Who it may help
A person receiving or pursuing Oregon I/DD attendant care who has a trusted adult they would like considered as their DSP.
Empowered Choice · Oregon I/DD Attendant Care
Choose someone you trust. Keep a care team behind you.
Empowered Choice helps a person receiving—or pursuing—Oregon I/DD attendant care ask that a trusted family member, friend, neighbor, or longtime supporter be considered as their paid Direct Support Professional. If the caregiver is hired and services are authorized, Empowered Services supports the relationship with training, payroll, supervision, and an ongoing care team.
Someone you knowBegin with a trusted relationship
Supported caregiverTraining, supervision & follow-through
Your choiceSomeone you already know and trust
StatewideCustomer Intake across all 36 counties
Two pathsService intake + caregiver application
Care teamSupport after services begin
Empowered Choice at a glance
What Empowered Choice does.
Empowered Choice helps a person receiving or pursuing Oregon I/DD attendant care ask that someone they already know and trust be considered as their paid DSP through Empowered Services.
First step
Customer Intake tells us about the person receiving support, their county, service status, needs, and chosen caregiver.
Caregiver step
Official application lets the chosen caregiver upload their résumé and begin the Empowered Choice Provider hiring process in BambooHR.
Care-team support
If services begin, the caregiver has an employer and care team behind them for training, supervision, communication, and follow-through.
Your first two steps
Start with the person. Bring the caregiver alongside.
The service and employment paths can begin at the same time, while the person receiving support remains at the center.
Person receiving support
Complete Customer Intake with the person’s county, service status, support needs, and chosen caregiver. The person, guardian, family member, case manager, or the person and caregiver together may complete it.
Start Empowered Choice Intake →Chosen caregiver
Complete the official Empowered Choice Provider application in BambooHR and upload the requested résumé. If the caregiver moves forward, the employment team explains screening, hiring, training, and onboarding.
Apply as the Chosen Caregiver →Two connected paths: Customer Intake opens the service path. BambooHR opens the caregiver’s employment path. Neither step authorizes services or guarantees employment or a service start.
From choice to supported care
Four steps, with clear responsibilities.
Share who was chosen
Customer Intake identifies the person receiving support, the trusted caregiver, the relationship, the county, and the support situation.
Confirm what must be in place
The case-management team and Empowered Services review eligibility, authorization, relationship, household, support, availability, agency-capacity, and program requirements.
Complete employment steps
The chosen caregiver completes the role-specific application and, if selected, the applicable background check, training, documentation, and onboarding requirements.
Begin only after approval
Paid support begins only after authorization, hiring, training, and start requirements are complete. The care team stays involved after services begin.
Why families choose it
Someone who knows you—with a team behind them.
- Someone who already knows youThe caregiver may already understand routines, communication, preferences, and what helps the person feel comfortable and safe.
- Your voice stays centralThe person receiving support remains at the center. Empowered Services supports the relationship without taking the choice away.
- Your caregiver is supported tooDSPs receive training, regular check-ins, clear communication, and a team they can turn to. Our wellness culture supports self-care and community care so caregivers do not have to carry the work alone.
- A real employer behind the caregiverEmpowered Services manages hiring, payroll, required records, supervision, and agency responsibilities. The caregiver completes required training and service documentation.
- A care team stays connectedA Regional Care Manager welcomes new customers and DSPs. Your Care Manager and Care Coordinator stay involved with changes, questions, required reporting, backup planning, and community connections after services begin.
Your choice matters—and safeguards still matter. We review support needs, communication, safety, household factors, and what will help the relationship work over time. Learn about the Empowered Match Method.
Questions, answered
Five answers before you begin.
Clear boundaries around eligibility, the chosen caregiver, and the two connected starting steps.
Who is Empowered Choice for?
Empowered Choice may fit an Oregonian who receives or is pursuing I/DD attendant care and has already chosen a trusted adult they want considered as their DSP. The local case-management entity determines I/DD eligibility and helps manage authorized services. Empowered Services reviews agency, relationship, employment, authorization, and service requirements.
Who may be considered as the chosen caregiver?
A trusted adult such as a relative, friend, neighbor, or longtime supporter may be considered. Relationship, household, authorization, conflict-of-interest, employment, and program rules can affect whether a particular arrangement is allowed. Empowered Services reviews the situation with the person and their case-management team.
Can a parent or guardian be paid to support a minor child?
Oregon’s Children’s Extraordinary Needs Program is the separate pathway for eligible children under 18 with very high medical or behavioral support needs. Parents or guardians may be paid when all program requirements are met. The child’s Services Coordinator and Oregon ODDS determine eligibility and explain the state waitlist and next steps. Read the official Oregon CEN information.
What does the chosen caregiver need to complete?
The chosen caregiver begins the official Empowered Choice Provider application in BambooHR and provides the requested résumé and application information. If they move forward, references, the applicable background check, required training, documentation, and onboarding follow. Completing an application does not guarantee employment.
How do we get started?
Begin Customer Intake for the person receiving support. The chosen caregiver can begin the official BambooHR application at the same time. Customer Intake opens the service path; BambooHR opens the caregiver’s employment path. Neither step authorizes services or guarantees employment or a service start. Start Customer Intake or open the chosen-caregiver application.
Each situation is individual. Rules and authorization requirements can change. Empowered Services and the person’s case-management team explain what applies before support begins.
Ready when you are
Start with the person receiving support.
You do not need every answer before you begin. Tell us who needs support, where they live, what services they have or are pursuing, and who they would like considered as their caregiver.
Customer Intake opens the Empowered Choice service path. The chosen caregiver can upload their résumé and begin the official BambooHR application at the same time. Neither step guarantees authorization, service availability, or employment.
Use Customer Intake for personal service details. Avoid sending sensitive medical, Medicaid, financial, or customer-specific information through ordinary email or text. Privacy policy.