Morrison Child and Family Services

Morrison Child and Family Services Helping Kids Be Kids and Families Stay Together.

At Morrison, we provide a broad continuum of trauma-informed, cultually-repsonsive programs and services which positively impact the lives of children, youth, and families.

SAGE prom—Masquerade Ball edition 🪩🌟💃 With the help of staff and PPS teachers, the SAGE youth transformed the space with...
06/03/2026

SAGE prom—Masquerade Ball edition 🪩🌟💃
 
With the help of staff and PPS teachers, the SAGE youth transformed the space with sparkling lights, candles, gold and black décor, masquerade masks, and a roaring 20s-inspired photo booth. The evening included a four-course dinner from Pastini, made possible through the generosity of our SAGE Circle donors (which the kids thought was just about the fanciest thing they’d ever seen). Everyone danced for hours, took photos, laughed with friends, and soaked up every moment. 
 
“While just the fun of having a prom is reason enough to invest the time, money, and effort that SAGE does, there are also really important reasons that we prioritize these kinds of events,” said Kelli Doolittle, SAGE Program Director. “Events like these allow SAGE youth to address the social-emotional impacts of trauma and process complex emotions through play, creativity, and positive social connection. Having relatable experiences can also help youth with reintegration by creating a sense of normalcy and belonging.”
 
We are so grateful to everyone who has contributed to these events for our youth!

06/01/2026

We were honored to recognize JR Ujifusa, Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney, at this year’s gala for his transformational work supporting youth who have experienced trafficking.
 
As Kelli Doolittle, Program Director for SAGE—Morrison’s residential program for youth survivors of trafficking—shared:
 
“They get a very different experience of law enforcement, of the justice system. They see a person. A person who cares about them, who answers their questions, who treats them with dignity and respect, who honors their choice, who doesn’t push or pressure them in any way. I’m not exaggerating when I say that it’s fundamentally transformative. Our kids line up to sit with JR and tell their story.”

05/28/2026

A look back on Silver Linings 2026 at the with ! We celebrated the positive impacts we had in the lives of kids and families, spotlighting our SAGE program: a secure and trauma-informed Residential Program where youth victims of trafficking experience Support, Achieve their goals, Grow, and become Empowered (SAGE).

While previous studies have linked video games to certain mental health problems, a recent study adds more complexity to...
05/27/2026

While previous studies have linked video games to certain mental health problems, a recent study adds more complexity to the topic, showing that video games can also promote cognitive performance in children. The study found that the group who played video games had higher brain activity in regions of the brain associated with attention and memory than did those who never played. They also did not find statistically significant evidence that the video games resulted in ‘problem behaviors.’

Games can be a safe place for children to ‘fail’ and try again, helping them to build resilience and to serve as a sandbox for critical thinking. So while we’re not recommending giving your children unlimited screen time, some video games in moderation can be a good place for children to test themselves.

Our CEO Nick Gallo had the opportunity this past week to join Governor Tina Kotek , First Lady Aimee Kotek, Senator Reyn...
05/22/2026

Our CEO Nick Gallo had the opportunity this past week to join Governor Tina Kotek , First Lady Aimee Kotek, Senator Reynolds, Rep Pham, and many others at The Ballmer Institute to witness the signing of critical mental health legislation. A win for behavioral health, these bills demonstrate a shared vision to create stronger systems of care to create better outcomes for kids and families across Oregon and beyond. That’s our goal every day at Morrison.

Our Parent Mentor Program (PMP) was showcased at NatCon this week! Hosted by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing,...
05/21/2026

Our Parent Mentor Program (PMP) was showcased at NatCon this week! Hosted by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, there were over 5,000 attendees along with several expert speakers. One of those speakers was our very own Kimberly Macklin, PMP Program Director, who spoke about the program’s national expansion. We are replicating the success of our peer led services to help parents across the country as they navigate substance use disorder and the child welfare system. The presentation was a great success. There was a lot of interest in our program and we gained valuable insight into the work others are doing to help kids and families!

Pictured are our CEO Nick, Chief Program Officer Margaret, Parent Mentor Program Director Kimberly, Outpatient Division Director Corie, Clinical Services Trainer Camille, Outpatient Director of Business Operations Erin, Director of Strategic Initiatives Laurel, and more wonderful Morrison staff!

It takes a village, and we’re grateful to be part of one.  Recently, two members of Morrison’s Infant & Early Childhood ...
05/18/2026

It takes a village, and we’re grateful to be part of one. 
 
Recently, two members of Morrison’s Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation team, Kalinda and Kristen, were invited to speak at the Oregon Parenting Educators Conference in Corvallis. As part of a panel on “Building a Village,” they shared how educators and community organizations can work together to create stronger networks of support for children and families. 
 
At a time when connection and community feel more important than ever, we were honored to contribute to these conversations and learn alongside so many dedicated professionals.

The daughter of one of our staff in the Gresham office surprised the whole team with presents recently. She crocheted ad...
05/07/2026

The daughter of one of our staff in the Gresham office surprised the whole team with presents recently. She crocheted adorable little animals for everyone, even tailoring the item to the person’s job. Frogs that can hold their pens for admin; bunnies with removable clothes for supervisors; a lemon ball for the skills trainer to throw around with kids in the community; fidgets for the clinicians; and more.

Truly an amazing display of crocheting from the twelve-year-old, and she did it all in only eight days! The Gresham staff loves their presents, and for a team dedicated to helping kids, it’s nice to get a gift themselves.

Today’s young people are making safer choices than previous generations—smoking and drinking less, and committing fewer ...
05/05/2026

Today’s young people are making safer choices than previous generations—smoking and drinking less, and committing fewer juvenile crimes. That’s something worth celebrating.

At the same time, youth are experiencing higher levels of anxiety and depression than ever before. Recent studies suggest this may be connected to increased parental monitoring and a decline in unstructured free play.

Unstructured, self-directed play is critical to healthy development. It helps children build motor skills, confidence, independence, and the ability to think critically. When kids have fewer opportunities to take age-appropriate risks, it can impact their mental health and sense of self.

While keeping children safe is every parent’s priority, creating space for autonomy and independence can actually strengthen both their wellbeing and resilience.

Rates of anxiety, depression, and other mental health diagnoses have been on the rise, especially in the youth and young...
05/01/2026

Rates of anxiety, depression, and other mental health diagnoses have been on the rise, especially in the youth and young adult populations. We all have a part to play in taking care of our young people. Open communication between parents and children has been shown to be a protective factor for mental health. Taking walks in natural environments and dancing have also been found to reduce depressive symptoms. Some studies have linked a lack of face-to-face time with friends with rising anxiety in youth. 
 
So for Mental Health Awareness Month, get outside, move your body, see a friend, and when you need more support, Morrison is here with professional services at our four outpatient clinics.

Address

11035 NE Sandy Boulevard
Portland, OR
97220

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+15032584200

Website

https://twitter.com/morrisoncfs

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