Rhythm before roster.
Families tell us the difference is being asked about a Tuesday afternoon — not just a diagnosis or a service code — before a name is ever proposed. The match has to fit the week, not just the file.
Now · replying in 1–2 business days
Empowered Services · Washington County
Person-centered IDD support, rooted in your Washington County rhythm.
From Hillsboro to Forest Grove, Beaverton to Tualatin — Empowered pairs the right Direct Support Professional with the right person, supported by a Care Coordinator who actually knows your county.
Start the smart intake below, or meet Kennedy — your county Care Coordinator.
ODDS-funded · Bilingual support · Active in 11 Oregon counties
Customer & family intake
DSP & ECP roles
Care Coordinator messaging
Your Care Coordinator
Kennedy — Washington & Yamhill
From the About page Read Kennedy‘s full bio & story
A little local pride
Washington County, where we walk the same sidewalks you do.
Originally chartered as the Twality District in 1843 — one of the four founding districts of the Oregon Provisional Government — Washington County was renamed in 1849 in honor of George Washington. Today it stretches from the wine country around Forest Grove (home to Pacific University, Oregon’s oldest chartered university) through Hillsboro’s tech corridor, the Tualatin Hills Nature Park in Beaverton, the Tualatin River Greenway, and the Broadway Rose Theatre stages of Tigard.
It’s also home to a deeply networked IDD community: the Washington County CDDP, The Arc of Washington County, Disability Rights Oregon, and a self-advocacy circle that meets the fourth Thursday of every month. We don’t parachute in — our coordinators live, work, and shop here too.
- Hillsboro
- Beaverton
- Tigard
- Tualatin
- Forest Grove
- Cornelius
- Sherwood
- North Plains
- Banks
- Gaston
- Aloha
Our Values
Care that’s kept, not just given.
Seven commitments. One human promise.
Every relationship at Empowered Services starts with the same idea: support works better when it’s built around the person, the promise, and the rhythm of daily life — not a placement, not a slot.
Our promise to every person
01
We see you
inspiration
We start by listening — and we keep listening. No two stories sound alike.
02
We show up
opportunity
Same time, same care, same kind hello — week after week, for as long as it takes.
03
We make it right
empowerment
We celebrate every win, and own every miss — gently, and clearly.
The center is never the slot. The center is always the person being supported.
Guiding Principle
Person + Promise + Practice
Strong care isn’t a checklist — it’s a relationship sustained over time, kept in real life, not on paper.
The person at the center
Currently highlighted · Dignity
Tell us what matters
Whole person, not a placement.
“Knocking before we come in. Every visit. Every time.”
Get started
Pick the path that fits where you are today.
Four paths. One is yours.
I’m a family
Looking for the right DSP.
Tell us who’s being supported and what your week looks like. Kennedy follows up in 1–2 business days.
Start intake I want to workBecome a DSP.
Direct Support Professional roles across Washington County — day, swing, weekend, bilingual.
Express interest I’m already caregivingGet paid through ECP.
Family members and trusted friends become the paid Direct Support Professional. We handle the paperwork.
Learn about ECP I just have a questionTalk to a real human.
Not sure which path? Send a note and we’ll route to the right person on the Washington County team.
Open contact
What families & DSPs tell us matters
Themes from across our 11 counties.
Not testimonials. Themes — the things Washington County families, DSPs, and partners consistently say make Empowered different.
The person who’s already there.
Through the Empowered Choice Program, the family member or trusted friend who’s already showing up can be paid for that work. The relationship doesn’t change. The paperwork does.
Bilingual & cultural fit.
Spanish-speaking families across Washington County work directly with Janette, our bilingual coordinator. Language fit isn’t an add-on — it’s the starting point.
Coordinator continuity.
The person you talked to at intake is the person checking in six months later. DSPs say the same thing — having someone to call who actually remembers the household is what keeps the work sustainable.
In good company
Across Washington County, we work alongside the people who already know your community.
I want to work here
The work behind the match.
Being a Direct Support Professional with Empowered isn’t a shift — it’s a steady relationship with one person, in their home and their community, with a coordinator who has your back. Washington County is hiring three ways:
Culture & fit
Join our team.
Before you apply, see what working here actually looks like — the rhythm of a week, what we pay, how we support DSPs, and the values that hold the work together.
Learn the culture Express interestBecome a DSP.
Tell us about you — schedule, languages, lived experience, the kind of person you’d love to support. We’ll match you when the right opening comes up.
