March is Women’s History Month – a time to celebrate historical and current contributions from women. It’s an opportunity to reflect on the progress women have made while also recognizing the work that remains. At the Oregon Youth Authority, Women’s History Month is a time to focus intentionally on the unique strengths, experiences, and needs of the young women we serve.
Gender is an important consideration in how we provide services to youth. Two of our nine close-custody facilities – Oak Creek Youth Correctional Facility and the Jackie Winters Transition Program – serve young women, and young women make up roughly 14% of youth in these facilities or on parole/probation. Young women in our system often have significant and complex needs, such as:
- 100% of young women have a known trauma history (compared to 96% of young men)
- 82% have a diagnosed mental health disorder (61% of young men)
- 80% report a history of regular drug or alcohol use (72% of young men)
- 74% have a parent history of substance abuse (62% of young men)
These statistics reinforce what we see every day: young women in custody often carry deep histories of trauma and adversity. Trauma-responsive care is essential, and so is creating real opportunities for growth, education, leadership, and career development. When young women are given meaningful pathways forward, they build confidence, develop skills, and begin to see new possibilities for their futures.
That process begins with the learning environment. Young women in close custody learn and participate in extracurricular programming in the Pam Patton Learning Center. The building’s namesake worked over 30 years with state agencies to provide gender-specific services, treatment and facilities. At the December 2024 dedication, Pam told the girls, “We didn’t just want programs—we wanted the people working in them to have the knowledge and tools to effectively meet the needs of girls.” The name of the building serves as a powerful, daily reminder of what’s possible through the available education and career pathways.
At the heart of those pathways is Multnomah Education Service District’s staff of talented educators and their partnerships with Linn-Benton Community College, Oregon State University, and other higher educational institutions so youth can earn dual credit — working toward both high school completion and college coursework. In recent years, Oak Creek students have earned multiple Masters degrees.
Hands-on learning is also a strong focus. Young women also have access to a wide range of vocational certifications, including ProStart Culinary, nail technology, flagging, forklift operating, tractor safety, certified recovery mentoring, coffee roasting, and wildland firefighting. The Horticulture Gardening Training Program teaches plant propagation, including native plants used in partnership with the Linn County Juvenile Department and environmental restoration efforts. At Three Lakes High School, youth can participate in a pre-apprenticeship residential building class that walks them through every stage of house construction, along with smaller-scale building projects.
Youth also spend time training on heavy equipment simulators. Through visits to professional training facilities such as Knife River, they gain hands-on experience operating heavy equipment and learn what to expect in real-world job settings.
These experiences are more than certifications and coursework. They help young women build confidence, develop practical skills, and expand what they believe is possible for their futures.
Women’s History Month reminds us that opportunity matters. When we invest in young women by providing trauma-informed care, educational access, and meaningful vocational pathways, we are not only honoring the legacy of women who have broken barriers before them. We are helping build the next generation of leaders, workers, mentors, and community members.