Salem, OR — Marion County took a significant step forward yesterday in addressing community behavioral health and public safety needs with the groundbreaking for a new Secure Residential Treatment Facility (SRTF) near Regal Santiam on Lancaster Drive in Salem.
County Commissioner Danielle Bethell spoke at the groundbreaking, and Commissioner Kevin Cameron was in attendance. The event marked the beginning of construction on a facility that will provide essential services to individuals who need a high level of care who may be a danger to themselves or others.
An SRTF is designed for individuals with mental health conditions who require a higher level of supervision and care than a traditional residential treatment facility. These facilities are typically secure to prevent patients from harming themselves or others.
“Our community has needed expanded services like this for so long," said Commissioner Bethell. "I can’t express how grateful I am for the hard work of all the community partners who came together to ensure individuals in need can receive the support and treatment they deserve."
The facility, which will be operated by Community First Solutions, is set to be completed in February of 2025.
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Salem, OR – Public Health officials in Marion County have confirmed one new case of measles and identified one presumptive case. The confirmed case involves an unvaccinated child who was diagnosed on July 23. The presumptive case is in the same household as a previously confirmed measles case. A presumptive case means the individual has symptoms consistent with measles, but the diagnosis has not been confirmed through laboratory testing.
The first confirmed case of measles in Marion County was announced on June 17, 2024. To date, all cases have involved unvaccinated individuals, ranging in age from 3 to 43 years. There is no known connection between any of the confirmed cases, and no public exposure has been identified. Public health officials are actively investigating these cases.
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world, and cases are on the rise in the U.S. and other countries. As of July 11, 2024, the CDC has reported 167 measles cases in the U.S., with 84% of these cases involving individuals who were either unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status. In comparison, there were 58 measles cases reported in the U.S. in 2023.
“Measles is highly contagious and easily transmitted. The virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left the room,” said Marion County Public Health Officer, Dr. Caroline Castillo. “The best way to protect your family from measles is to get vaccinated.”
Most people receive the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine during childhood, which greatly reduces the risk of getting measles. However, unvaccinated individuals are at much higher risk if exposed to the virus.
Measles symptoms usually appear 7-21 days after exposure and include:
- Fever
- Rash
- Cough
- Red, watery eyes
Common complications include ear infections, lung infections and severe diarrhea. Although rare, a more severe complication is swelling of the brain. According to the CDC, about 1 in 5 unvaccinated people in the U.S. who get measles require hospitalization.
If you think you or someone in your household has measles:
- Stay home and avoid public places such as work, school, and stores
- Do not invite visitors to your home if someone has a fever or rash
- Do not visit a medical office without calling ahead. Call your healthcare provider or urgent care center to arrange a plan for your visit. This is to prevent the spreading of the virus to others.
Individuals are considered immune to measles if any of the following apply:
- Born before 1957
- Diagnosed with measles in the past
- A blood test confirms immunity
- Received two doses of the measles vaccine.
For more information about measles, visit https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/DISEASESCONDITIONS/DISEASESAZ/Pages/measles.aspx
Salem, OR — Today, the Marion County Board of Commissioners adopted an emergency ordinance allowing eligible homeowners whose homes were impacted by the 2020 wildfires to qualify for a special tax assessment on their rebuilt homestead.
This ordinance is in response to Senate Bill 1545, passed in the 2024 legislative session which addresses the urgent need to reset property tax assessments for Santiam Canyon residents affected by the devastating 2020 Labor Day wildfires. Marion County worked diligently alongside the bill’s sponsors to get it across the finish line.
“I want to thank the Legislature for getting Senate Bill 1545 through to allow this ordinance and help the people with wildfire recovery,” said Commissioner Kevin Cameron, Chair. “I want to highlight that this will reset property taxes for those who rebuilt their homes after the 2020 wildfires to pre-fire levels. Some people’s taxes doubled or tripled after rebuilding, and this will remedy that.”
“We’re passing this as an emergency ordinance so that it takes effect today, and homeowners are immediately able to apply,” said Commissioner Danielle Bethell.
Under Oregon's current tax laws, property tax assessments are subject to certain limitations, with the maximum assessed value of unchanged properties increasing by no more than 3% each year. However, legal or physical changes to the property, such as rebuilding after a wildfire, are exceptions to this limit, often resulting in significant property tax increases for affected residents.
This emergency ordinance will provide much-needed relief to fire-impacted residents by allowing them to reset their property taxes to the homestead's real market value for the 2020-2021 tax year, based on the original square footage of their original residence. This ordinance may lower property taxes back to pre-fire rates for those who have rebuilt or plan to rebuild their homes on the same lot.
Eligible residents may find instructions to apply, as well as the Application for Rebuilt Homestead Special Assessment, on the Assessor’s Office website.
