Parents Anonymous® of Oregon, a program of Morrison Child and Family Services, delivers family strengthening and child abuse prevention services to parents who are currently in treatment for substance abuse, in the process of reunifying with their children having completed treatment and have had involvement with both the child welfare and criminal justice systems. 

A ground-breaking component of Morrison's program is Parent Mentoring, which provides peer-to-peer mentoring to parents impacted by addiction. The Mentors are all parents who were involved with the child welfare system during their past addiction, have successfully regained custody of their children and are dedicated to their recovery, having been clean and sober for more than two years. Each mentor is uniquely capable of providing empathy and support based on their own experience with addiction, treatment, and parenting in adverse conditions. 

The Mentor supports a parent in court hearings, Family Decision Meetings, and Team Decision Meetings.  He or she will provide a consistent contact throughout treatment or incarceration and help a parent access community resources once finished.  The Mentor is especially valuable in supporting the recovery process—attending 12 step meetings or other recovery-based meetings with the parent, and supporting them through the stress of parenting in recovery.  Most importantly, the Mentor provides a role model of success and helps to teach each parent how to advocate for themselves and their children.  Mentors support the reunification process by connecting addicted parents with long-term, constructive social support systems.

Parents Anonymous® mentors have successfully guided countless parents into recovery and back into healthy, positive parenting roles. This program breaks cycles of addiction and poverty by enabling those who know the struggles of drug dependency firsthand to share their experience, success, advice and resources with parents beginning their journey toward recovery.

The Willamette Week Give!Guide encourages everyone, especially new donors under the age of 36, to find a place to give. To encourage participation, anyone who gives over $50 is eligible for great incentives. Visit www.wweek.com/giveguide for more information. The Give!Guide is open November 11th - December 31st!