Children's Institute

Phone

(503) 219.9034

Email

info@childinst.org

2022 Annual Report

A Year of Transformation

What if Oregon was the BEST place to be a kid? What would that look like? Feel like? Sound like? Children’s Institute is on journey to help make this so, one policy, strategy, partnership, and investment at a time. 2022 marked a year of joy, discovery, learning, and evolution for Children’s Institute. It brought a refreshed vision and mission, new organizational values, and a three-year strategic plan building on the past two decades of impact. These critical cornerstones helped us redefine our commitment to children and their well-being, keep us grounded in equity, and ensure that children furthest from opportunity have what they need to thrive. 

Last year, we expanded our work with school communities across the state with our Early School Success initiative and our Early Learning Academy. We saw the advocacy efforts of Oregon’s Early Childhood Coalition secure $100 million to strengthen the child care sector. Children’s Institute and our partners helped launch the nation’s first social-emotional health kindergarten readiness metric which will change how Oregon’s Coordinated Care Organizations support healthy development for children. 

This is a photo of Kali Thorne Ladd, CEO of the Children's Institute. She has brown skin, long dark hair and a cheerful smile. She is wearing a mauve blouse and standing in front of a teal background.

A Year of Transformation

What if Oregon was the BEST place to be a kid? What would that look like? Feel like? Sound like? Children’s Institute is on journey to help make this so, one policy, strategy, partnership, and investment at a time. 2022 marked a year of joy, discovery, learning, and evolution for Children’s Institute. It brought a refreshed vision and mission, new organizational values, and a three-year strategic plan building on the past two decades of impact. These critical cornerstones helped us redefine our commitment to children and their well-being, keep us grounded in equity, and ensure that children furthest from opportunity have what they need to thrive. 

Last year, we expanded our work with school communities across the state with our Early School Success initiative and our Early Learning Academy. We saw the advocacy efforts of Oregon’s Early Childhood Coalition secure $100 million to strengthen the child care sector. Children’s Institute and our partners helped launch the nation’s first social-emotional health kindergarten readiness metric which will change how Oregon’s Coordinated Care Organizations support healthy development for children. 

Making Oregon the best place to be a kid will be an all-hands-on-deck effort. Everyone has a role to play, but we hope to catalyze this change through policy, advocacy, research, and direct work with schools and school districts across the state. The good news is that we’re just getting started, and we’re so excited for what 2023 has in store. For Oregon to succeed, our children must also. Stay tuned and join us!

 Kari Thorne Ladd signature

– Kali Thorne Ladd, Chief Executive Officer 

This is an image of Bob Harding. He has light tan skin, short brown hair, a beard, and a big smile. He is wearing a blue suit with a light blue tie and standing in front of a nature background.

Renewed Commitment

As board chair, I had the pleasure of working with a dedicated team of staff and board members at Children’s Institute throughout 2022 to write a new mission, vision, and strategic plan. This reframing has galvanized the commitment to early childhood from partners and investors near and far. As a former Head Start student, this is personal for me. Those early opportunities gave me a foundation for success in school and life that I was fortunate to have. Children’s Institute represents a commitment to building a movement so that every child gets those same opportunities. We know investing in early childhood is good for the economy, good for business, and good for families. But what’s most important is doing what’s best for children. Children’s Institute brings that to life and helps us all drive toward a socially just and equitable future for each child in Oregon.

– Bob Harding, Board Chair

 

Bob HardingRenewed Commitment

As board chair, I had the pleasure of working with a dedicated team of staff and board members at Children’s Institute throughout 2022 to write a new mission, vision, and strategic plan. This reframing has galvanized the commitment to early childhood from partners and investors near and far. As a former Head Start student, this is personal for me. Those early opportunities gave me a foundation for success in school and life that I was fortunate to have. Children’s Institute represents a commitment to building a movement, so every child gets those same opportunities. We know investing in early childhood is good for the economy, good for business, and good for families. But what’s most important is doing what’s best for children. Children’s Institute brings that to life and helps us all drive toward a socially just and equitable future for each child in Oregon.

– Bob Harding, Board Chair

Renewed Commitment

Bob Harding

As board chair, I had the pleasure of working with a dedicated team of staff and board members at Children’s Institute throughout 2022 to write a new mission, vision, and strategic plan. This reframing has galvanized the commitment to early childhood from partners and investors near and far. As a former Head Start student, this is personal for me. Those early opportunities gave me a foundation for success in school and life that I was fortunate to have. Children’s Institute represents a commitment to building a movement, so every child gets those same opportunities. We know investing in early childhood is good for the economy, good for business, and good for families. But what’s most important is doing what’s best for children. Children’s Institute brings that to life and helps us all drive toward a socially just and equitable future for each child in Oregon.

– Bob Harding, Board Chair

Children’s Institute Strategic Plan 2022-2025

In 2022, Children’s Institute enacted a three-year strategic plan focused on strengthening and transforming the state’s early childhood system. This coincided with a new mission, vision, and values, which guided our strategic planning efforts and resulted in a strategic plan grounded in equity. 

This image shows a breakdown of the five strategic imperatives at CI. This includes descriptions of each and an icon / color, moving from red to orange to yellow to green to blue.

Our Values

Honor

We see children as complete people and value their contributions to the world. We honor all children and families by centering their humanity, respecting their dignity and self-determination, and uplifting community wisdom and voice.

Equity

We center and advance equity in all of our work.

Learning

We embrace multiple ways of knowing and pursue growth and learning through research and our connections with each other, the children and families we serve, and the communities in which we operate.

