Youth shelter graduate honored

The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners celebrated the accomplishments of Oliver Compa, a resident of the county’s youth shelter, who begins college this month.

Appearing before commissioners during their regular meeting May 8 next to Jordan Gabilondo, Youth TIDES supervisor, with other shelter staff looking on from the gallery, Compa recounted how he arrived at TIDES “as a lot of kids do — on a wave of despair.”

Since then, Compa has spent a year and half at Youth TIDES and grown immeasurably.

“He’s done some really amazing things for us,” Gabilondo said. “There’s been a lot of ups and downs. I’m sure anyone who has teenagers knows what that’s like. He was our first youth who was long term through this avenue. It was supposed to be a one-time thing. But he’s done so well, and staff has done so well. We’ve shown that it can be successful here.”

The Lincoln County Youth TIDES program provides prevention, emergency shelter and transitional living services for youth ages 12 to 20 years old. It serves all Lincoln County youth who are at-risk for, or are experiencing homelessness and/or need support for success at home or school. Its goal is eventual reunification with family or supportive adults and/or a path to independent or transitional living.

Compa is originally from Dallas and entered foster care at age 14 along with his four younger siblings, he told commissioners last week. That same year, the COVID pandemic closed schools and sent the world reeling.

When he entered Youth TIDES at age 17, he said, he was still raw from being abandoned by his latest foster family after only three months.

“With a little more than two hours of notice, I had no hope to ever get another home. I was still fresh with shock when I was ushered into Youth TIDES,” Compa said. He said that if he had a choice he would have argued against placement in a shelter, as some of the worst experiences of his life have been in such settings.

“But that day I met people who would be teaching me hard lessons in life and giving me some amazing experiences,” Compa said. “If you’ve ever had the privilege of looking at my case file, you might think I was a sad case of neglect and abuse. And while I wouldn’t disagree that at one time that might have been me, I believe I’ve changed in ways a folder can’t describe. And the people at Youth TIDES saw more than that.”

Compa has had the opportunity to get real-life work experience, learn about finances and open a bank account, obtain his driver’s license, learn to refill his own medication, and learn to cook. He’s completed high school ahead of schedule and is set to graduate in June. He’s been asked to give the commencement speech for the Lincoln County School District’s online Compass school. He was accepted into Linn-Benton Community College and will move to Albany to continue his studies with the goal of becoming a teacher — after the staff at Youth TIDES throw him a graduation/going-away party.

“When I got there, I had no plans or even guesses as to how I’d go forward or what I wanted to do next,” Compa said. “And now, a year and a half later, I’m setting an example for my younger siblings and kids my age.”

Commissioner Kaety Jacobson, still a little choked up from listening to Compa’s story, congratulated him.

“We are so excited for you and everything that you’ve accomplished and everything that’s in front of you,” Jacobson said. “It’s a really amazing story. Thank you for being here today and sharing with us.”

Chair Casey Miller echoed the sentiment.

“Your courage and vulnerability are commendable,” he said. “Youth TIDES, the support team that surrounds you, is awesome, but we recognize that courage that’s in you.”

Commissioners and meeting attendees took a short recess to share refreshments and honor the moment before reconvening board business.

The guiding philosophy of Youth TIDES is based on the principles of Positive Youth Development, which focuses on youth strengths and positive outcomes, self-advocacy and engagement by youth. Youth collaborate with TIDES team members, gaining connections to the community and supportive peers or adults while they have sustainable long-term support and housing as they transition into adulthood.