Center for Family Success

Helping Families Succeed

Our Mission:

To improve the well-being of children whose parents are involved in the criminal justice system.

The Center serves these children, their families, and caregivers through parent education, advocacy, and development of community partnerships.  We create opportunities for these families to link to resources, experience coached family time, enhance life skills, and develop positive social networks to build family success.

Overview

The Center for Family Success is a community resource facility located in the St. John’s neighborhood of Portland, Oregon.  A demonstration site for the Children’s Justice Alliance, the Center functions as a hub for educational opportunities, social support and positive family activities for children whose parents are involved in the criminal justice system, their families and caregivers. 

At the core of services offered at the Center is the Parenting Education Program, “Parenting Inside/Out,” a research-based curriculum focused on the needs of families who have been involved in the criminal justice system. Parents may receive training in this curriculum while incarcerated or in the community. Coached and supported parenting time supplements classroom instruction. 

Programs & Services

While at the Center, participating families will work with parent advocates to create their own family plans and linking up with community resources and services.

What’s new at the Center

These past months have brought many changes to the Center. 

Our first Parenting Inside/Out class graduated on June 27th!  Currently there are two other PIO classes running in the community.  Two graduates of the Parenting Inside/Out program in the prisons have started a Narcotics Anonymous group at the Center, with childcare provided. 

Community-based Parenting Inside/Out classes are offered at the Center and other locations throughout Multnomah County on a rotating basis.  Classes meet twice weekly, two hours per session for a total of 12 weeks; the full course offers 48 hours of instruction.  Referrals can be made directly to the Center.

The Family Success House for women and children opened in June!  Members of the house receive support through their participation in the services at the Center and their parent advocate.  The house currently has two moms and three children in residence with room for one more family and two more single mothers. 

In the past few months, the Center has formed a partnership with Cares Northwest and Multnomah County Community Justice to offer the Cares child abuse prevention presentation to the community as well as to service providers.  This presentation covers   Shaken Baby Syndrome, Domestic Violence, Bullying and the effects of Drugs and Alcohol on children. 

The Center continues to do outreach to the North Portland Community and its families.  We are so happy in our new home and excited about what the summer will bring our way!!

Partnering for Success

Community partnerships bring a wealth of resources to clients at the Center for Family Success. Our alliances with other service providers broaden the range of offerings available to participants, as well as foster a cooperative, community-based approach to assisting parents as they transition back into the family and neighborhood.

In addition to the Oregon Department of Corrections and the Oregon Department of Human Services, other partners include: Pathfinders of Oregon, Multnomah County Community Justice, Portland Community College, Cares Northwest, Children’s Relief Nursery, Pathfinder Academy, Trillium Family Services, Parent’s Anonymous, Family of Friends, Oregon Correctional Enterprises, Multnomah County Sheriffs Office, Children’s Trust Fund Foundation of Oregon and the Criminal Justice Policy Research Institute in the Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University.  

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What are the current partnerships and programs of the Center for Family Success?

Information and Referral

• YWCA Transitional Housing Program
• Central City Concerns
• YW Housing—Vancouver
• Multnomah County Health Nurses
• 211
• Open Meadows
• Portland Impact
• Child, Youth & Family Network
• InAct
• North Portland Police Precinct
• DOC (all institutions)
• Multnomah Dept. of Community Justice
• Trillium
• Cascadia
• Children’s Relief Nursery
• Goal Post and N/NE one Stop
• One stop steering committee

Community Based Action

• Pathfinder Academy— North Portland Child Care Committee
• Parent Child Literacy Connection
• North Portland Resource Team
• Weed and Seed (North Portland)
• Community and Faith-Based Connections for Successful Reintegration
• North Portland Caring Community-Readiness Fair, Holiday Toy Drive
• Multnomah Dept. of Community Justice Family Services Unit and Cares Northwest  (ongoing shaken baby syndrome and domestic violence trainings)

System Change

• Statewide Children of Incarcerated Parents Initiative
• DOC
• Multnomah Dept. of Community Justice
• Sheriff’s Office
• Inverness Jail
• DHS SDA office
• Criminal Justice Policy Research Institute/ Interdisciplinary Trainings
• PSU/DHS MSW Partnership
• North Portland Police Precinct
• Children’s Justice Alliance St. John’s Advisory Group Meetings
• Oregon Social Learning Center PIO and Parent study

Contact Info

The Center for Family Success
	Phone:	503.286.0600
	Fax:	503.286.0325
	Email:	info@childrensjusticealliance.org