History OSLC was founded in 1977. At that time, many of the staff already had been working together for over a decade, first at the University of Oregon and later at the Oregon Research Institute . Our early work focused on the development and evaluation of research-based parent education and training programs for use in clinical settings. In 1990, OSLC was designated as a Prevention Research Center funded by the National Institute of Mental Health . The theme of the Oregon Prevention Research Center is the prevention of antisocial behavior problems during childhood, called the conduct disorders by the American Psychiatric Association.
Clinical programs are also ongoing.
Since the early 1980's, OSLC staff have been developing, refining, and researching the Treatment Foster Care program, a state-funded treatment program for adolescents with behavioral problems, as well as various parent training curriculums such as the Adolescent Treatment Program and Linking the Interests of Families and Teachers . We are not formally affiliated with a college or university, but several staff have appointments in either the College of Arts and Sciences or the College of Education at the University of Oregon . Many staff are involved in various types of community service. Our work is supported solely by federal research funds, grants from private individuals and foundations, and state and local service contracts. We have to compete periodically for these funds based on the success of our research work and our service delivery to the community.