Youth Progress Association

AT YOUTH PROGRESS WE BELIEVE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE AND FOSTER CARE SYSTEMS ARE LEADERS, SCHOLARS, ARTISTS, ATHLETES AND ENTREPRENEURS. TOGETHER, WE ARE A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY OF STAFF AND FOSTER PARENTS WHO PROVIDE YOUNG PEOPLE WITH SAFE AND STABLE HOUSING AND OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW, LEARN, AND SUCCEED

YOUTH PROGRESS ASSOCIATION IS A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY OF STAFF AND FOSTER PARENTS WHO PROVIDE YOUNG PEOPLE WITH SAFE AND STABLE HOUSING AND OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW, LEARN, AND SUCCEED THROUGH THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS: 1) COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE IS OUR CULTURALLY-RESPONSIVE, COMMUNITY-BASED THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM WORKS TO STABILIZE ALL GENDERS OF YOUNG PEOPLE WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY WITH THE LONG-TERM GOAL TOWARDS FAMILY REUNIFICATION OR INDEPENDENT LIVING. ALL YOUNG PEOPLE ARE REFERRED TO COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES (DHS). 2) THE COLLEGE AND CAREER ATTAINMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES CULTURALLY-RESPONSIVE SERVICES THROUGH PROCTOR FOSTER HOME PLACEMENTS AND OUR CAREER CENTER. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON SUCCESSFUL TRANSITIONS INTO THE COMMUNITY, ESSENTIAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, JOB READINESS TRAINING, COLLEGE AND CAREER PLANNING, BUDGETING AND MONEY MANAGEMENT, AND INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILL DEVELOPMENT IN ORDER TO PROMOTE A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD. THE PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES ACCESS TO INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNTS AND RENTWELL CLASSES. THE PROGRAM SERVES YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 17-25, IN THE CARE AND CUSTODY OF THE OREGON YOUTH AUTHORITY (OYA).3) THE LEARNING CENTER IS OUR CULTURALLY-RESPONSIVE, CENTER-BASED THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE PROGRAM DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO MEET THE ACADEMIC, SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL, THERAPEUTIC, AND RECREATIONAL NEEDS OF STUDENTS IN FOSTER CARE. ALL YOUNG PEOPLE ARE REFERRED TO THE LEARNING CENTER BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES (DHS) AND ARE SUPPORTED BY THE PORTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS (PPS) SYSTEM. STAFF AT OUR LEARNING CENTER ALSO WORK COLLABORATIVELY ACROSS ALL PROGRAMS TO ENSURE ALL OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO EDUCATION RESOURCES AND FURTHER SCHOOLING IF NEEDED.4) FAMILIES AND MORE CONNECT (FAMCONNECT) IS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR FOSTER CARE PROGRAMS, FOCUSED ON THE RECRUITMENT, CERTIFICATION, TRAINING, AND SUPPORT FOR OUR COMMUNITY OF THERAPEUTIC FOSTER PARENTS. OUR MOST SACRED COMMITMENT IS THAT NOBODY WILL EVER BE ALONE ON THEIR JOURNEY AS A FOSTER PARENT. WE OFFER CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE AND TRAUMA-INFORMED THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE TRAINING THAT SUPPORTS THE GROWTH, PSYCHOSOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND SUCCESS OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.5) THE ALBA COLLABORATIVE IS AN INNOVATIVE, CULTURALLY-RESPONSIVE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN MULTIPLE AGENCIES THAT PROVIDES PREVENTION, EARLY INTERVENTION, AND 24/7 CRISIS LINE AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO YOUTH AGES 9-17 WHO ARE AT-RISK OF OR EXPERIENCING HOUSING INSTABILITY. YOUTH PROGRESS'S ROLE IS TO PROVIDE SHORT-TERM EMERGENCY PLACEMENTS IN PROCTOR FOSTER HOMES AND ALL ASSOCIATED SUPPORTS.