Youth and Family Services
Our Youth and Family Services provide a critical safety net in Lane County—we strengthen and empower families with youth (ages 0-25) living with a disability. Our dedicated staff:
Help families understand, access, and coordinate services and supports to meet basic needs including food, housing, medical care, respite, and job placement.
Provide encouragement, emotional support, and continuity to reduce isolation and help families feel more in control of their lives.
Arrange and attend (if necessary) school, medical, mental health, and other important meetings with families to ensure their voice is heard and promote cost-saving collaboration across providers.
Ensure youth and family needs are met in a timely manner, without duplication and confusion, and before more expensive services are required.
Our Intake and Outreach team works with families to identify
the program and level of care that best meets their needs.
Service Coordination | Skill Builders | Wraparound Facilitation | Healthy Transitions
Service Coordination
Our skilled Service Coordinators work one-on-one with youth, ages 0-23, and their families to assist with education-based questions or concerns, systems applications and paperwork, resource navigation, meeting attendance, and call-in support. They help build a team and leverage a collaborative approach to…
Strengthen and empower individuals with disabilities and their families.
Foster positive communication between schools and families.
Help families meet basic needs and pursue their highest levels of independence.
Support families to access services and supports in educational settings.
Service Coordination Program Video
Members of the Direction Service Service Coordination team detail their experience supporting families through collaboration with Lane County Schools.
Skill Builders
Our Direction Service Skill Builders are Qualified Mental Health Associates who provide on-site support for youth who experience escalated emotions at elementary and middle schools in Lane County. This team…
Conducts behavioral assessments for students who experience escalated emotions.
Provides crisis de-escalation and recovery support to students with significant challenges. They help youth learn skills they need to regulate their emotions better.
Connects families to support services outside of schools and helps to change the trajectory of children’s lives within the schools.
Skill Builder Program Video
Members of the Direction Service Skill Builder team detail their experience working with youth in the Bethel School District.
Wraparound Facilitation
Wraparound Facilitation is a long-term, intensive planning process that follows a series of steps to help youth and their families realize their hopes and dreams. A Wraparound Facilitator and Wraparound Partner are assigned to each family. Our team members…
Serve youth, ages 0-17, in Lane County with significant behavioral and emotional needs.
Spend time getting to know each family and their story.
Build a team around the youth, including professionals and natural supports. They lead monthly team meetings and provide resources and support along the way.
Introduction to Wraparound Planning Process
This video from the System of Care Institute at Portland State University—the technical assistance providers for Wraparound in Oregon.
IMPORTANT: When watching, please note the video talks about “Wraparound Care Coordinators.” In Lane County, these positions are known as Wraparound Facilitators.
Healthy Transitions
In partnership with Oregon Health Authority, Portland State University, and other local and statewide stakeholders, Healthy Transitions positively impacts transition-age youth, ages 16-25, who live in Lane County. We improve access to supports and community opportunities for youth who experience mental health challenges, may be outside traditional settings, are marginalized, or are at risk of disconnection from services.
Healthy Transitions develops supportive relationships, improves life trajectories, promotes self-discovery and independence, and empowers youth and young adults to reach their goals. Services include:
Peer Support Specialists and Support Groups
Mental Health Counseling
Resource Navigation
Youth Empowerment and Leadership Opportunities
The Direction Service Youth and Family Services program receives generous funding from United Way of Lane County and other partners.