New Narrative

New Narrative is a community mental health provider focused on caring for the most vulnerable adults dealing with mental illness. Most are at risk of falling through the cracks in our society and remaining in a cycle of poverty, illness, and substance abuse. At New Narrative, we offer hope and concrete tools to interrupt the cycle and help them find stability and recovery. Our recovery program consists of homeless outreach, mental health recovery services, housing support, and peer-driven services. Stable housing is key to the delivery of services. Our goal is to invest in new construction or acquisition and rehabilitation that will increase the number of affordable housing units and make them available to the homeless and those low-income individuals being forced out by the lack of affordable housing. We will continue our mental heath and peer-driven services that are the cornerstone for our client's success. Most importantly, we believe recovery is a journey, not a destination, and we stand by those we serve for however long they may need us.

We blend clinical expertise with human compassion. Our work is guided by evidence-based practices with long-proven outcomes, along with innovative models of care representing the latest research. We understand that each client is unique. Individualized service plans ensure the best possible outcome for each person who walks through our doors. Some of our key models include:
- Person Centered Approach. Services are driven by each client's own roadmap of self-determined recovery goals for sustained health and independence.
- Trauma Informed Care. Traumatic stress is widely experienced by those with mental illness. Trauma awareness helps clients build resiliency in an environment that is safe and welcoming to all.
Integrated Dual Disorders Treatment. A third of people with mental illness experience substance abuse (or dual diagnosis). IDDT recognizes this complex interaction and offers treatment and support for both conditions simultaneously.
- Supportive Housing. The symptoms of mental illness often lead to a cycle of homelessness. Our evidence-based models interrupt the cycle, offering housing and treatment that are independent but well-coordinated. Our housing program combines safe, affordable housing with flexible services, either on- or off-site. Tenants have rights and responsibilities as outlined by landlord tenant law, ADA, and Fair Housing laws, as well as services that address individual needs and preferences.
- Peer Delivered Services. Sometimes the most valuable supports are provided by someone who has been there. Peers help navigate recovery through the perspective of shared experience.
Integrated Care. New Narrative coordinates primary and preventive care, and provides many health and wellness services, such as smoking cessation and an in-house Healthy Eating and Active Lifestyle (HEAL) program.

New Narrative is a non-profit mental health agency serving adults in Washington and Multnomah counties in the Greater Portland, Oregon area with integrative mental health services. From clinical care and peer support programs to housing, we provide resources focus on the social determinants of health so people seeking mental health care can develop the tools to thrive, not just survive.

As a licensed provider of mental health, alcohol and drug, and dual diagnosis services governed by contracts with City, County, State and Federal government, successful program development has been built around strong collaborative relationships with these partners in response to emerging community needs. This is evidenced by our development of programs to provide homeless outreach, community justice transition, dual diagnosis treatment, and peer-delivered services, all of which have demonstrated a direct response to community input on service gaps. New Narrative has consistently held contracts with Washington County since 1978 and Multnomah County since 2002 for services including outpatient and rehab-level mental health treatment, supported housing, addictions treatment, homeless outreach, peer services and many other mental health related needs. All programs operate in adherence to applicable Oregon Administrative Rules and services are delivered according to evidence-based and best practices.

To ensure a close connection to the voice of the community, a Peer Advisory Committee consisting of twelve members meets bimonthly to review policy and program development, especially as it relates to housing and the homelessness crisis. The Advisory Committee is led by a mental health Peer and includes many formerly homeless individuals, as well as outreach staff, family members, and board members. The group makes formal recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding program development and perceived community needs.

Our extensive experience has generated and understanding of our communities needs and has led the organization to invest significantly in a key area affecting the mental health sector: housing. New Narrative has a long-term commitment to real estate development and operations, viewing housing opportunity as a key source of social equity for persons in poverty. In keeping with that value, since 2003 New Narrative has developed a wide continuum of housing options including nine licensed residential homes and multiple Permanent Supportive Housing and Transitional Housing projects with a total of over 100 units. Without a safe and secure home, it is almost impossible for an individual to address major issues such as severe mental illness or substance abuse. The stability that housing brings to an individual’s life is essential to recovery, and our organization has long focused significant resources on providing this vital support to ensure the success of our clients. Two factors drive New Narrative’s commitment to creating independent housing: our knowledge of community demographics and socio-economic barriers, and our understanding of how to effectively create supports for our client population by bringing together multiple services in the same geographic area.