The Morrow County Board of Commissioners convened on October 2, 2024, to discuss several key initiatives, notably the development of a new facility aimed at supporting children in need of psychiatric care. The meeting highlighted the progress of the construction project located near Umatilla Electric, which is designed to provide essential services for youth from Morrow County and surrounding areas.

The facility will prioritize children from Morrow County, followed by those from Eastern Oregon, and then from other parts of the state. It is expected to address a pressing need, as many children currently wait in emergency rooms for extended periods—sometimes up to a month—before receiving appropriate care. The average length of stay at the new facility is projected to be around 90 days, with dual licensing for both subacute and psychiatric residential treatment.

Commissioners discussed the timeline for the project, indicating that while construction is anticipated to be completed by spring, the facility may not open until fall. An open house is planned to allow community members to tour the facility once it is finished.

In response to inquiries about staffing, it was noted that hiring for positions such as nurses' aides has not yet begun. The hiring process typically starts a few months before the facility opens, but officials are cautious to avoid overstaffing before the facility is operational. The facility will require significant nursing support, with 16 hours of nursing care needed daily. While medical assistants are not currently included in the budget, there will be positions for residential treatment specialists, which share similarities with nursing aide roles.

The meeting concluded without further questions on the children's program, indicating a clear focus on the facility's development and staffing needs as the project moves forward.