Empowered Services

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Oregon IDD Support · Statewide Certified

Oregon IDD support that starts with the person, not the paperwork.

Empowered Services helps Oregon adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities build steadier routines, stronger community connection, and safer 1:1 support through thoughtful DSP matching, trusted caregiver pathways, and local Care Coordinator guidance.

Simple first step · English/Spanish support · follow-up within 1–2 business days

Statewide Certified 11 Counties Coordinated Locally Expanding Across Oregon Servicios en español
200 Oregon families supported
11 Counties coordinated locally
1–2 days Typical intake follow-up
Statewide Certified Active in 11 counties · expanding as trusted matches become available
Ask About Your County
Find My Oregon Path

Tell us where you are. We’ll help find the next step.

Families, DSP applicants, referral partners, and current customers do not all need the same door. Choose the path that feels closest, and we’ll help route the rest.

Start support services

You do not need every detail figured out. Tell us about the person, county, support goals, routines, communication style, and what kind of support would feel steady, safe, and human. An Intake & Contract Specialist typically follows up within 1–2 business days.

Customer intakeCare Coordinator handoffDSP matching
Best first step when you are ready to explore support, ask for guidance, or help someone move from uncertainty into a clearer plan.
Where We Serve

Statewide certified. Locally coordinated.

Empowered Services is certified statewide in Oregon, actively coordinated in 11 counties, and growing beyond that footprint as trusted DSP matches and local support capacity become available.

Oregon service model36 certified · 11 active · expanding

Tap your county or use the selector to see the current local route. If your county is not listed yet, you can still reach out.

Oregon county support map showing the 11 counties Empowered Services covers
36Certified Statewide
11Active Counties
5Coordinator Units
Empowered Match Method

The right fit is designed, not guessed.

Seven signals. One human match.

Every support relationship starts with the same belief: the right match can calm the week, strengthen trust, and make daily support feel more human.

A signature Empowered Services moment
01ListenWe learn the individual’s needs, communication style, routines, preferences, and goals — before we recommend anyone.
02UnderstandWe look at personality fit, family context, safety needs, language preference, support style, and the rhythm of daily life.
03MatchWe identify a DSP or caregiver path that fits the person — not just the schedule. Families are part of the interview. Meet & Greet.
04Walk With YouCare Coordinators stay involved so the relationship can grow, adjust, and remain supported across every season of care.

The goal is never just to fill a shift. The goal is to protect the person’s dignity, rhythm, and sense of belonging.

Designed fit

Person + Relationship + Rhythm

The strongest match is shaped around real life, trust, and daily rhythm — not forced into a generic staffing model.

Support circle at the center
Currently highlighted

Personality

We look for natural connection, emotional safety, and a support relationship that feels human — not transactional.

Human fit
Currently highlighted

Routines

Daily rhythm matters. The best match respects habits, timing, transitions, and the comfort of predictable routines.

Daily rhythm
Currently highlighted

Communication

Support depends on words, visuals, ASL, devices, cues, or simply knowing when to be quiet and present.

Communication style
Currently highlighted

Goals

The right provider supports not only the day, but the direction — independence, skills, confidence, and growth.

Purposeful progress
Currently highlighted

Language

Language fit can mean English, Spanish, ASL, or the broader comfort of how a person naturally understands and relates.

Language fit
Currently highlighted

Location

County, neighborhood, drive time, and community familiarity all influence whether support feels sustainable and practical.

Practical fit
Currently highlighted

Support Style

Some people need hands-on coaching. Some need gentle presence. Some need both. The right style changes everything.

Support approach

day to day.

Our core support services.

Practical daily support, coordinated locally and shaped around the person’s routines, confidence, communication, and community life.

Picture a better week. The names and details are illustrative — but the work behind them is exactly what our DSPs and Care Coordinators help create across Oregon.

Out & about

Community involvement

Social activities, appointments, recreation, and everyday community life — including getting back to bowling night, if that’s the goal.

“Sandra really cares and helps me make sure I make it to my doctor appointments. They got me back into bowling. They do everything they can.”

Ryan D. · Public Google review
Around the table

Meal planning support

Meal routines, grocery planning, food choices, and day-to-day structure — building confidence around the kitchen one routine at a time.

