Our Purpose
Creating a Bright Future for Youth
For more than 140 years, Boys & Girls Aid has been finding permanent, loving families and ensuring lifelong stability for young people in our community.
The Need
Every year in Oregon, more than 7,000 children will enter foster care and more than 16,000 young people will experience homelessness.
Without a strong foundation of support, these young people face a significantly higher risk of experiencing housing insecurity, homelessness, or incarceration in adulthood.
A Compassionate, Community-Driven Solution
Established in 1885 as The Boys & Girls Aid Society of Oregon, we've been uplifting children, youth, and families through compassionate, forward-thinking programs for more than 140 years. As the first and longest-running child welfare agency in Oregon, we proudly carry forward a generations-long legacy of impact through innovative foster care, adoption, emergency shelter, and supportive housing services, we offer a full range of individualized supports that respond to each young person’s unique needs and circumstances.
With a dedicated team committed to supporting youth and deep roots in our community Boys & Girls Aid is proudly leading the charge to create a bright future where a permanent, loving family and lifelong stability are within reach for every young person.
What We Do
Foster Care
Boys & Girls Aid works to break the cycle of foster care by providing individualized, trauma-informed support for children who have experienced long stays in the foster care system and may face behavioral challenges as a result.
Our foster parents receive extensive training, resources, and ongoing support so they can provide the compassionate, therapeutic care these young people need and deserve.
Shelter Services
We proudly operate Safe Place — Washington County’s first and only emergency drop-in shelter for youth ages 12–21 experiencing homelessness. The shelter provides a safe, welcoming place for young people to stay during times of crisis, and staff work closely with each client to develop an individualized plan to support their transition out of the shelter’s care.
Safe Place also offers daily drop-in hours where young people can access food and supply pantries, connect with shelter services, and receive support linking them to community resources.
Housing Programs
Boys & Girls Aid offers multiple supportive housing programs to help connect young people ages 18–26 who are experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity with safe, affordable housing.
In addition to securing a place to stay, housing clients work closely with caseworkers to develop a plan for long-term stability and build the personal and professional skills needed to achieve their goals.
Adoption
Since our founding in 1885, Boys & Girls Aid has helped create thousands of loving families through more than 18,000 foster care and infant adoptions.
Our adoption clinicians are committed to facilitating adoptions that are child-centered, grounded in openness, and supportive of every member of the adoption constellation.
As a nonsectarian, proudly pro-choice adoption agency, we understand there is no single definition of what a family should look like, and we proudly work with parents and children from all backgrounds and identities.
Permanency Counseling
Support for a Lifetime
At Boys & Girls Aid, our programs are designed to not only support youth through times of crisis, but also lay a strong foundation for lifelong stability and success.
Every aspect of our work is grounded in the belief that every young person deserves lifelong Permanency. For us, this means ensuring each young person has access to a strong network of caring adults and community resources invested in their success. This approach is supported by research and is proven to help young people build healthier, happier lives.
With this in mind, Boys & Girls Aid’s programs take a holistic approach to building supportive connections and developing the personal and professional skills needed for lifelong stability. Our team works closely with each young person to help them access the support they need for positive outcomes.
That support looks different for every young person. It may mean connecting a child with an adoptive family, providing a safe place to stay for a teenager experiencing homelessness so they can finish high school, or helping an 18-year-old who has aged out of foster care move into their first apartment. In every case, we ensure young people are supported and well-prepared for the next chapter of their lives.
Join the Family!
Community is at the heart of everything we do. Since our founding, Boys & Girls Aid has been a proud local organization, uplifted by — and deeply committed to uplifting — children, youth, and families throughout Oregon and Washington.
We can’t do this work alone. If you share our commitment to creating a bright future for youth, we invite you to get involved and support Boys & Girls Aid in whatever way feels right for you.