Marion County, City of Salem Hold Joint Work Session on Behavioral Health, Public Safety

SALEM, Ore. – Jan. 31, 2025 – The Marion County Commissioners hosted Salem Mayor Julie Hoy and the Salem City Council for a joint work session Thursday evening. 

This meeting was largely informational and focused on enhancing collaboration between the County and the City, exploring shared resources, and identifying innovative solutions to address the complex challenges facing our community. The County also presented on RESTORE court, a deflection initiative established after the passage of House Bill 4002, which aims to improve outcomes for individuals with mental health and substance use disorders.

"I am happy to be working collaboratively with Mayor Hoy and the City Council in this space," said Marion County Commissioner Chair Danielle Bethell. "By understanding the resources we can provide and working to cover the gaps in services, we can come together and find the most effective path forward to restoring individuals in crisis in our community.”

Salem Mayor Julie Hoy, Commissioner Danielle Bethell (Chair), Commissioner Colm Willis, and Commissioner Kevin Cameron.

Mayor Hoy echoed this sentiment: "I am encouraged with the dialogue and collaborative spirit demonstrated by both the County and the City. Our ongoing partnership is essential to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our residents. I look forward to continuing this work and turning these discussions into concrete actions."

The work session was the first of a series in the coming year to build a stronger opportunity for communication and a shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities ahead. Both the County and the City expressed commitment to ongoing collaboration.

To watch the entirety of the work session, visit the Marion County, Oregon Facebook Page.