Salem, OR – Public Health officials have identified two additional confirmed cases of measles in Marion County since June 17, 2024. This brings the confirmed case count in Marion County up to six total. Both confirmed cases are Marion County residents, one case is a child and another is an adult. Both cases were diagnosed on July 19, 2024 and confirmed unvaccinated. Marion County officials are in the process of contacting those who may have been exposed. Currently, there are no known public exposures in Marion County, and there are currently no known connections between these cases and the four other recently confirmed measles cases in Marion County. To date, all cases in Marion County have been in separate households.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads easily through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Signs of measles usually begin 7-21 days after exposure and include fever, rash, cough, and red, water eyes. Common complications include ear infections, lung infections and severe diarrhea. Swelling of the brain, though rare, is a much more serious complication.
Most people have received the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine as children, which provides low risk of getting measles. However, unvaccinated individuals are at much higher risk if exposed to the virus.
The illness poses the highest risk to:
- Unvaccinated pregnant people
- Infants younger than one year old
- People with weakened immune systems
Individuals are considered immune to measles if any of the following apply:
- Born before 1957.
- Have been diagnosed with measles at any point in their life.
- A blood test proves that they are immune.
- They have had two doses of measles vaccine.
If you think you have measles, or have been exposed to it, do not visit a medical office without calling ahead. This is to prevent the spreading of the virus to others. Call your provider or urgent care center to provide a plan for your visit.
For more information about measles, visit: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/DISEASESCONDITIONS/DISEASESAZ/Pages/measles.aspx.
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Salem, OR – Public Health officials have confirmed the fourth case of measles in Marion County since June 17, 2024. The most recent case involves an unvaccinated child who was diagnosed on July 16, 2024. Marion County Public Health officials are in the process of contacting those who may have been exposed. There is no known public exposure and there are currently no known connections between this case and the three other recently confirmed measles cases in Marion County.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads through the air when an infected individual coughs or sneezes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the virus is so contagious, that if one person has it, up to 90 percent of the people in close contact will become infected if they are not protected through vaccination.
Symptoms of measles include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red eyes
- Rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body
Complications of measles can be severe and include ear infections, pneumonia, and in rare instances, swelling of the brain.
Most people have received the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine as children, and have a low risk of getting measles. Those vaccinated against measles as children with the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. The risk is much higher for unvaccinated individuals who are exposed to the disease.
Individuals are considered immune to measles if any of the following apply:
- Born before 1957.
- Have been diagnosed with measles at any point in their life.
- A blood test proves that they are immune.
- They have had two doses of measles vaccine
If you think you have measles, or have been exposed to it, do not visit a medical office without calling ahead. This is to prevent the spreading of the virus to others. Call your provider or urgent care center to provide a plan for your visit.
For more information about measles, visit https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/DISEASESCONDITIONS/DISEASESAZ/Pages/measles.aspx
Marion County Public Health officials have identified two additional confirmed cases of measles in unvaccinated children in Marion County since June 17, 2024. Of the two new cases, one child was diagnosed with measles on 7/11/24 and the second child was diagnosed 7/12/24. There are currently no known public exposures.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads through the air when an infected individual coughs or sneezes. People are contagious with measles for four days before a rash appears and up to four days afterward. The virus particles can also linger in the air for up to two hours after someone who is infectious has left the area.
Symptoms of measles include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red eyes
- Rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body
Complications of measles can be severe and include ear infections, pneumonia, and in rare instances, swelling of the brain.
Most people have received the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine as children, and have a low risk of getting measles. Those vaccinated against measles as children with the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. The risk is much higher for unvaccinated individuals who are exposed to the disease.
Individuals are considered immune to measles if any of the following apply:
- Born before 1957.
- Have been diagnosed with measles at any point in their life.
- A blood test proves that they are immune.
- They have had two doses of measles vaccine
If you think you have measles or have been exposed to it, do not visit a medical office without calling ahead. This is to prevent the spreading of the virus to others. Call your provider or urgent care center to provide a plan for your visit.
For more information about measles, visit https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/DISEASESCONDITIONS/DISEASESAZ/Pages/measles.aspx.
Marion and Polk Counties, OR – July 1, 2024 - The Marion-Polk Community Health Collaborative, a coalition of local organizations dedicated to improving community health, is thrilled to announce the launch of our latest community health survey. Whether you live, work, or play in Marion or Polk County, this survey is your chance to make your voice heard and influence the future of local health services.
The survey is designed to gather valuable insights from residents across our community. Your feedback will directly impact the allocation of resources and the enhancement of health services that benefit you, your family, and your community.
The last community health survey led to significant investments exceeding $10 million over the past four years in behavioral health and housing services. This funding enabled local organizations such as Wisemind and Polk County Family & Community Outreach to expand youth mental health services. Additionally, organizations like Church at the Park, Salem for Refugees, and Sheltering Silverton received grants to enhance housing and resource navigation services.
Thanks to these efforts, Marion and Polk counties have seen a decrease in suicide fatalities and an increase in mental health providers. For more information on our health outcome indicators, please visit our website here.
We are now seeking your input on where future investments should focus over the next five years. Your participation in the survey will help us continue to make informed decisions that promote the health and well-being of our community.
Together, let's shape the future of health in Marion and Polk counties!
Take the Survey: surveymonkey.com/r/mp24.