Task Force on the Intersection of Tribal and State Forensic Behavioral Health
About the Task Force
In 2025, the Oregon Legislature created the Task Force on the Intersection of Tribal and State Forensic Behavioral Health. They did this by passing a law called House Bill (HB) 2005 (opens link to external website).
This task force has several main jobs:
- Look at how tribes and the state work together when a tribal court needs to order a person into mental health treatment in the state’s civil or criminal systems;
- Figure out what information could be shared between tribal service providers, tribal courts, non-tribal service providers, the Oregon Health Authority, and Oregon courts, and find ways to fix issues that prevent information sharing;
- Look at the tribal mental and behavioral health services offered, and what access options are available for serious mental health treatment that requires a hospital level of care and barriers to accessing those services;
- Find out what issues keep citizens from getting care at the Oregon State Hospital when a tribal court orders them to engage in behavioral health treatment;
- Look at how tribes and the state work together on mental and behavioral health services;
- Look at the results of the study described in section 38 of HB 2005 (opens link to external website); and
- Create recommendations about what tribal courts need when they work with state services and what issues get in the way.
What the Task Force Will Do
- Meet to discuss the issues listed above.
- Create a final report about what they learned. This may also include recommendations for changes to the law. The report is due by December 15, 2026.
- Turn in the final report to the Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court, the Oregon Governor, and the Oregon Legislature.
Task Force Membership
- Honorable Naomi Stacy (Chair), Judge, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
- Honorable Denise Keppinger (Vice Chair), Judge, Columbia County Circuit Court
- First Lady of Oregon Aimee Kotek Wilson, MSW
- Lisa Nichols, Manager, Intensive Forensic Services, Oregon Health Authority, Behavioral Health Division
- Leslie Wu, Policy Advisor, Department of Justice
- Kimberly Lindsay, Executive Director, Community Counseling Solutions
- Honorable Karen Costello, Chief Judge, Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians
- Honorable Gayleen Adams, Chief Judge, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
- Honorable Melissa Cribbins, Chief Judge, Coquille Indian Tribe
- Honorable Ronald Yockim, Chief Judge, Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians
- Honorable Patrick Melendy, Chief Judge, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
- Sharon Stanphill, Chief Health Officer, Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians
- Cindy Cecil, Clinical Director of Behavioral Health, Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center
- Adrea Korthase, Indian Child Welfare Act Analyst, Office of the State Court Administrator
Contact Us
To ask a question, submit a public comment, or request an accommodation, please use the Contact Us form (opens new page).
Upcoming Task Force Meetings
Date: June 25, 2026
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
In-Person Location:
Oregon Judicial Department Education and Training Center (Room 529)
Justice Building 5th Floor
1162 Court Street NE, Salem, OR 97301
Virtual Location: WebEx Webinar
- Join Using Link: Meeting Link (opens WebEx Webinar)
- Join Using Webinar Number: 2485 669 8423
- Webinar Password: TribalStateTF1!
- Join Using Phone: +1-503-388-9555 United States Toll (Portland); +1-408-418-9388 United States Toll
- Access Code: 2485 669 8423
- Password: 87422578
Meeting Documents