The Oregon Fallen Badge Foundation has a multidisciplinary Line of Duty Death Response Team comprised of public safety professionals, law enforcement survivors, and citizens ready and available to respond at a moment’s notice to the request of any law enforcement agency in the state of Oregon that has experienced a line of duty death. These members ensure that the memorial service to honor the fallen law enforcement officer provides him or her with the highest honors. The Oregon Fallen Badge Foundation will pay for the costs incurred by a line of duty death memorial service, including those associated with the planning, preparation, and execution of the ceremony, and to provide support for the survivors of a fallen officer.
Trauma Intervention Program NW is a group of specially trained volunteers who provide emotional aid and practical support and resources to victims of traumatic events and their families in the first few hours following a tragedy. TIP volunteers are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Volunteers are requested through the emergency response system at the request of police, fire, paramedics, hospitals, medical examiners, schools and businesses. Trauma Intervention Program volunteers support family members and friends following a suicide, natural or unexpected death; victims of crime; victims of fires; drownings; people involved in motor vehicle accidents; witnesses to crimes and people who are affected by gang and gun violence. There are over 200 volunteers responding to an average of 170 calls per month.
Responder Life was established in 2004 by a small group of police, fire, and 9-1-1 dispatcher families who had shared common concerns about their loved ones. We established the organization to create a better way to care for those who sacrifice so much to protect our cities, communities, neighborhoods, and families.
In twenty-five years as a member of the Portland Police Bureau, I observed courageous men and women provide selfless, dedicated service to our community every day. As my career progressed from a street officer to the Assistant Chief of Police, I witnessed the cumulative negative impact on many of my coworkers after years of responding to countless emergencies, traumatic incidences, and other human tragedies. These experiences took a heavy toll on many of my colleagues and often led to alcoholism, drug abuse, divorce, suicide, and cynicism resulting in less effective policing in our communities. Assistance and support were almost nonexistent unless the officer’s work performance suffered or the department became aware of a major crisis in their personal life. Sadly, we were losing our police officers in the process of protecting our communities. Today, Responder Life seeks to change this story. We work every day to strengthen first responders and their families to counteract the negative long-term effects of their careers.
The mission of My Father’s House is to equip homeless families with the life skills necessary to become contributing members of their community. The vision of My Father’s House is to be a leading model for successfully transforming the lives of homeless families from dependency and need to self-sufficiency and contribution.
My Father’s House reclaims at-risk homeless families from street life by providing them with the life skills necessary to become permanently independent and productive members of our community. It is our mission that they not only become self-sufficient, but that they discover their ability to contribute to a better community. We provide a safe environment where families begin their transition in a small private studio apartment within the shelter building. Residents develop skills and confidence in parenting, vocational, financial and recovery classes. Residents receive physical and emotional support to heal relational issues and help with spiritual and family growth. Our program and services are specifically designed to address the issues significant to families with children.
Our program has a great success rate of 75 to 80%. Each adult family member is expected to meet with a case manager who helps them set attainable goals for themselves, and work with them on developing their skills, holding them accountable for their progress. Our desire is to help them achieve these goals while teaching them that it pays to work. My Father’s House is also unique amongst shelters, in that we take the entire family and we house families longer, usually 6 months, instead of the 30 day stay provided by most government funded agencies.
Special Olympics Oregon provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children, youth and adults living with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.
Shriners Children'sis a network of non-profit medical facilities across North America. Children with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate are eligible for care and receive all services in a family-centered environment, regardless of the patients' ability to pay. Care for children is usually provided until age 18, although in some cases, it may be extended to age 21.