The Salvation Army - White Shield Center

Our Mission

Empowering adolescent girls to lead healthy and productive lives within their families and communities.

About Salvation Army White Shield

The Salvation Army White Shield Center has a long history and presence in Portland, Oregon. It began in 1899, moving to its present location in 1917. A series of partnerships and mergers brought the work, passion and dedication of Charles Crittenton, the Women's Temperance Union and E. Henry Wemme through the early 1900s with The Salvation Army (1920) as the agency that carried forth the collective mission and vision to serve vulnerable girls, women and children through services at the White Shield Center.

Initially a maternity home and hospital, today White Shield Center provides a safe, secure, nurturing learning environment for adolescent girls between the ages of 12 and 18, many who are pregnant or parenting; residents are referred by the State of Oregon's Department of Human Services or Oregon Youth Authority. In addition, serving the children of resident teen moms, ages 0-3, is an essential component of the program.

White Shield Center provides a trauma-informed, gender-specific, and culturally competent approach to services that are individualized to meet the differing needs of each girl and child. Evidence-based curricula and practices are utilized to teach the skills needed for positive long-term outcomes for residents. Giving wings to fly!

Programs

• The Parenting Program
• The James and Lila Miller Early Intervention Center
• The Wildflowers Program
• Youth Development

Services

• Individual, group and family counseling
• Case management
• Skill development
• Parenting classes and support
• Parent-teacher support from day-care staff for teen moms
• Health and wellness education and support through collaboration with community partners
• Mental health, substance abuse and psychiatric support through Lifeworks Northwest
• Cultural and recreational activities
• Transition support and follow-up (Aftercare)
• On-site school and academic support by Portland Public School DART (Day and Residential Treatment)
• Youth development