skills-building
In the behavioral health field, the work we do is called “skills-building.”
- Our mentoring program will stay the same and continue helping kids build confidence, life skills and healthy relationships.
- A licensed counselor working mostly behind the scenes will provide extra support and resources for families who opt in.
- Your child’s relationship with their Friend will not change — they will still spend quality time together and work toward their goals.
- This added support is completely free, optional and designed to help families navigate big feelings, tough moments and everyday challenges.
IN A NUTSHELL
- These services are 100% free optional. Always.
- Either way, your child gets to spend quality time with their Friend pursuing goals, building connection and exploring their spark — just as they always have.
- This helps us too, by bringing in new funding so we can pay our team better and serve more kids.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my child is already seeing a counselor?
That’s great! If their care plan doesn’t already include skills building, we could assess if these services are appropriate and, if they’re willing, work in partnership with their counselor.
Is this extra time and do I have to take my child to appointments?
Not necessarily. Ideally the skills building happens during the child’s regular outing. If counseling is also recommended, we will work with you to best support your child being able to access it.
I’m not on the Oregon Health Plan, so can my child not do this?
Initially we will only be able to provide these services to OHP members. We hope to expand to private insurance in the future. Either way, your child will continue to receive mentorship and support from their Friend.
Why can’t you do this without billing for it?
These services will always be free for youth and families. To offer this extra support, we need to hire a licensed counselor and provide special training for our staff so they can better support children and families. Some of the work we do can be paid for by insurance, which helps us cover our costs. We just want to be sure we can grow our program in a healthy way, and continue supporting youth and families for years to come.