Kelly Overdorf is a Family Support Specialist within Deschutes County Behavioral Health's Intensive Youth Services (IYS) in Central Oregon, where she has resided for 35 years. Her work within the IYS Program encompasses key roles in three integrated Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) programs: Wraparound, Young Adults in Transition (Y.A.T.), and the Early Assessment and Support Alliance (EASA), which focuses on first episode psychosis intervention and treatment.
With a seven-year involvement with NAMI Central Oregon, including three years as a volunteer board member, Kelly has demonstrated a strong dedication to community and family mental health advocacy. She has facilitated numerous family support groups, led the Family to Family education program, and has been a regular presenter at Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) conducted for law enforcement officers across Oregon.
Personally, Kelly's work in mental health is deeply connected to her experience as the mother of an adult son living with Schizophrenia and Substance Abuse Disorder. Her son's recovery journey began with the EASA program, which Kelly now serves, fueling her passion to help other families navigate the complex challenges of mental health recovery. Kelly's approach not only fosters hope and empowerment for families but also assures them that they are not alone in their journey.
Kelly's unique combination of expertise and deeply personal insights makes her a pivotal voice in advocating for the integration of family perspectives into treatment and recovery strategies—an approach that research shows can lead to more holistic and impactful mental health care outcomes.