A few tips

• Each county in Oregon may have slightly different procedures and/or limitations on services. For example, some counties may have waiting lists for services while others do not. Find out which cities are in which counties.
• We have moving to Oregon packets for different counties in Oregon.  Call us to customize or look at the Moving to the Portland Metro Area packet
• If you are flexible about what county, you move to, call different counties and compare services. For instance, the Portland metropolitan area has three different counties, each with slightly different service systems.
• Before you move, contact the agencies you may need, and ask to talk with a supervisor or manager from that program.  Take time to tell them about your child's diagnosis and needs. Ask all of the questions you have, take good notes, and write down the name of the person you spoke to. This will help you hit the ground running when you arrive.
• Oregon does not have a centralized resource for home-based respite care.  Although some children will qualify for respite care through a number of Oregon Programs, there is not one central "registry" or system to contact before you arrive.  If respite care is vital to your family, be sure to mention it to all of the programs that you talk to.
• Unlike some states, Oregon does not have a "one-stop" or centralized care coordination services. Your child may have a care coordinator at their doctor's office, one through the health department, one through their insurance plan, and one through the developmental disabilities system. It sounds complicated but we can help you navigate the new system!
• For Case management look up the case managing agency by county on the Community Developmental Disabilities Programs page.
• There is a Statewide database Aging and Disability Services Resource Connection (ADRC)

Immigrant and refugee support

Almost all refugees and many immigrants come to Oregon via Portland, and are resettled in the Portland Metro or Salem area.  After they are resettled can move anywhere in Oregon. This map shows the timeline and agencies that help with refugee and immigrant resettlement in the Portland area, we are working on developing something similar for Salem.

Oregon is a sanctuary state which means our counties have laws that protect certain immigrant rights.  You can check this map from the Center for Immigration Studies to see more information for the county you are moving to.  Every child in Oregon, regardless of their family’s legal status, is eligible for state-funded health and education services.

This Refugee Resettlement Service Delivery Map shows the timeline and agencies that help you refugee and immigrant resettlement in the Portland area.  More information is included in these Instructions for, and description of, service map a fillable version of the Resettlement Service Delivery Map

Immigration Law Resource Center: One page sheets outlining immigration options for undocumented children.

Use this list of community agencies providing resources for Spanish-speaking immigrants in Oregon

Key Refugee resettlement organizations in Oregon include:

SFR: Salem for Refugees, I-SOS: Islamic Social Services of Oregon State, SOAR: Sponsors Organized to Assist Refugees, LCSNW: Lutheran Community Services NW, Ecumenical Ministries:  Slavic Oregon Social Services, Catholic Charities, IRCO: Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization Lane County: Refugee Resettlement Coalition of Lane County