE THEY PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL CRISIS CARE. BY LEVERAGING THEIR OWN LIVED EXPERIENCES, THESE TRAINED SPECIALISTS BUILD TRUST, REDUCE STIGMA, AND CREATE A SAFE SPACE FOR CLIENTS TO SEEK HELP AND CONNECT WITH RESOURCES.ONE OF THEIR KEY CONTRIBUTIONS IS SUPPLEMENTING CLINICAL CARE WITH SUPPORT BASED ON THEIR SHARED LIVED EXPERIENCE OF MENTAL HEALTH. PEERS ALSO CONDUCT COMMUNITY OUTREACH, ENGAGING WITH COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED CHRONIC HOSPITALIZATIONS AND WORKING TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL, NONJUDGMENTAL SUPPORT OUTSIDE OF CLINICAL SETTINGS. AS INTEGRAL MEMBERS OF THE TREATMENT TEAM, THEY COLLABORATE CLOSELY WITH CASEWORKERS AND HEALTH PROVIDERS TO ENHANCE CLIENT CARE.OVER THE PAST YEAR, FOLKTIME HAS DEEPEND OUR WORK WITH CLACKAMAS COUNTY'S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DIVISION, INCLUDING EMBEDDING PEERS IN THEIR MOBILE CRISIS TEAMS, THEIR CRISIS WALK IN, THEIR AID AND ASSIST TEAM, AND SEVERAL CARE COORDINATION TEAMS SERVING THOSE EXPERIENCING CIVIL COMMITMENT AND THE OLDER ADULT COMMUNITY. WE FORM AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE COUNTY'S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, ENSURING LASTING IMPACT AND INPROVEMENT IN COMMUNITY MEMBER OUTCOMES.