Oregon Family Support Network, founded in 1991, a 501(c)3 non-profit, began as a grass roots community organization providing support groups and education to families with a strong advocacy component. Our purpose has remained unchanged:
To connect, empower and educate families and their communities to assure improved outcomes for children and youth experiencing significant behavioral health chal
lenges. OFSN is the longest standing organization in Oregon with the ability to provide advocacy, support, education and direct peer delivered services. Children, youth and families we work with have complex challenges resulting from mental or behavioral health disorders. Our families and youth also struggle with many obstacles and barriers, including; poverty, domestic violence, homelessness, disconnection from family, untreated mental health and addictions, as well as profound traumatic experiences. Families and youth come to OFSN for education and training, community supports, advocacy and/or for family partner services through behavioral health systems. Actual services within a County or region can be different. This is because OFSN contracts individually with counties and behavioral health systems, as well as receiving grant monies. OFSN staff members are almost all parents (biological, adoptive and foster) or caregivers who have raised a child or several children who have mental health, behavioral and other significant health challenges.
