12 May Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center Announces Plans for New Behavioral Health Wellness Center
MISSION – Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center is excited to announce that we are moving forward with plans for a new Behavioral Health (BH) Wellness Center that will expand access to critical mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) services for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) community. The new facility will be located just across the street from Yellowhawk’s main building, ensuring easy access to integrated care while providing the dedicated space needed for growth.
The vision for the center emerged from years of increasing demand for behavioral health services and significant limitations within the current footprint. “Our Behavioral Health team has been doing incredible work, but we reached a point where the lack of space was directly affecting our ability to serve the community,” said CEO, Aaron Hines. “This new Wellness Center is an investment in our people. It strengthens our commitment to culturally grounded, accessible healing for the CTUIR community.”
As the need for behavioral health support continues to grow, particularly in response to the ongoing opioid crisis and rising mental health challenges in Indian Country, Yellowhawk recognized the importance of creating a space that could meet both present and future demands. The current building is at capacity, with the newest mental health therapist working out of a repurposed medical-wing office due to the shortage of space.
The new facility will allow Yellowhawk to expand its workforce, adding additional therapists, peer mentors, and program staff essential to supporting the community’s healing and recovery. Most importantly, the center will enable Yellowhawk to offer Level 2.1 Intensive Outpatient Programming (IOP) for the first time, a service the community has long needed.
“IOP fills a critical treatment gap for our community,” said Behavioral Health Clinical Director Cindy Cecil. “It provides structure, consistency, and cultural support for individuals who need a higher level of care but want to stay in their community, close to family and natural supports. This building gives us the space to honor that need and provide care in a way that reflects our values.”
In addition to IOP, the new center will uplift both therapeutic and cultural healing practices. Plans include a dedicated outdoor healing spaces, including a covered fire pit, ropes course, and walking/healing path; a multi-use cultural area for hide preservation, drum making, and other traditions; large conference room for community events, gatherings, and BH-hosted activities; and a space for complementary wellness services such as yoga, meditation, dance, massage and other valuable services.
“These elements reflect what our community and staff asked for,” added Cindy Cecil. “Healing is not one-size-fits-all. This center will be a place where cultural practices, mental health services, and recovery support live side by side.”
Over the past few months, Yellowhawk has been working closely with Wenaha Group on preliminary design concepts for the Behavioral Health Wellness Center. This early work focused on assessing current programmatic needs as well as identifying future services, functions, and staffing required to enhance behavioral health care for the community. Yellowhawk first initiated conversations with Wenaha in May 2025 to help determine the appropriate building size and develop initial cost estimates.
With preliminary designs complete, both the Health Commission and the Board of Trustees have recently approved the project. This approval allows Yellowhawk to move into the final design phase with Wenaha Group, ensuring the new facility is thoughtfully and sustainably planned to meet the long‑term needs of clients and providers.
With current grant opportunities and the availability of Opioid Settlement funds, Yellowhawk is well-positioned to bring the Behavioral Health Wellness Center to life. “This is the right time and the right project,” said Cecil. “Our goal is simple: to create a space that supports healing, strengthens families, and builds wellness for generations to come.”
Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center will share more information as the project moves forward.