Oregon Community Programs - OCP

Another Parenting Through Change (PTC) training in the books!

A big thank you to Dani, April, and Evyan for leading this training and helping us continue to build our PTC capacity at OCP. Training more team members means we can not only continue offering PTC groups, but also grow our offerings and reach more parents and caregivers in our community.

PTC is an evidence-based parenting program that gives caregivers practical tools to strengthen relationships, encourage positive behavior, and navigate the challenges that come with change.

Interested in learning more or joining an upcoming group? Visit:
https://www.oregoncommunityprograms.org/services/parenting-through-change/

And congratulations to this newest group of PTC-trained team members! 💚

Six caregivers recently graduated from our LGBTQIA+ KEEP group, led by Beth and Erika, and there was so much to celebrate!

One caregiver shared that she came into the group scared that she didn’t know enough to support her youth in a way that truly affirmed their gender identity and sexual orientation. Over 16 weeks, that changed. She opened up, became more vulnerable with the group, grew more confident in her parenting, and said she was especially grateful for the other caregivers who shared ideas and encouraged her without ever making her feel embarrassed for what she didn’t know.

Another caregiver came to group absolutely beaming after helping their youth obtain an Oregon State ID with their correct gender identity. The whole group celebrated with her. And another got to celebrate their youth graduating from high school and starting college!

Even when placements changed, the connection remained. Several caregivers no longer had their youth in their homes, but they kept coming every week. They were that invested in the group, in one another, and in continuing to learn. At the final celebration, every caregiver shared how much the group had meant to them. They talked about feeling less alone, parenting differently, and watching their youth flourish.

KEEP is an evidence-based support and skill-building group for foster and kinship caregivers. It gives parents practical tools, connection, and a space to learn from others who understand foster care.

Interested in joining a future KEEP group? Learn more here:
https://www.oregoncommunityprograms.org/services/keep-group/

We’re excited to celebrate Tracy and Emily as they present at the PCIT International Conference this Friday!

Tracy and Emily will be presenting virtually on the PCIT-Toddler workshops they’ve developed through Oregon Community Programs, sharing their work with professionals from across the PCIT community.

These workshops are designed to give caregivers practical, connection-based tools for supporting toddlers’ emotional regulation, strengthening relationships, and responding to challenging behavior in developmentally appropriate ways.

We’re proud to see Tracy and Emily sharing what they’ve built and bringing OCP’s early childhood work to an international audience.

Please join us in wishing them a great presentation this Friday! 💙

We’re excited to have Trina from Treatment Foster Care Oregon at OCP today!

Trina is here training members of our foster care team in the Treatment Foster Care Oregon (TFCO) model, the evidence-based model we use in our treatment foster care programs.

While OCP has been utilizing the TFCO model for many years, training is an important part of bringing new team members into the work and getting returning team members reacquainted with the model. We’re grateful to have an expert like Trina here to help our team build a strong foundation as they step into their roles.

Pictured here are Brooke, our new Foster Parent Certifier; Matthew, a Team Lead who recently returned to OCP; Allison, our new Foster Parent Certification Manager; Trina, our TFCO Consultant; and Kym, our Foster Care Director.

Thank you, Trina and Treatment Foster Care Oregon, for spending the day with us and helping prepare our team to continue providing high-quality treatment foster care!

Parenting is hard. You don’t have to figure it out alone.

Parenting Through Change is a FREE 10-week group for parents and caregivers of children ages 4–14. Families learn practical, positive parenting strategies, build confidence, strengthen communication, and connect with other parents and caregivers.

**Our next groups are coming up soon:

Parenting Through Change
Wednesdays | September 30–December 2
5:30–7:00 PM

Childcare provided!
A light meal is provided at every session.

To join, contact Dani Emrick
[email protected]
541-743-4350

Grupo de Crianza Mediante el Cambio en español
Jueves | 8 de octubre–17 de diciembre
5:30–7:00 PM

¡Se ofrece cuidado infantil!
Se ofrecerá una comida ligera en cada sesión.

Para unirte, contacta a Karol Alfaro
[email protected]
541-246-2393

PTC groups include hands-on activities, practical tools and take-home resources, and support to help parents and caregivers feel more confident navigating everyday parenting challenges.

Criar a nuestros hijos puede ser difícil. No tienes que hacerlo solo/a.

Crianza Mediante el Cambio es un grupo GRATUITO de 10 semanas para padres y cuidadores de niños de 4 a 14 años. Aprenderás estrategias de crianza positiva, fortalecerás las relaciones familiares y recibirás apoyo para enfrentar los retos de la crianza.

Please share with a parent or caregiver who may be interested.
Comparte esta información con una familia que pueda estar interesada.

We are looking for foster parents in the Eugene/Springfield area and surrounding communities.

Foster parents receive $3,620+ per month in tax-free reimbursement, along with extensive training and ongoing support from our team.

Our foster parents provide short-term, highly supported care for youth who need a safe, stable place to land while they work toward their next step.

You do not have to have foster parenting experience. You do need a willingness to learn, provide consistency, and become part of a team supporting a young person.

OCP foster parents receive:
• $3,620+ per month in tax-free reimbursement
• 24/7 on-call support
• Ongoing training and coaching
• Weekly foster parent support groups
• 2+ respite days each month
• Support from experienced professionals throughout the placement

Not ready to foster full-time? We also need respite foster parents who can provide short-term care and give other foster families a break.

Curious whether it could be a fit for you? Learn more and start a conversation with our team. There’s no pressure to commit just because you reach out.

To learn more, visit: https://www.oregoncommunityprograms.org/fostering/

𝗢𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀!

The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care is gathering feedback from families across the state about their experiences finding and using child care for young children. The survey takes about 20 minutes, and 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮 $𝟮𝟱 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗴𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗱. Responses will help inform future child care policy and better understand what Oregon families need.

The survey is available in English, Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, and Simplified Chinese and is open through September 30, 2026, or until the maximum number of responses is reached.

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴? 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝘀 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲’𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂!

Feel free to share this post with other Oregon parents and caregivers who may want their voices heard.

We will be closed on Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day.

We hope everyone has a safe and restful long weekend. Our offices will reopen with regular hours on Tuesday, September 8.

Thank you to all of the caregivers, staff, families, and community partners whose work makes a difference every day.

When Kids Fall Apart After School: Finding Calm in the Chaos

Your child makes it through the school day. They follow directions, manage transitions, navigate friendships, and keep up with expectations.

Then they get home. Suddenly, everything seems to fall apart.

That after-school crash is real, and for some kids, home is the first place they feel safe enough to let go after holding it together all day.

As families settle into a new school year, we’re sharing some simple, realistic ways to help kids decompress after school, even when home life is busy, noisy, or anything but calm.

Read the full blog here: https://www.oregoncommunityprograms.org/blog-2/

🍎 Back-to-School Tip #8: Keep Expectations Clear, Concrete, and Consistent

Children are more successful when they know exactly what is expected. Vague directions like “Be good” or “Behave yourself” can leave them guessing.

Try giving clear, specific directions such as:

• “Hang your backpack on the hook when you get home.”
• “Put your dirty clothes in the hamper.”
• “Use a calm voice when you’re upset.”
• “Complete your homework before screen time.”
• “Keep your hands and feet to yourself.”

Clear expectations make it easier for children to succeed and easier for adults to notice and praise positive behavior. Over time, that consistency helps build confidence and healthy habits.