The Center for Addictions Triage and Treatment (CATT) is a comprehensive substance use treatment center being developed by Washington County.

The CATT Connection

OCTOBER 2023

CATT Construction Set to Begin in Early 2024

Let the dirt and dust fly! With our general contractor R&H Construction now on board, we are able to get a better idea of how construction will progress and when the renovation will be completed. The two CATT sites will have different construction schedules and both sites will require about a year for the renovation. While this may sound like a long time, there are many reasons behind it. Supply shortages, long lead times for key items, and workforce shortages all contribute to the schedule. We appreciate that our general contractor is committed to developing a schedule that is realistic and achievable.

The Community Services Building in Hillsboro will begin construction first. This site has a much simpler renovation; therefore, permitting will be quicker. Currently we are projecting construction to begin in March 2024 and end in February 2025. Once construction is completed, we will need some time to move in furnishings, place wiring for cubicles, and install audio/visual equipment. We expect to move in during the spring of 2025 with services beginning shortly thereafter.

For the Intensive Services Building in Beaverton, construction is planned to begin in June 2024 and wrap up in August 2025. The build time for this building is a bit longer because the construction is more complex with the addition of a whole new building to the site. As with the other building, there will be some time between the end of construction and before services are offered. As we get closer to the end of construction, we will identify an opening date for services to begin.

Legislators Tour Beaverton CATT

On October 11, state legislators met with members of the CATT leadership team to tour the future home for intensive substance use disorder services in Beaverton. To read more about the Beaverton location visit the "More Information" page on the CATT website.

CATT Leadership Delegation Attends National Sobering Summit

Pictured from left to right are Anne Johnston, assistant medical director for CODA, Inc., Alison Noice, executive director of CODA, Inc., Kristin Burke, CATT project manager with Washington County and Kathy Prenevost, addictions supervisor with Washington County.

In early October, a team representing the CATT traveled to Washington, D.C., to attend the 2023 National Sobering Collaborative Summit. This conference was an opportunity for staff from Washington County Behavioral Health and CODA, Inc. to meet other service providers and learn about best practices in providing sobering services.

CATT Champion Spotlight

Our work on the CATT is grounded in the knowledge that substance use touches all of us in different ways. As we’ve worked on the CATT project, many people have stepped forward and shared very personal stories with us about how they or their loved ones have been impacted by substance use. These stories have inspired us and emphasized the need to improve access to substance use care and treatment. We have been sharing stories from community members we call “CATT Champions.” Every CATT Champion has volunteered to have their story published in their own words. We hope these stories help to highlight the reason we are working hard to bring a substance use triage and treatment center to our community.

CATT Champion Carolyn

I’m proud to say I have over eight years in recovery. I honestly never thought I would be able to say that when I was active in my addiction. I started using when I was 19 years old and used for over 16 years. My addiction took everything from me. I lost my children, my places to live, my belongings, and most importantly my self-respect. My mental health conditions became impossible to handle due to my drug use.

I attempted to get clean more times than I can count. I knew I would have a better life if I could just stay away from the substances that were ruining my life. I tried stopping cold turkey, weaning myself off, and treatment, but none of these methods seemed to work. I was lacking a good social support system of people who were in recovery; these resources to build support were not available. As a result, I would get lonely and head straight back to the people I knew would accept me if I had money or drugs.

Finally in 2015 I was able to stop using. I attended outpatient treatment and surrounded myself with others in recovery. I found a program called Dual Diagnosis Anonymous of Oregon (DDA) and this program is where my recovery truly started. At DDA I felt like I fit in with others in the program, and I was given the tools and support I needed to continue getting better. With the help of my recovery family, I was able to address both my addiction and mental health. When I started addressing both of my challenges, I was able to find true recovery, build healthy relationships, and start loving myself again.

I look forward to seeing the benefits the CATT will bring to Washington County and to the individuals who are lost in their addiction and looking for a different life. The CATT will provide much-needed treatment and recovery resources. Had I been given the promise of hope and recovery through a good inpatient program, community centers and peer support, my road to recovery would have been much different.

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