In North Portland, a new two-year pilot is trying to change what it looks like when foster teens step into adulthood. The Oregon Department of Human Services and local nonprofit New Narrative have launched a program that gives 16- and 17-year-olds a supervised house, ongoing life-skills training, and mental-health support right before they age out of care. The goal is straightforward: let teens practice independence while they still have 24/7 staff support, and cut down the odds they end up homeless after emancipation.
How the pilot works
A small group of older teens live together in a North Portland home where staff walk them through the kinds of everyday skills adults are just expected to know. That includes basics like cooking, budgeting, and looking for a job, along with counseling and case management. The house has round-the-clock supervision and service coordination, and Sara Fox described the two-year pilot as a new approach for the state, according to KGW.
Why it matters
National research shows that once young people leave foster care, they are far more likely to face serious instability. Roughly one in four experiences homelessness within a few years of exiting care, according to the National Academies. Pairing supportive housing with life-skills training and mental-health services has been shown to boost school success and employment outcomes for youth in this transition phase.
Who designed it
The pilot was rolled out as a joint effort between state officials and New Narrative to reach teens who have struggled in traditional foster placements. Megan Soucy, who helped develop the idea about two years ago, told KGW the model is aimed at “youth who came into care later or who do not want to be in a family.” Leaders hope that what they learn from the two-year run will shape whether the state expands this approach.
State context
Officials say the North Portland house is part of a larger push to improve outcomes for older youth in foster care and to better track how stable placements are, how often families are reunited, and other key measures across the system. The Oregon Department of Human Services recently shared updates on core child-welfare performance indicators and other efforts focused on transition-age youth, according to the Oregon Department of Human Services.
Local partners
New Narrative already collaborates with regional behavioral-health partners and was listed among providers selected for CareOregon's behavioral-health initiatives, signaling its experience with trauma-informed services and community-based supports. Advocates say this kind of small-house arrangement could be a realistic option for teens who want more autonomy while still keeping a safety net of services close at hand.
What to watch
The pilot will run for two years while state officials and partners collect data and feedback from residents to evaluate outcomes and costs. Those interested in how it plays out can track updates through the Oregon Department of Human Services newsroom, where the agency is expected to post reports and links to local coverage as early results come in.
