Boys & Girls Aid Foster Care Programs

Boys & Girls Aid serves children and teens through three therapeutic foster care programs. Program-based foster care allows us to serve families in a certain region and youth with similar needs.

The Neighborhood

The Neighborhood serves youth ages 12-20 across Washington, Clackamas and Multnomah County. There are two levels of care within the Neighborhood – treatment foster care and treatment foster care with enhanced behavioral health services for youth with higher needs.  

The Neighborhood team, in coordination with Department of Human Services and other service providers, develops a plan with each youth to meet their complex needs including supervision, case management, assessment, behavioral rehabilitation services, family engagement, recreation, skill development toward permanency and independent living readiness, as well as aftercare follow-up for six months. The Neighborhood and certification staff provide parent coaching, training, and support to the network of foster families. The average length of stay is nine months to two years.

The Nest

The Nest serves children 4-10 years old who come from challenging living situations and extremely traumatic experiences. They have complex needs that require well-trained and supportive foster parents. The Nest program offers around the clock professional support tailored to meet the foster family and child’s needs and help both parents and child succeed. Many of the children in the program can attend preschool or school, but some may require alternative academic settings like special education classrooms. This program requires flexibility, patience, and experience, but the rewards are outstanding. Most children return to their parents or are adopted. The length of stay can be up to nine months.

Stabilization Transition and Evaluation Program (STEP)

The Stabilization, Transition and Evaluation Program (STEP) is an assessment program for youth referred to Boys & Girls Aid by the juvenile justice system. This community-based alternative to detention creates a unique opportunity for youth to get the support and services to succeed academically and socially. The program provides positive learning opportunities, case management, and wraparound support while youth plan to transition back home with new skills and resources that can help them positively move forward. Staff members and foster parents work collaboratively to create an environment that encourages youth to set goals and make positive choices for their lives. The length of stay can be 1 to 90 days, with most placements lasting 30 to 90 days.

Relief Care

With relief care, you provide care for foster kids on a temporary basis – just a day or two at a time. Relief Parents support full-time foster parents, giving them time off when they need it and helping to ensure Oregon's foster kids receive the best possible care. Relief Parents can also provide care for a kid who is waiting for a local agency to find a longer-term home.

Relief Care is a way to make a difference in the lives of young people, with a lower commitment than full-time fostering. The length of stay may range from one night to several weeks.