A team of social work professionals and experienced youth advocates staffs our Portland OIC System of Care Unit, and counsel and support students with barriers to engagement in education and work training.
Ongoing student support system
Counselors and advocates continue to mentor and support students through their High School Diploma and GED courses, on to continuing education, work training and employment, up to the age of 25.
Meals and transportation support
92% of our students qualify for the federal free lunch program, and we also provide breakfast and public transport passes to ensure attendance. POIC advocates are involved in family outreach and home visits to ensure all barriers to attending school are removed.
Code of conduct and attendance contracts
We ensure our students are committed to their goals and serious about their learning responsibilities. These contracts help our students stay on track.
Crisis intervention system
We employ five social work specialists to support students with crisis counseling, family outreach, substance abuse therapy, child abuse therapy services, emergency housing, teen parenting resources, and learning disability evaluation and intervention.
Student social support
POIC provides housing connections for homeless youth, teen parenting resources, peer to peer mentoring and role models as well as adult community mentors.
Career counseling services
To support our students during school and post graduation we offer a broad range of career services including: resume development, application and interview training, pre and post internship maturity assessments, and life skills assessments and coaching.
Teen Parenting
We offer our students and transitions graduates support, guidance, and counseling on a full range of teen parenting issues. We provide regular support groups, access to healthcare, and counseling to maintain academic focus through parenting.