Program Overview

University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities

The University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at OHSU provides training and support to Oregon adult and high school transition programs and community organizations to teach skills that will promote healthy relationships and sexual health.

Oregon Friendships and Dating Program

The Oregon Friendships and Dating Program is an evidence-based, comprehensive approach to teach individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities the skills needed to develop meaningful relationships and prevent interpersonal violence. The program is developed by the University of Alaska UCEDD and is offered in partnership with the Oregon Health Authority and the University of Alaska Anchorage Center for Human Development.

Program Description

The program includes training, curriculum, and financial support for programs to implement the Friendships and Dating Program within their transition classroom or community setting. The program recommends that two teachers attend a training and then co-facilitate the curriculum in their classroom.

Participant Benefits

• FDP facilitator training
  • Financial support for participation in training
  • FDP curriculum with supplementary materials
  • Financial support for implementation
  • Additional resources and professional development opportunities

Participant Expectations

• Attend one of the FDP trainings
• Implement the 10-week FDP course in transition program or community organization classroom during the time frame provided in the project timeline
  • Note: At least some of the students must be 14 to 21 years old, as this is a grant and data collection requirement
• Collect and submit classroom data (e.g., attendance, demographic data, class surveys) to UCEDD at OHSU
• Attend cohort video meetings
• Attend informational webinars

Program Locations

The following are locations where the Friendships and Dating Program is offered:

1. Adult Living Program, Gresham
2. Adult Transition Program, North Clackamas School District
3. Arata Creek, Troutdale
4. Art Tech High School - Adult Transition, Wilsonville
5. Ashland High School, Ashland
6. Bend Senior High School Transition Program
7. Bethel Community Transition Network (BCTN), Eugene
8. Bridges to Independence, Oregon City
9. Canby High School, Canby
10. Centennial Transition Center, Portland
11. Central High School, Independence
12. Central Medford High School, Medford
13. Central Oregon Disability Support Network (CODSN), Bend
14. Community Transition Program, Albany Public Schools
15. Community Transition Program, Beaverton School District
16. Community Transition Program, Lake Oswego High School
17. Community Transition Program, Portland Public Schools
18. Community Transitions Program, Fairview
19. Community Transitions Program, Silver Falls
20. Crater High School, Central Point
21. Crook County High School, Prineville
22. David Douglas Community Transition Program, Portland
23. Eagle Point High School VIP Transition Center, Eagle Point
24. Estacada Adult and Youth Transition Program, Estacada
25. Hermiston High School Next Steps Transition Center, Hermiston
26. Hidden Valley High School, Grants Pass
27. Hood River Valley High School Transition Program, Hood River
28. Illinois Valley High School, Cave Junction
29. Independent Transition School, Hillsboro School District
30. Jerome Prairie Transition Center, Grants Pass
31. Klamath County Transition Program, Klamath Falls
32. La Grande High School, La Grande
33. Lakeview High School, Lakeview
34. Living Opportunities, Medford
35. Madras High School, Madras
36. Neah-Kah-Nie Middle/High, Rockaway Beach
37. Nestucca Valley Middle/High, Cloverdale
38. Newport High School, Newport
39. Online Oregon Schools, Phoenix
40. Parkrose High School, Portland
41. Phoenix Talent Schools, Phoenix
42. Rainier High School, Rainier
43. Roosevelt High School, Portland
44. Sandy High School Transition Program, Sandy
45. Scappoose High School, Scappoose
46. Services at Miller Education Center East, Hillsboro
47. Sheldon High School, Eugene School District
48. Sherwood High School, Sherwood
49. South Albany High School, Greater Albany Public Schools
50. Step Up Brown Education Center, Redmond
51. Taft 7-12, Lincoln County School District
52. Tillamook High School, Tillamook
53. Transition 21, The Dalles
54. Transition Co-op, Bend
55. Umpqua Homes, Inc., Roseburg
56. Westmoreland Transition Program, Eugene
57. WINGS Transition Program at Crescent Valley High School, Corvallis

Program Impact

As of June 2024, 166 teachers from 57 transition programs and community organizations across Oregon were trained to facilitate the Friendships and Dating Program. Most transition programs have a team of at least two teachers who will teach the Friendships and Dating Program in their classrooms.