Achieving Oregon’s educational goals requires engaging communities beyond the classroom. The Oregon Education Investment Board (OEIB) has launched the Regional Achievement Collaborative Initiative (RAC) to forge connections that improve educational outcomes. Each Oregon school district, community college and university has an individual achievement compact with the OEIB. The compacts set goals for improving key outcomes, … Read more
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) asked Oregon Consensus, in partnership with the William D. Ruckelshaus Center, a joint program of Washington State University and the University of Washington, to conduct a situation assessment of regional views about salmon and steelhead recovery planning in the Columbia River Basin over … Read more
The Community Health Worker Consortium is a partnership between Oregon Consensus, Portland State University’s School for Community Health, the Oregon Community Health Workers Association (ORCHWA), and the Multnomah County Community Capacitation Center (CCC). The Cambia Health Foundation provides funding for the project. The Consortium focuses on creating alignment around best practices in the community health worker field … Read more
In 2013, Oregon Consensus and Oregon Solutions facilitated a collaborative effort between the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and county parks (through the Association of Oregon Counties) to change the distribution formula for recreational vehicle (RV) registration fees, enhance partnership efforts between state and county parks providers, and consider jurisdictional transfers of park properties. Over time, … Read more
The Oregon Non-Roadway Transportation Funding Working Group was convened by Oregon Governor Kitzhaber to engage the State of Oregon, transportation providers and other stakeholders in developing and implementing a plan to establish dedicated funding for non-roadway transportation projects and programs, including rail, marine, aviation, transit, and on and off-road bicycle and pedestrian paths. Currently, vehicle … Read more
In 2012, Oregon Consensus conducted an assessment and facilitated a series of stakeholder meetings for the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department to address land use issues affecting siting of state parks. Priority issues discussed were: park uses in farm and forest zones; intergovernmental coordination to ensure land use compliance; methods for determining the need for … Read more
The Integrated Services Support Rules (ISSRs) govern the licensing of addiction and mental health providers in Oregon. In 2011, the Oregon Legislature adopted Senate Bill 238 directing the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to form a work group to review the rules and recommend revisions. The ISSR Revisions Work Group included representatives of Coordinated Care Organizations, … Read more
The 2009 Jobs and Transportation Act directs the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to adopt administrative rules in line with environmental performance standards (EPS) for highway projects, and improve permitting processes. Oregon Consensus convened a process to develop rule language and EPS, worked with stakeholders to prioritize and frame issues and helped ODOT develop an … Read more
The Oregon Sustainable Transportation Initiative examined ways to curb greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles while creating healthier, more livable communities and greater economic opportunity. The project aimed to reduce emissions in Oregon by 75 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. The Oregon Department of Transportation and the Department of Land Conservation and Development led the … Read more
In 2011, Oregon Consensus facilitated an Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife task force that reviewed dog and raptor training regulations in Oregon. The task force included the Oregon State Police; representatives of the birding, hunting and dog training communities; and other interested stakeholders.
The Aging Matters Initiative is committed to enhancing quality of life for older adults who are poor, frail or incapacitated, and who have little support. The initiative is a forum for identifying and promoting innovative policies and programs that respond to housing, health, and social concerns. Aging Matters is a project of the Institute on Aging … Read more
Ecosystem services are life sustaining processes of nature, such as wetlands purifying drinking water, vegetation preventing erosion, healthy soil producing crops, and clean rivers supporting abundant fish populations. Owners whose lands produce ecosystem services historically have been compensated only through sales of products, such as food and timber. Ecosystem services marketplaces provide a system for … Read more
An interdisciplinary team from Portland State University’s National Policy Consensus Center, Oregon Consensus, and the Department of Planning, Public Policy and Management at the University of Oregon conducted a study in 2010 examining the mechanisms for integrating land use and transportation in metropolitan regions and assessing these arrangements based on current practice and future potential. … Read more
The 2009 Legislative Assembly heard heated debate about proposed legislation authorizing Oregon psychologists to prescribe medication for certain mental illnesses. 2009 House Bill 2702 addressed the conflict by directing formation of a work group to develop recommendations for legislation to address the issue. In 2010, Oregon Consensus facilitated the work group, which reached agreement on … Read more
“I believe we have all worked well together to help OHA set a high standard for how to truly engage the public in Oregon.”—Marti Kantola, Director, Six Rivers Community Mediation Center The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is leading the effort to create quality affordable health care in Oregon. In 2010, The OHA citizen-led board selected … Read more
“It was a good process that led to a satisfying agreement….” —OLAA participant In 2008 through 2010, Oregon Consensus brought together dozens of representatives of Latino community organizations, agencies, and educational programs in 2010 to collaborate on creating a vision for meeting the needs of Latino communities across Oregon. Through a series of open meetings … Read more
“The project is remarkable due to the determined efforts of the community of Seaside, ODOT, and consultants to address the congestion issue from a new perspective and the city’s commitment to support and invest in alternative modes, access management, and land use changes” — WTS Portland Chapter After years of bitter conflict about how to … Read more
The Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) created Area Commissions on Transportation (ACTs) to help prioritize transportation infrastructure investment and to advise about development of the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). ACTs coordinate discussion between the OTC, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), local officials, private and community representatives, and provide input on statewide policy issues. Twelve … Read more
“Cooperation between diverse interests can lead to a better understanding of the issues from multiple points of view. It will help lead to a balanced problem solving approach.”—Participant, Federal Forest Lands Advisory Committee project Nearly 60% of Oregon’s 30 million acres of forest is federally owned—about 25% of Oregon’s land base. Forests provide rural jobs, … Read more
The Exempt Groundwater Well Policy Consensus Work Group worked toward stakeholder consensus about whether changes should be made to Oregon’s policy on exempt groundwater wells. Legislation modifying the state’s exempt groundwater well policy was proposed during the 2007 legislative session and previously. In late 2007, State Representative Jackie Dingfelder requested assistance from Oregon Consensus in … Read more