Family Engagement
Locating important connections for youth
The Family Engagement Program is designed to locate relatives and other important connections for youth in the care of the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), and to help those individuals become supportive, caring adults in the youth’s life.
Our Family Engagement Specialists are skilled at relative search and use a variety of platforms to find and connect with people. They are also trained by Seneca Family Services in specific techniques for family engagement. The primary goal is to expand the connections youth have and involve kith and kin in the youth’s case planning.
The program serves youth of all ages across the Portland metro area (Districts 1, 2, 15, and 16), the Mid-Valley and Coast (Districts 3, 4, and 5), and parts of Southern Oregon (Districts 6, 7, 8, and 11).
Now open for referrals!
What’s in it for you as a caseworker?
Someone to seek out relatives and do the initial engagement work with them
Someone to engage the youth in exploring and expanding their support network
Someone who can support initial connections and visits for youth with kith/kin
Someone to help build a stronger support system around your youth and potentially expand placement options
What our team believes:
Every child has a family. They can be found if we try.
Loneliness can be devastating, even dangerous, and is experienced by most children in out-of-home care.
A meaningful connection to family helps a child develop a sense of belonging.
The single factor most closely associated with positive outcomes for children is meaningful, lifelong connections to family.