If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org
YouthLine: Call 877.968.8491 Text teen2teen at 839863 Visit theyouthline.org COPES Warmline: 541-612-2255
Teens!
The Oregon Washington Health Network has partnered with Good Shepherd Hospital to build a health education website just for you!
Get answers to all your most asked about questions surrounding your health and well-being. Visit our website to find the tools you need to take control of your health today!
www.eoteenhealthed.com
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"Empower the youth with skills today, and they will build a better world tomorrow."
Our Mission
COPES 4 Youth strives to create a safe, stigma-free environment where all youth are valued and supported, utilizing Developmental Relationships and Developmental Assets from the Search Institute. It is our mission and commitment to empower youth voices, inspire personal growth, and equip young people with the skills and resources they need to thrive.
Our Focus
COPES 4 Youth is focused on providing behavioral health and substance use disorder services to youth across Northeast Oregon and Southeast Washington. Our trained Peer Specialists provide support and guidance for young people finding their path to recovery.
Our Vision
It is our vision that young people receiving services from COPES 4 Youth will feel empowered and supported in their own abilities to lead a healthy life.
Our Work
COPES 4 Youth uses a unique Peer centered approach to provide services that will create lasting change for individuals and our community.
This program is funded by a four-year Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Behavioral Health Care grant.
Our Services
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The COPES 4 Youth peer centers are designed to create a safe and substance-free environment for youth ages 11-17. Certified peer mentors meet with youth to foster empowerment through shared experiences.
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COPES 4 Youth works with local schools to provide education courses in the areas of Substance Use Prevention, Life-Skills, and Job Readiness.
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COPES 4 Youth hosts education courses open to the community. Topics cover, substance use prevention, harm reduction, mental health promotion and suicide prevention, and parenting class.
PEER SUPPORT
Empowerment through shared experiences
One-on-one peer mentoring provides youth with support, guidance, and advice from someone who has been where they are. Peer Support Specialists are trained to use their lived experiences to support youth struggling with substance use, mental health, behavioral health, or other hardships often faced by young people today. The role of a Peer Support Specialist is to listen, help find supports, connect youth to additional resources, and to help set goals and formulate steps to reaching those goals. Because a Peer has these lived experiences youth can feel comfortable sharing their story without fear of judgment.
All of our Peers have successfully completed a Peer Support Specialist certification course accredited through the state of Oregon. Our Youth Peers have also received training in Youth Mental Health First Aid and QPR: Suicide Intervention skills.
If you are a youth looking for support and would like to meet with a Peer Support Specialist please call or text our Peer Center at 541-304-3172. One of our Peers will be there to answer your call.
If you are a parent, school, or youth serving organization and would like to refer a youth to our services please complete our or call us at 541-304-2480.
If you are in crisis and need to talk to someone now, contact YouthLine for teen-to-teen crisis support.
Find us in the community!
COPES 4 Youth strives to offer activities and events for youth that promote wellness and recovery. All COPES 4 Youth events are free and open to ALL.
Meet the Team
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Program Director
Shayne Arndt (MBA, CADC III, CPS)
“I am committed to the addiction field from prevention to SUD treatment to supporting those in recovery and am excited to be the OWhN Clinical
Supervisor and COPES 4 Youth Program Director in Pendleton, Oregon.”
Shayne’s career started in outpatient treatment with Community Counseling
Solutions in Boardman, Oregon and continued at the School-Based Health Center in Pendleton with Umatilla County Public Health. His leadership
experience includes being the founder of Creating Conquerors, Director of the Student Health & Wellness Resource Center at Blue Mountain Community
College, Chemical Dependency Clinical Manager at Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center and Outpatient Addictions Services Director at Columbia
Community Mental Health.
Youth Peer Lead
Whitney Sanders (CRM, YSS, CADC-R)
Whitney began working for COPES in January of 2023 after becoming a Certified Recovery Mentor (CRM) through the state of Oregon. She worked with our adult clients for over a year before transitioning to a Youth Peer Lead for COPES 4 Youth. Whitney brings a passion for supporting young individuals struggling with life hardships and addiction. She has a deep understanding of the struggles that today's youth face and is committed to providing support, guidance, and a listening ear to those in need. Her work in this field is driven by a desire to make a positive impact on the lives of young individuals in our community.
"My journey has taught me that strength is not about where you have been, but how you rise. I am committed to empowering others to see their value, rewrite their story, and embrace the future they deserve."
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Youth Navigator
Michael Payne (CRM, CADC-R)
Michael P. provides support to youth through his own lived experience. He helps youth identify and achieve their goals and connects them to resources.
Michael provides non-judgmental support through understanding and compassion. He has been in recovery since April 2021. He began working at OWHN/COPES in February 2022. In December of 2023, he transitioned into his role as a recovery mentor working with adults. In September of 2024, he moved into his role as a youth peer navigator.
“I am committed to supporting our youth by providing early intervention and prevention.”