HISTORY

In 1917, the Conference of Private Child Caring Agencies (CPCCA) was created by a group of orphanages in Oregon (founding and early members included Albertina Kerr, Parry Center, Christie School and Morrison Center). Their primary focus was to advocate for the orphans and to find families to care for them.

More than fifty years later, throughout the early 1970’s, a coalition of residential youth care centers focused on increasing the effectiveness of services they provided for Oregon’s teens. They incorporated in December 1977, as the Oregon Association of Residential Youth Care Centers (OARYCC), to act as the unified voice of professionals committed to quality (founding and early members included Jess Arness, Arnie Green, and Jim Seymour).

In March 1990, OARYCC changed their name to become the Oregon Association of Youth & Family Programs (OAYFP).  This name change recognized the diversifying programs and services they were offering to increase positive outcomes for youth.

In June 1993, OAYFP (incorporated) merged with the CPCCA (not incorporated) and changed their name to the Oregon Alliance of Children’s Programs (OACP). Together, the two organizations would be significantly more effective at achieving the highest possible level of quality in programs for children, youth, and families.  The primary focus of the OACP is to advocate for the needs of children and families, and for the people who provided them services.

In October 2002, an IRS 501c4 sister organization to OACP was created and incorporated to conduct lobbying activities for the same membership as OACP.  This organization was the Oregon Alliance for Child Advocacy (OACA).

In July 2006, the 501c3 (OACP) changed its name to the Oregon Child and Family Services Council (OCFSC) and became a training and education organization.  The 501c4 (OACA) was renamed Oregon Alliance of Children’s Programs (OACP) and combined its advocacy and lobbying efforts in one corporation.  The membership in both organizations is the same.

Today, the OACP is a statewide nonprofit association with 34 member agencies that provide over 250 programs throughout Oregon, touching the lives of over 65,000 children and youth each year. The services our members provide address the effects of physical and sexual abuse, neglect, substance abuse, homelessness, developmental disabilities, mental-health issues, and help those youth who have been in trouble with the law.

Our member agencies deliver over $160 million in services, employ nearly 5,000 committed individuals, are guided by over 500 community and business leaders, and are blessed to have almost 5,000 volunteers contributing their time each year.

October 2006