Boys & Girls Aid (or Boys & Girls Aid Society of Oregon) is a non-profit organization that provides services to children in crisis in the state of Oregon, United States. History Boys & Girls Aid (formally The Boys & Girls Aid Society of Oregon) was founded in Portland, Oregon, in 1885 by a group of community and business leaders concerned with child welfare. This non-profit organization started as an orphanage and is considered by some as a pioneer in applying the foster care model instead of the typical orphanage model. Later on, the services provided by the organization included a wider range of care for children in different age groups. The organization grew into several branches in different parts of the state of Oregon. It is Oregon's oldest child welfare society. Mission and goals The organization's mission is to impact the well-being of children in need. This has been its primary goal since 1885. It has also evolved from an agency that takes care of adoption to a wider range of services for children in need that include residential facilities for at-risk populations and foster care. The organization's prospective is to be able to provide help to all children in their service area that require such care. Accomplishments Boys & Girls Aid has helped in more than 100,000 children since it was founded. The organization serves infants, children, teens and young adults, 0–23 years old, through infant adopt, foster care adoption, foster care or residential care. Services and programs Boys & Girls Aid offers services including adoption, foster care, foster care adoption, and housing and shelter services. Adoption The agency offers adoption services for infants and children, including children in foster care who have mental and physical challenges, or are older, and spent a significant amount of time in the foster care system. Foster care Boys & Girls Aid offers foster care services for older youth under the care of the Oregon Department of Human Services. The program serves both short and long-term foster care needs by placing children under the care of state certified foster homes. Boys & Girls Aid also has requirements for foster parents in addition to state requirements. Shelter and housing The agency offers shelter and housing services for youth 10 to 23 years old. The agency's programs include Safe Place for Homeless and Runaway Youth, located in Washington County, STEP (Stabilization, Transition & Evaluation Program),