Oregon

Facilities in Oregon

Residential facilities providing religious, behavioral, and mental health treatment to children exist in all 50 states. Some of these facilities are known to be part of the Troubled Teen Industry, while others have not yet been verified. Any facility where children live and receive care requires additional oversight. This directory helps communities monitor local programs and advocate for accountability.

Reporting abuse in Oregon

Oregon's mental health licensing boards sit under one agency, the Mental Health Regulatory Agency, which investigates on its own initiative as well as on complaints - it names newspaper articles and broadcasts as a reason it will open a case, which is unusually explicit. Licensees in Oregon are themselves required to report a colleague they believe is in breach, which is worth knowing if you are a clinician who has seen something.

Time limits in Oregon: a general guide

This was correct as far as we could tell when we checked it on 28 September 2026. Laws on time limits change often, sometimes every legislative session, so some of what follows may have been updated since. It is a starting point, not legal advice: please check with a lawyer before relying on any date here. A time limit on a lawsuit or a criminal charge is also not a time limit on telling someone, and most of the places listed below will still take a report.

Time limits for abuse of a child often run from the survivor's 18th birthday, or from when they came to understand what happened, rather than from the day the program closed. Many states have lengthened them, removed them for child sexual abuse, or reopened claims that had already expired. A criminal charge, a lawsuit and a licence complaint each have their own time limit, so one having passed does not necessarily mean the others have.

Lawsuits

Physical abuse or injury: Two years for assault, battery, false imprisonment or other injury, including negligence. Abuse suffered as a child has a much longer deadline (see below). Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.110(1)
If it happened before you turned 18: For physical or serious emotional abuse by an adult while you were under 18, you can sue until you turn 40, or within five years after you realize the abuse caused your injury, whichever is later. For other injuries, being a minor pauses the clock only until one year after your 18th birthday, and never by more than five years. Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 12.117(1)(a), 12.160
If the program was run by or for the government: For claims against a state agency, county, city or other public body, a notice of claim is due within 180 days of the injury, and the lawsuit within two years. Youth in the custody of the Department of Human Services or the Oregon Youth Authority do not need to give the notice for claims against those agencies. Or. Rev. Stat. § 30.275(2), (8), (9)
Child sexual abuse: CSA: The civil SOL for CSA claims against all defendants is age 40 with a 5-year discovery rule and revival up to age 40. Trafficking: The SOL for trafficking claims is the later of age 28 or 10 years after the trafficking ends. CSAM: The SOL for CSAM claims against all defendants is age 40 with a 5-year discovery rule. CHILD USA's summary

Criminal charges

Physical child abuse: Less certain First-degree criminal mistreatment of a child (a felony) and felony strangulation: six years, or if the victim was under 18, before the victim turns 30 or within 12 years of a report to police or child welfare, whichever comes first. Other felony physical abuse such as assault: three years. Or. Rev. Stat. § 131.125(3)(a)-(b), (8)
Assault: Three years for felony assault. Misdemeanor assault must be charged within two years. Or. Rev. Stat. § 131.125(8)
Child sexual abuse: CSA: The criminal SOL is age 30 for many CSA felonies and age 22 for third-degree sexual abuse, with a DNA elimination rule. The SOL is 3 years from the offense for any remaining felonies and 2 years from the offense for misdemeanors. Trafficking: The SOL for trafficking is 3 years from the offense. CSAM: The SOL for creation or possession of CSAM is either age 30 or 12 years after a report to law enforcement, whichever is earlier. The SOL is 3 years from the offense for other CSAM felonies. CHILD USA's summary

The injury, assault and physical abuse lines are our reading of the statutes linked, as they stood on 28 September 2026. The child sexual abuse lines are CHILD USA's summary as it stood on 28 September 2026; their page may be more current than ours. In them SOL means statute of limitations, CSA child sexual abuse, and CSAM child sexual abuse material. "Less certain" marks a line where the law is unclear or where our reading has not been confirmed, so please treat it with extra care. Exceptions, court rulings and the details of what happened can all change which time limit applies, and some of these may be longer or shorter for you than they look here. CHILD USA's statute of limitations tracker, updated as each state changes its law. A lawyer can tell you which time limit applies to you, and many offer a free first consultation.

The therapist's licensing board

Holds the individual clinician's licence and can suspend or revoke it.

Oregon Mental Health Regulatory Agency

Multiple professions

Runs compliance for the Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists (LPCs, LMFTs and registered associates) and the Board of Psychology. Its staff investigate licensees, registrants and people practising without a licence, and the boards discipline those found in breach.

Use this whenA counselor, marriage and family therapist or psychologist in Oregon, or somebody practising as one without a licence. Social workers have their own board.

HowUse the online complaint form for the relevant board.

The Board will not confirm who complained, and says it makes every effort to protect a complainant who wants anonymity - but warns that your identity may become obvious through the investigation itself.

503-378-5499
File a complaint
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lpct.board@mhra.oregon.gov
By postBoard of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists, 3218 Pringle Rd SE #120, Salem, OR 97302-6312

The agency that licenses the program

Inspects the facility itself and can cite, fine, suspend or close it.

Oregon Health Authority, Licensing and Certification (Residential and Outpatient Behavioral Health Programs)

Licenses and certifies residential and outpatient behavioral health programs in Oregon and investigates complaints about them. Every complaint is assigned to a compliance specialist who follows it up with you and with the program.

Use this whenThe program itself.

HowFill in the Licensing and Certification Complaint Intake Form in full, attach supporting documents, and send it by secure email or post. You can also phone a member of the unit.

The Division aims to resolve a complaint within 30 days and sends a resolution letter saying what it found and what happens next.

503-378-8467
File a complaint
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LCCTMS.Complaints@oha.oregon.gov
By postLicensing & Certification, 500 Summer Street NE - E86, Salem, OR 97301

Law enforcement and legal channels

Child protection, the Attorney General, and the criminal side.

Oregon Child Abuse Hotline

The statutory report line for child abuse and neglect, open every hour of every day. A Child Welfare screener takes the report.

Use this whenA child at an Oregon program. The Health Authority's own licensing pages send you here when abuse is suspected, rather than to the licensing complaint route.

HowCall. The screener will ask for the child's name, age and where they are. What you tell them is kept confidential.

1-855-503-7233 855-503-SAFE. 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
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Oversight and advocacy

Bodies with a right to investigate, and advocates who can act for you.

Disability Rights Oregon

Oregon's Protection and Advocacy agency, with federal authority to investigate abuse and neglect of people with disabilities in facilities, a right of access to them, and free legal advocacy.

Use this whenAn Oregon program where the young person has a disability or a mental health diagnosis.

HowContact the intake line.

1-800-452-1694 Main line 503-243-2081.
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National reporting channels, and the same list for other states