OYA Foster Care

05/13/2026

The OYA Foster Care team would like to take a moment to recognize and honor our incredible foster parents! These amazing humans have opened their homes and hearts to OYA youth and the impact that they make is immeasurable. Their guidance, support and dedication change lives and helps youth through some of the toughest times! We can't thank you enough and couldn't do this without you! 💜

03/05/2026

When youth are out of the home for a little bit, it affects the pets in the home too. Mercedes is very excited to have her youth back home!!

01/20/2026

Last week one of our Certifier’s was in a youth’s team meeting. While in the meeting, a parent said something about one of our OYA Foster Parents that we just wanted to share! The youth’s mom said that when her son first left their home to be placed in OYA foster care, she cried every night because she was so worried about him. But once she got to know the foster parent, she knew that her son was safe and with someone who would take good care of him, so she could finally rest.
This is a wonderful testament to our Foster Parents and the differences they’re making. Our Foster Care team knows how wonderful our Foster Parents are but it’s great when other’s recognize it as well!

01/09/2026

Flashback Friday: The Duck might be busy today prepping for the game against Indiana, but he once visited the OYA Foster Care recruitment table because he knows how important it is to find foster parents who will give Oregon youth a safe, nurturing home.

Contact us if you would like more info on OYA Foster care. And GO DUCKS!

12/24/2025

The OYA Foster Care team would like to wish you all a wonderful holiday season! ❤️ We hope everyone has relaxing holidays with family and friends! Thank you for all you do, year round!

12/22/2025

At one time or another, every foster parent has likely had a youth come into their home with very few belongings. A few years ago, we were connected with an amazing program called Project 48. Project 48 was started by two sisters who had seen this happen too many times so they created this program to help get youth some clothing and hygiene items to start with. This then led to holiday bags for the youth in OYA Foster Care. We are so grateful to Project 48, their staff, volunteers and donors who are helping foster youth have a better Christmas! From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for caring so much and for everything you do! 

12/19/2025

We have a foster youth who asked for a session in a studio to record a rap song in the Eugene area for Christmas. We know it’s a long-shot, but figured we would put this request out there to see if anyone in the community could make this happen for this young man.

Please feel free to share this post just in case it might find the right person. Please contact Kelly Okili at [email protected] if you are able to help. Thank you!

12/18/2025

Twenty-two years ago, one of our longtime foster parents cared for a youth who, although was loved dearly by his mom, was not able to return home. His mom was so grateful to have a safe and caring foster home for her son, that since then, each Christmas she has bought gifts as a secret Santa for every youth in that foster home.

She does not want any recognition, so we are not sharing names. But we wanted to tell this touching story and the impact our amazing. foster parents have, not only on OYA youth, but on their families as well.  

Pictured below: This year’s secret Santa gifts.

12/16/2025

A big thank you to long time OYA Foster Parents Ed and Celia Kaleta and Maria Mihm for hosting their annual holiday meal for OYA staff. We appreciate you!

10/30/2025

The deadline to apply is now November 13th!

Initial Posting Date: 10/23/2025 Application Deadline: 11/13/2025 Agency: Oregon Youth Authority Salary Range: $4,833 - $7,407 Position Type: Employee Position Title: Social Service Specialist 1 - Foster Care Certifier (bilingual Spanish/English) Job Description: OREGON YOUTH AUTHORITY Social Servic...