Social Services

The Gatekeeper Program is designed to help at-risk older adults and persons with disabilities learn about resources and support that can help them stay as independent and healthy as possible. This may include medical care, food assistance or delivery, help with money management, transportation and other services.

Who are Gatekeepers?

Gatekeepers are people who come in to contact with at-risk older adults and persons with disabilities through their everyday work or day-to-day activities. People like meter readers, bank tellers, letter carriers, pharmacists, newspaper deliverers, neighbors, friends, or family members — the list is virtually endless.

What do Gatekeepers do?

Gatekeepers keep a watchful eye and attentive ear. Call the Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) at 503-650-5622 to make a confidential referral if you have identified any warning signs that indicate a vulnerable adult may be in need of assistance.

To learn more, or to request a Gatekeeper training for your organization, watch our webinar. For more information, contact Kati Tilton at ktilton@clackamas.us or 503-650-5701.

Be a Gatekeeper — make a difference, one caring call at a time!

We advise the Social Services Division Community Action Agency (CAA) programs on services for people with low incomes. We are part of a national network of more than 1,100 local CAAs working to alleviate and eliminate poverty and create pathways to self-sufficiency. Help us develop and promote community-wide solutions to address the causes and conditions of poverty across Clackamas County.

CAB Members provide input on the Community Needs Assessment, which determines the underlying causes and conditions of poverty and identifies resources to address unmet needs. We then recommend and support ways to get this information out into the community. The most recent assessment shows that 38% of county residents do not have enough income to cover the basic cost of living here.

Members represent three distinct areas:

• Those with lived experience of being low income and/or who have done significant volunteer or paid work in service to low-income communities
• Elected officials currently holding office, or their representatives
• Other representatives.

Members are appointed by the Board of County Commissioners.

New Member Information Packet

• Agency Mission and Values
• Org Chart
• CSBG/ROMA Report
• Community Needs Assessment

We are focused on you, the Family Caregiver. We offer information. We can connect you with other programs. We can talk with you about services available to help YOU in your caregiving role.

Visit the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC), call 503-650-5622 or email clackamasadrc@clackamas.us for more information and resources.

Who We Serve

Unpaid family caregivers in Clackamas County including relatives as parents and grandfamilies.

How Do You Qualify?

If you are an unpaid caregiver caring for someone who is:

• any age and has Alzheimer's disease or other dementia
• at least 60 years old or older
• a child 18 years of age or younger and the caregiver is an older relative (not parent) who is 55 years of age or older
• an adult with a disability and the caregiver is a parent or an older relative who is 55 years of age or older

Our Services

• Information and referral
• Service Coordination
  Staff will meet with you at home, our office or in the community. We can talk about what is going on with you and figure out ways to support you in your caregiving.
• Support groups for caregivers
• Education and training
  Free classes such as Powerful Tools for Caregivers (PTC), Living Well with Chronic Conditions
• Respite — a break from caregiving
  A service coordinator can support you in arranging for respite.
  *On a limited basis, funding for respite care may be available.

To locate caregiver support programs nationally, call 1-800-677-1116.

Transportation Services are programs that help people who don’t drive or have access to a car get around the county. If you are looking for information about the Transportation Department, please see their webpages. Clackamas County also maintains a ferry across the Willamette River between Canby and West Linn. 

You have a right to file a complaint. 

How to Report a Complaint

1. If you have a complaint about the services you received from your Community Developmental Disability Program (CDDP) or other paid provider talk with your service coordinator.
2. If talking with your service coordinator doesn't resolve your complaint, ask to talk to a supervisor. Or you can ask your service coordinator for a complaint form or write your complaint in an email or letter and submit it to: 
   • Clackamas County Developmental Disabilities
     Attention: DD Complaints
     2051 Kaen Rd
     Oregon City, OR 97045
     Email: ddcomplaints@clackamas.us
     Fax: 503-650-5722
   • Need a complaint form? (also available in Русский, Español, Tiếng Việt)

What You Can Expect

3. When you file a complaint:
   • Within 5 days of receipt, you’ll get an acknowledgement from our office. This may come in the mail or via email, or phone. 
   • Within 10 days of receipt, you’ll be offered a chance to discuss your concerns informally. You do not have to participate in this informal conference.
   • Within 45 days of receipt, our office will send you a written response.
   • This response will include the outcome of the review of your complaint, as well as a list of the documents used in our review. You and our office can agree to extend this timeline.
4. If you disagree with our office's response, you can appeal to The Office of Developmental Disability Services (ODDS). You can submit your complaint to ODDS by mail, email, phone or FAX. 
   • Mailing address:
     ODHS-ODDS
     Attn:  Complaint Coordinator
     500 Summer St NE E-09
     Salem, OR 97301
   • Phone: 971-701-5299
     Fax: 503-373-7274
     odds.complaints@dhsoha.state.or.us
5. ODDS will assign a complaint coordinator to work with you to resolve your complaint. The complaint coordinator will:
   • Within 5 days of getting your complaint, send you a letter acknowledging your complaint.
   • Within 10 days of getting your complaint, you will be offered a phone appointment to discuss your concerns. Your participation in this is optional.
   • Within 45 days of getting your complaint, the complaint coordinator will send you a written response.
   • This response will include the outcome of the review of your complaint as well as a list of the documents used to review it. You and the complaint coordinator can agree to extend this timeline.

If you disagree with the outcome of the complaint review, you can request an Administrative Review.