A customer wanted to eat the same lunch she always picked up at the deli, but at home. Her DSP helped her sketch a weekly grocery list around three meals she actually wanted. The deli still happens — just on Fridays.

Hands on

Cooking & self-sustenance

Safe cooking, simple meals, kitchen routines, and self-care — knowing the difference between help with and help to do it yourself.

A customer wanted to make dinner for his mom on her birthday. His DSP didn’t cook for him — she stood next to him while he did, talking him through the stove, the timing, the cleanup. He plated the meal himself.

Money sense

Shopping & budgeting

Shopping lists, planning purchases, money routines, and confidence — the small skills that compound into real independence.

A young woman wanted to save for concert tickets. Her DSP helped her set up an envelope system — groceries, bus pass, fun money. Three months later she paid in cash. The bus pass was already covered.

On the move

Movement & daily activity

Walking, recreation, active routines, and meaningful participation — meeting the body where it is today, building from there.

A customer who hadn’t left the house much started with one short walk a week. Then twice. Then a daily neighborhood loop. She recognizes neighbors now. They wave.

And every family is connected to a Care Coordinator — a real person who helps support adjust as life, goals, routines, and needs change.

Meet your county’s Coordinator
Empowered Choice Program

Already have someone they trust? Let’s explore making it official.

Some Oregon families already know who feels safest, most familiar, and most steady. Eligible customers may be able to choose a trusted family member, friend, or longtime supporter to apply as their paid Direct Support Professional.

Best fit when the relationship already exists and the caregiver understands the person’s routines, communication, preferences, and daily rhythm.

Two women assembling a jigsaw puzzle together as an example of trusted relationship-based support
Founder John D. Marvin video poster

Read the transcript

From Our Founder

Hear our story in John’s words.

Empowered Services was founded by John D. Marvin and his late first wife, Sarah, with one belief: individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities deserve more than coverage. They deserve dignity, opportunity, and people who truly see them.

That legacy continues across Oregon through Care Coordinators, person-centered DSP matching, and the Empowered Choice Program that helps turn trusted relationships into supported care.

Family-rooted. Oregon-grown. Built around real people, real relationships, and support that feels personal.

What Better Support Creates

The goal is not just coverage. It is a steadier, more supported week.

For customersMore steady routines

Support that helps daily life feel more predictable, participatory, and led by the person’s needs, preferences, and goals.

For familiesLess guesswork

Clear intake, local coordination, and a team that helps reduce the burden of figuring everything out alone.

For DSPsBetter fit work

Role clarity, relationship-based matching, and support around the real work of showing up well.

Real Families · Real Support

The right match can change how the week feels.

Common Questions

Plain answers, before you take the next step.

Clear, practical answers for families, DSPs, and partners.

What does Empowered Services do?

Empowered Services provides person-centered support for adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) across Oregon — including 1:1 Direct Support Professional matching, life skills training, community involvement, meal planning, daily living support, and the Empowered Choice Program for families who want a trusted person providing care. See all services

How do I start services?

Complete the Customer Intake form or call 503-855-3581. An Intake & Contract Specialist typically follows up within 1–2 business days.

Where in Oregon do you serve?

Empowered Services is statewide certified in Oregon. Active local support is currently coordinated in 11 counties, and the team is expanding across Oregon as trusted DSP matches become available. Inquiries are welcomed from all Oregon counties — contact us to ask about your county.

Can a family member or friend become a paid caregiver?

Yes, eligible customers may be able to choose a trusted family member or friend through the Empowered Choice Program.

How do I apply to work as a DSP?

Start with Join Our Team, view open roles, or submit the DSP / ECP Interest form.

As a family member or DSP, where can I find Oregon IDD events and resources?

Empowered Services shares Oregon IDD community information through our monthly newsletter and IDD Resources hub, including county resources, community events, practical articles, service updates, and helpful links for families, DSPs, and community partners. Subscribe to the monthly newsletter or visit IDD Resources .

Take The Next Step

Ready for the next right step with Empowered Services?

Start intake, explore caregiver choice, join the team, or ask a county-specific question. You do not have to know every answer before reaching out.

Questions? Call 503-855-3581

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