Foundation Supports The Parent Mentor Program
Provides Essential Services For Oregon Families

March 2011
Portland, OR – News Release – Pacific Power Foundation awards Morrison $5,000 to support The Parent Mentor Program.

In Oregon, alcohol and drug abuse is the single largest contributor to child abuse and neglect.* The Parent Mentor Program provides peer mentoring to parents impacted by addiction who are involved in the DHS-Child Welfare System. Parents are matched with a Parent Mentor who has faced and conquered similar challenges. Mentors help parents to stay on track, work through the child welfare system, complete substance abuse treatment, learn positive parenting skills, build self-esteem, develop advocacy skills, connect to the recovery community and ultimately return to parenting clean and sober. Parent Mentors can work with parents throughout the length of their child welfare case, thereby providing the on-going support, validation and encouragement that parents need to overcome the challenges of addiction. Current data suggests that of the parents who have met with a mentor at least 3 times, 70% recover their children, which is a significantly higher rate than those who do not engage in peer-to-peer mentor services after their children are removed from custody due to substance abuse.

Parent Mentors are available to any mothers and fathers in Multnomah County who have an open Child Welfare case due to substance abuse.  

Founded in 1988, Pacific Power Foundation’s mission is to support the growth and vitality of the communities served by Pacific Power and Rocky Mountain Power.

Morrison Child and Family Services is the leading provider of children’s mental health services in Multnomah County. A private, non-profit organization headquartered in Portland since 1947, Morrison partners with families and communities to provide effective and responsive services for children and youth coping with the mental and emotional issues that result from trauma. For more information about Morrison Child and Family Services, call (503) 258-4200 or visit www.morrisonkids.org.

*Oregon Department of Human Services, 2009 Child Welfare Data Book.