Brokerage Services Complaints

If you have complaints about Brokerage Services or Children's Intensive In-Home Services (CIIS) please contact the Brokerage or CIIS directly or contact ODDS Complaints at:

• Mailing address:
  ODHS-ODDS
  Attn:  Complaint Coordinator
  500 Summer St NE E-09
  Salem, OR 97301
• Phone: 971-701-5299
  Fax: 503-373-7274
  Email: odds.complaints@dhsoha.state.or.us

Trained SHIBA volunteer counselors help older adults and persons with disabilities understand their health insurance benefits.

Volunteers provide free, objective support by phone, in person, online and through a variety of public events. These sessions provide individuals with increased knowledge of benefit options, billing issues, and appeals.

SHIBA helps:

• residents over the age of 65 and people with disabilities (ages 18–64) understand their health insurance benefits and options
• increase health care access and understanding
• identify potential areas of Medicare fraud, error or abuse

Join our Newsletter

Previous issues

• 2024, Issue 1
• 2024, Issue 2
• 2024, Issue 3

Volunteer

Would you like to help Clackamas County residents understand their Medicare options?  Train to become a Certified SHIBA Counselor and provide free, objective Medicare counseling to our community.

This website is supported by CFDA (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance) or Assistance Listing number 93.569 from the Community Services Block Grant Program within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Neither the Administration for Children and Families nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families and the Community Services Block Grant Program.

Senior Companion Program (SCP) offers support to homebound seniors and adults with disabilities in Clackamas County. Our program helps individuals live independently and safely for as long as possible, feel connected and avoid having to move from what is familiar to them. Our trained Senior Companion volunteers meet one-on-one with older adults, or those with disabilities, usually 1-2 times a week. Individuals receiving these visits often need transportation support, feel disconnected from the outside community and isolated which can be devastating on a person’s physical and mental health.

Our dedicated volunteers offer friendship, support, and a sympathetic ear. Activities can include visiting, going to an activity at a senior center, go grocery shopping together, go to a movie, out for a coffee, help with small tasks at home, play a game, visit the library, go to a park, and so on. The program’s goal is to assist seniors so they can remain living safely in their home, feel connected and avoid having to move from what is familiar to them.

There is no charge for service, but donations are always welcomed!

To become an SCP participant, please see the basic requirements below

• Living independently in your home
• Ambulatory (cane or walker under 10 lbs.), no wheelchair or scooter bound
• Need transportation at least once a week
• Looking for weekly companionship and support

Become a Senior Companion Volunteer

Senior Companion Volunteers meet one-on-one with older adults to offer friendship, support, assist with essential needs outside the home such as shopping, and lend a sympathetic ear. This position best attracts seniors who are good with people, compassionate, who live alone and want more social interaction themselves.  This is a unique volunteer opportunity that is designed to support low-income seniors and provides a stipend for their time.  The applicant must meet all below eligibility requirements.

Our Volunteers

• Drive their own vehicle to help others.  Their own insurance is the primary, and the County is the secondary coverage.
• Receive mileage reimbursement of 0.625 cents/mile
• Volunteers receive a $4.00 hourly stipend
• Are paired with Senior looking for companionship, and transportation support
• Provide long term companionship for seniors in need
• Receive free drivers’ safety training that may offer discounts on auto insurance and continuous support training throughout the year

Eligibility and Requirements for the SCP Program

• Serve a minimum of 5 hours per week (or as much as 40)
• Be age 55 or older
• Have a limited income (200% of the federal poverty level. https://www.medicaidplanningassistance.org/federal-poverty-guidelines/)
• Pass a Road Test Evaluation
• Pass County background, drivers history check, fingerprinting and NSOR check.
• Complete online County provided drivers education hours
• Complete 20+ hours of County provided onboarding training requirements, and yearly attend bi-monthly in-service days.

Housing Rights and Resources Program

The Housing Rights and Resources Program (HRRP) works with tenants and landlords to protect the housing rights of our community and educate our community on housing issues. The HRRP provides general housing information and referral regarding landlord-tenant, fair housing, and other housing-related issues. The program can assist community members in finding lower cost housing in Clackamas County.

HRRP is a partnership between Clackamas County Social Services, Clackamas County Community Development, Legal Aid Services of Oregon and the Fair Housing Council of Oregon.

To contact the HRRP, call 503-650-5750.

Rent Well

Rent Well is a tenant readiness program that helps people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness find and keep housing. Participants attend a 15-hour training program over six weeks designed to provide tools to address rental screening barriers — such as evictions, poor credit or criminal history — to obtain permanent, affordable housing. Upon completion, participants receive a Rent Well Graduation Certificate that is recognized by many landlords.

Call 503-650-5647 or visit RentWell  for more information and class schedules.

This website is supported by CFDA (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance) or Assistance Listing number 93.569 from the Community Services Block Grant Program within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Neither the Administration for Children and Families nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families and the Community Services Block Grant Program.

Money Management Program (MMP) assists seniors and people with disabilities in managing their finances. Services promote independent living, self-sufficiency and help prevent homelessness/eviction, unnecessary institutionalization or guardianship. Services are free of charge for eligible individuals.

MMP trains volunteer Representative Payees and Bill Pay Coaches to support the financial needs of individuals enrolled in other programs, including Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities. Participants are often referred to us by caseworkers. Volunteers work to ensure that the client's public benefits, such as Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), are used for high priority needs such as shelter, health and food.

Do you enjoy volunteering with seniors and adults with disabilities? Do you have experience in personal banking, budgeting, balancing checkbooks, or bill paying? Are you able to volunteer 2-4 hours per month? If so, call us today!

For information, or to get involved, call 503-650-5623.