Innovation

We will be bold, think creatively, and take risks to ensure that we are doing all we can to help children thrive.

Connectedness

We believe children develop and grow in connected communities, so we work to build bridges and deepen our relationships with and in families, communities, and systems to support early learning practices.

This image shows five children wearing bright colors and walking around on a white and blue playground at Vose Elementary.
Children's Institute

Our Values

Honor

We see children as complete people and value their contributions to the world. We honor all children and families by centering their humanity, respecting their dignity and self-determination, and uplifting community wisdom and voice.

Equity

We center and advance equity in all of our work.

Learning

We embrace multiple ways of knowing and pursue growth and learning through research and our connections with each other, the children and families we serve, and the communities in which we operate.

Innovation

We will be bold, think creatively, and take risks to ensure that we are doing all we can to help children thrive.

Connectedness

We believe children develop and grow in connected communities, so we work to build bridges and deepen our relationships with and in families, communities, and systems to support early learning practices.

“Julie Young has been a persistent, tireless advocate for the needs of young children. She is also one of the most gracious, compassionate people that I know. Her combination of grace and grit have proven to be a powerful force in improving the lives of children.” – Nan Waller, former Children’s Institute Board Member 

On December 1, 2022, Children’s Institute presented Julie Young with the Alexander Award for her dedication and commitment to ensuring that young children in Oregon have the love, education, and care they need. 

Julie is a former social worker, served on Children’s Institute’s Board of Directors from 2008-2022, and has been a tireless early childhood advocate for decades. She has been integral in supporting and advancing early childhood policies in Oregon. 

Her endless commitment to children and families has been instrumental in making Oregon the best place to be a kid.

 

Dick Alexander made a lasting impression on me twenty years ago when he lobbied passionately and successfully for early childhood investments, rightly recognizing this as a nonpartisan issue with statewide social and economic benefits. It was a great and humbling honor to be given an award with Dick’s name on it, and to be recognized by an organization that’s committed to every child having opportunities for success beginning prenatally.

Julie Young

Child Advocate & 2022 Alexander Award Recipient

Early School Success and Early Learning Academy

Early School Success

Early School Success (ESS) is transforming learning for children from preschool through fifth grade by focusing on instructional alignment in schools and school districts. ESS aims to create seamless, equitable, neuroscience-informed and age-appropriate learning experiences for ​every child and improve student outcomes across Oregon.

Early Learning Academy

The Early Learning Academy is a cohort-based learning experience for educators and leaders working to strengthen early learning in their districts. This opportunity is built on 12 years of experience partnering with school districts across Oregon to create and strengthen early learning, fit to local contexts, through our Early Works and Early School Success initiatives.  

Early Learning Academy 2022-2023

In 2022, we held our second Early Learning Academy (ELA), which included district teams from Baker City, Centennial, Columbia Gorge Education Service District, Douglas Education Service District, Hillsboro, Medford, Ontario, Philomath, Roseburg, South Lane, and Tigard-Tualatin. Each ELA cohort participates in three 6-hour learning sessions with an additional five team coaching sessions.

This image features the distinct elements of the Early Learning Academy.

ELA Learning Outcomes

This image shows a group of ESS participants gathered together at tables and discussing their work.

ELA Learning Outcomes

Highlights from Yoncalla

It has become clear that Yoncalla Early Works is a model for other schools and communities in the region, with neighboring districts reaching out to Yoncalla administrators to learn from the program and implement strategies and apply them to their own communities. In 2022, Yoncalla continued to strengthen early learning, family engagement, health, and staff wellbeing and support.

2022 Bright Spots: 

2022 Policy & Advocacy

Blog, 2022 Legislative Recap Short Session Brings Big Wins (1)

Advocates secured nearly $100 million in early childhood investments

Although Oregon’s 2022 legislative session lasted only five weeks, Oregon’s Early Childhood Coaliion tirelessly advocated for early childhood investments. Ultimately, the Oregon Legislature passed nearly $100 million dollars to help stabilize the child care sector, support early childhood providers, and ensure more families would have access to early childhood opportunities. 

Blog, 2022 Legislative Recap Short Session Brings Big Wins (1)
This image shows four young kids in a classroom setting giving a big thumbs up.

Children’s Institute launched an online policy resource for Oregon lawmakers

In 2022, Children’s Institute established an online resource for legislators. This webpage serves as a hub for resources on the early childhood landscape and policy in Oregon, including policy briefs, articles, and reports. 

Sample Resources

Policy Brief

Facilities Investments Would Build Capacity for Oregon’s Early Childhood System

The Early Link Podcast

Power & Zika

Prioritizing Early Childhood in Oregon: A Discussion with State Rep. Karin Power & Rep. Jack Zika

Op-Ed

Oregon’s Kids Need Bold Leadership Now – The Oregonian

New Faces on the Board of Directors

Revenue & Expenses

This is an image of two pie charts, which shows Children's Institute's 2022 revenue and expenses. The pie charts are side by side. The chart with 2022 revenue shows the following: 11 percent was from individual donations, 1 percent was from corporate donations, 84 percent was from foundations, and 4 percent was from earned revenue. The expenses chart shows that 62.1 percent of expenses were from school based initiatives, 16.5 percent was from advocacy, 8.1 percent was from fundraising, and 6.2 percent was from 6.2 percent. The total revenue for 2022 was $4,087,083.

Ways to Support Children’s Institute

Save the Date!

Join us October 19, 2023 to celebrate 20 years of impact. Join us!

Donate!

We know know you care about young children and families. Turn your caring into action and help us make Oregon the best place to be a kid.