Monitor Program

The Monitor Program is designed to provide a community-based treatment alternative to institutionalization for males and females 12 to 18 years old who have a history of law violations and other problems, such as school failure, family problems, aggression, drug and alcohol use, poor peer relations, poor coping and social skills, minimal work skills, and low self-esteem. OCP considers those youth on a case-by-case basis who have been involved in fire setting or sexually acting out. Youth who have a low IQ will also be considered for placement as well as those youth who have a history of difficulty in public school. Youth in program attend public school. OCP takes referrals state wide from juvenile departments and Oregon Youth Authority. Youth who reside in the state juvenile correctional facilities are also considered for placement. The average length of stay in the program is 9 to 12 months with 90 days of aftercare support and services.

Participating youth are placed with the Oregon Youth Authority certified foster parents who are recruited, trained and supervised by OCP staff. Staff, foster parents, and family members together develop and implement individualized treatment programs. One or two youth are placed in each home. The program takes advantage of the natural parenting abilities of the foster parents; their stable and nurturing family relations, and treatment methods that have been directly developed for conduct problems and delinquency. Family members are encouraged to contact their child’s program manager to obtain progress reports and to arrange home visits. Individual and family therapy are provided for all participants and well as skills training for the youth. Program supervisors coordinate services for the youth in school, work, parole, and special interest areas to ensure an integrated approach.

The Monitor Program focuses on helping the youth’s natural family or aftercare placement family integrate the youth after the placement period, and helping them continue to make progress in areas where positive behavior changes were achieved during placement.

The assumptions of the program are twofold: first, that the conduct of these youth can be altered by the circumstances that influenced them, and second, that their natural or aftercare placement families can be helped to support positive social behaviors so that good community adjustment can be made, reducing the likelihood for further delinquency or institutionalization. The primary goal is to reduce recidivism.

Youth participate in a structured daily behavior management program developed by the program supervisor and implemented in the foster home. School attendance, behavior, and performance are closely monitored, and interventions are conducted as needed for youth in schools.

The goals and objectives of the program are:

      • Increase youth’s normative and positive behaviors (pro-social development);
      • Closely supervise youth at all times;
      • Closely monitor peer associations;
      • Specify clear, consistent rules and limits;
      • Consistently follow through with consequences for both positive and problem behavior;
      • Encourage youths to develop academic skills and positive work habits;
      • Support family members to increase their parenting skills;
      • Decrease conflict between family members;
      • Teach youth new skills for forming relationships with positive peers and for boding with adult mentors and role models.
      • Eliminate delinquent behavior (threat to community safety) as mandated by the Oregon Legislature.
      • Reduce recidivism.
      • Insure public safety by promoting positive change, developing and improving skills and reducing the likelihood youth will re-offend.
      • Successful family and community reintegration

Nexus Program

Nexus provides a multidimensional treatment foster care placement for youth ages 4-17 with trained foster family in a community setting. Services include access to 24/7 support; Family Counseling and Parent support; Individual Counseling and Skills Training; School Consultation and Advocacy; and Psychiatric Medication Management (if needed). Children and adolescents are referred to Nexus from Oregon DHS and must demonstrate significant social, emotional, and/or behavioral need to qualify for the program. Nexus TFCO™ placements are often a diversion from more expensive residential or day treatment settings and provide the opportunity for youth to practice skills in a family environment. Nexus reserves a small number of placements for children with developmental disabilities, such as Borderline IQ. We emphasize youth being placed in the most mainstream, least restrictive school setting that can meet their needs. Our high level of coordination between home and school often allows program youth to be successful in much less restrictive settings than they have previously experienced. Most of the youth in our program have IEPs and many require specialized school services.

Individually-tailored multidimensional treatment foster care, behavioral support, school consultation, and mental health services are arranged for youth in these programs based on needs and strengths. Our goal is to teach children how to live in community families and return home to their parents, transition to an adoptive family, or step-down into regular foster care. Typically, these TFCO™ placements are 9-12 months long.

To learn more about TFCO™, please visit the Treatment Foster Care Oregon website site at https://www.tfcoregon.com

Some goals and objectives of the program are:

  • Assess strengths and skill deficits for youth and create a step-by-step plan to improve behavior
  • Teach the skills needed to live successfully in a family setting
  • Facilitate regular and positive contact with aftercare families with the goal of eventual reunification
  • Support family members to use visits as an opportunity to practice effective parenting skills
  • Place youth in the least restrictive school setting possible while supporting academic progress
  • Interrupt histories of multiple placement disruptions