Category: Facilities
OYA Mentoring Builds Trust, Inspires Growth
January was National Mentoring Month, and mentoring plays a transformative role in the lives of OYA youth. Justice-involved youth often face significant challenges, including trauma, instability, and limited positive role models. Research from the Council of Juvenile Justice Administrators underscores the importance of structured mentorship in reducing recidivism and supporting long-term success. By fostering trust ...
Supporting Youth: OYA Case Management Process Latest Updates
We’re updating our multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings and case management process to create a more transparent, youth- and family-centered approach. We also want to ensure staff have the tools they need to deliver the best possible outcomes. OYA Transition Juvenile Parole and Probation Officer (TJPPO) Amy Meyerding explains, “The biggest change is that we’re finally ...
Celebrating a Legacy of Advocacy: The Patton Learning Center
On December 13, we renamed the educational space at Oak Creek Correctional Facility and the Jackie Winters Transition Program for young women to honor Pam Patton, a woman whose dedication to gender equity has changed countless lives. The Patton Learning Center will stand as a tribute to her tireless efforts to ensure that young women ...
OYA’s Gang Management Strategy
The Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) has developed a thoughtful and effective approach to managing youth gang involvement, focusing on evidence-based strategies like trauma-informed care, restorative justice, and mentorship programs. These approaches address the roots of gang affiliation while fostering resilience and independence among youth in custody. Gang management is one of three aspects of OYA’s ...
OYA Celebrates Native American Heritage Month
Native American Heritage Month is a celebration held each year in November to recognize and uplift the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, histories, and contributions of Native people. There are 574 officially recognized tribes within the U.S., nine of which are in Oregon—the Burns Paiute Tribe; the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw ...