Tawna Sanchez
| Race: | House |
| District: | 43 |
VPS - Primary
Occupation: Director of Family Services, NAYA Family Center
Occupational Background: State Representative since 2017, House District 43
Educational Background: Portland State University, MSW; Marylhurst University, BA
Prior Governmental Experience: Current Co-Chair of Joint Ways & Means Committee and Joint Committee on Legislative Audits, Member of Joint Committee on Addiction and Community Response; Oregon Domestic and Sexual Violence Advisory Board; Oregon Family Services Review Commission; Oregon Child Welfare Advisory Commission
TAWNA SANCHEZ: FIGHTING FOR OUR COMMUNITY
ADDRESSING THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS
In addition to helping pass legislation to set up Oregon’s 9-8-8 suicide crisis hotline and providing funding for mobile crisis response in 2022, I worked in 2024 through the Joint Committee on Addiction to include language improving our ability to assist Oregonians who are in the throes of addiction through treatment and services to put them on the road to recovery.
LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION
My office is currently focused on two task forces, one examining alcohol pricing and how we can dedicate more resources to both prevention and recovery, and one on the requirements for Tribal consultation with state agencies.
CONTINUING THE WORK
Working to improve outcomes in our child welfare system remains a priority, as well as pushing for a more thoughtful and fair criminal justice system, and building our behavioral health workforce for youth, which I hope to do with the recent passage of legislation to support bringing additional mental health services into our schools.
Endorsements include: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, Advance Native Political Leadership Action Fund, AFT Oregon, Oregon School Employees Association, Portland Association of Teachers, Oregon Education Association PAC, Sierra Club, NAYA Action Fund, Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon, Oregon AFSCME, Oregon AFL-CIO, Oregon League of Conservation Voters, Oregon State Firefighters Council, Oregon and Southern Idaho District Council of Laborers, Western States Carpenters, Oregon Nurses Association
(This information furnished by Tawna Sanchez for Oregon.)