Submit DSP interest Refer someone greatRefer a DSP.
Know someone who’d be extraordinary in this work? Pass our name along. We follow up personally — and your name goes with the referral.
Refer a DSP
Open right now
Live openings in Washington County.
Explore Empowered
Everything else, one click away.
The team, the culture, the programs, and the resource hub — curated for Washington County families, DSPs, and ECP caregivers.
This month · Featured Resource
Browse the resource hub
CDDP guides, ODDS primers, Spanish-language tools, eligibility checklists, and the monthly featured resource — refreshed from /idd-resources/.
Browse all resources →Who we are
Meet the team
Founder John Marvin, our Care Coordinators, and the people behind every match.
About Empowered Services →Pay the caregiver who’s there
Empowered Choice (ECP)
Family members and trusted friends become the paid Direct Support Professional. We handle the paperwork.
Learn about ECP →What’s offered
All IDD services
Life skills, community involvement, meal planning, cooking, shopping & budgeting, daily activity.
View services →
Talk to a real human
Have a question? Reach the right person.
Empowered’s main contact page routes your message to the right team — your county Care Coordinator, careers, ECP, or general support.
Common questions
Washington County · FAQ
Do I qualify for ODDS-funded services in Washington County?
Eligibility is determined by Washington County Developmental Disabilities (the local CDDP). If you or a family member has an intellectual or developmental disability that began before age 22 and substantially limits daily life, you can apply at 5240 NE Elam Young Parkway, Hillsboro, or by phone at 503-846-3150. Empowered Services can walk you through the intake either way — reach out and we’ll help you figure out where you stand.
How long does Empowered’s intake take?
Most Washington County families hear back from the Intake Specialist within 1–2 business days. Your first conversation is a no-pressure call to understand the person being supported and the rhythm of your household. Start the intake →
Can I keep my current Direct Support Professional when I switch?
In most cases, yes. We work with your existing DSP through the Empowered Choice Program (ECP) when the relationship is already strong, including paid family or trusted friend caregivers.
Do you offer services in Spanish?
Yes — we offer bilingual intake and matching for Spanish-speaking families across Washington County. Indicate your preferred language on the intake form and Janette, our bilingual coordinator, will reach out. You can also contact us directly in Spanish or English.
What is the Empowered Choice Program (ECP)?
ECP allows trusted family members or friends to be paid as the Direct Support Professional. We help with the paperwork, training, and ongoing support so the relationship stays the focus. Full ECP overview →
Where exactly are you located?
Our home office is in Tualatin: 8101 SW Nyberg St., Suite 217, Tualatin, OR 97062. But our coordinators travel — most introductions happen in your home, your local library, or wherever you’re most comfortable.
What if I don’t see an open job in my county?
It still makes sense to apply. Our open roles change weekly, and being in our DSP interest pool means we reach out the moment a fit opens up in your area. Start by seeing what working here is like, then submit your DSP interest.
I’m already an Empowered DSP and need more hours or a new customer.
We’ve got you. The fastest path is to contact us and tell us what you’re looking for — schedule, area, type of support. Your coordinator will route to current openings that fit.
Where do I get IDD resources and event updates?
Whether you’re a DSP, a family, or an ECP caregiver — our newsletter rounds up monthly featured resources, county events, advocacy news, and Empowered updates. Subscribe to the newsletter (footer signup) →
How it works
Getting started is simple.
Four clear steps to begin your journey with Empowered Services — designed for families, individuals, and case managers.
-
Day 1
Submit Intake
Complete the Customer Intake Form or call our team. We learn about your needs, goals, and preferences.
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Days 1–2
Care Coordinator Connects
Your Care Coordinator reaches out within 1–2 business days to confirm eligibility, county availability, and matching preferences.
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Week 1
DSP Matching
We match thoughtfully based on personality and life fit, then arrange a meet-and-greet so you can confirm the match feels right.
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Ongoing
Support Begins
Your DSP starts. Your Care Coordinator stays involved — adjusting plans, celebrating progress, supporting growth.
Ready when you are.
One short intake form. One real human in Washington County. One follow-up in 1–2 business days.
Across Oregon
Explore other Oregon county support pages.
Empowered Services is statewide-certified in Oregon, with active local support coordinated in 11 counties.
Find my County and Care Coordinator
Not sure if Washington is your county? Take the 60-second quiz.
Before you go
One question — would a 10-minute call help?
If you’re on the fence, Kennedy can answer your top three questions about ODDS, ECP, or the right fit. No commitment.