Tag: Positive Youth Development
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 ...
OYA Partners with Looking Glass to Provide Specialized Mental Health Residential Treatment
OYA is excited to partner with Looking Glass Community Services to launch our first-ever psychiatric residential treatment and subacute mental health residential program. This initiative addresses the growing need for targeted support for youth with severe mental and behavioral health challenges. By diverting youth from correctional settings and into specialized care, we’re giving them an ...
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 ...
At Parrott Creek, the Power of Photography Transforms Perspectives
This fall, youth at Parrott Creek took part in a six-week photography class, and the results speak for themselves. Youth reflected that the class was a gateway to self-expression, capturing (as one youth put it), “how I see the world – like showing something only I could see.” Leah Lamb, Residential Program Manager, recast this ...
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 ...