See what’s happening at Children’s Institute
Oregon families and educators, this is for you!
On behalf of Sarah Pope, Executive Director of Stand for Children Oregon, we invite you to a special screening of The Right to Read documentary at Hollywood Theatre this April.
Following the film, join special guest Kareem Weaver and local leaders for a thought-provoking panel discussion on the state of early literacy in Oregon—and how we can take action.
📅 Thursday, April 3, 2025 | 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
📍 Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, OR
Let’s come together for an evening of learning, conversation, and action to support early literacy in Oregon. We hope to see you there!
RSVP link in bio!
The momentum for early learning and care, and child well-being in Oregon is growing and Children’s Institute’s work is at the center of these conversations. From advocating for more health supports for parents during and after pregnancy, to expanding investments in family support services, our work is making headlines!
Don’t miss the latest media coverage, featuring Children’s Institute and our partners. Link in bio!
March is Women’s History Month! Women have long been at the heart of early learning and care. Their work has shaped policies, strengthened communities, and ensured families have the support they need.
Women in early childhood have paved the way for progress for young children, including early childhood leaders like Joyce Harris. Harris is a Portland-based educator, Black activist, writer, and mentor (among other things!) who cofounded the Black Education Center in 1970. She has dedicated her life and work to improve the lives of children, youth, and communities in Oregon who have been denied access to equitable and high-quality educational experiences and outcomes. She continues to work on behalf of children and families in Oregon.
At Children’s Institute, we celebrate women who have and continue to shape the future for children and families every day! ✨
#womenshistorymonth
Today, Oregon lawmakers will hear testimony on the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) budget bill (HB 5514). Many of the Early Childhood Coalition’s top priorities are included in this budget:
- Employment Related Day Care (ERDC)
- Child Care Workforce
- Birth to Five Literacy Fund
- Relief Nurseries
- Healthy Families Oregon
Today`s hearing is a critical step for these programs and continued advocacy is needed to ensure these investments make it across the finish line. Stay tuned for updates as we track the progress of these essential early learning investments!
#orpol #orleg #earlychildhood #childcare #daycare #birthtofive #literacy
“Women hold up half the sky”... and 95% of the early childhood workforce‼️
This Women’s History Month, we want to highlight some facts about the women and femme who shape the minds of the next generation. They are highly skilled, experienced educators — who also happen to be vastly underpaid and overworked. Caregiving and educational roles have been under-compensated for a long time, and the wage gap impacts women of color to an even greater extent. It’s time for this to change. In our work at Children’s Institute and with the Early Childhood Coalition, we are working to support not only children throughout Oregon but the amazing educators and caregivers who make their thriving possible. They deserve the very best.💯
Here’s to celebrating and fighting for equality for all the amazing women we call family, coworkers, teachers, change-makers, and inspirations to the world. We stand with you this month and all the rest of ‘em.💖
#womenshistorymonth2025
Access to nutritious food is essential for early child development! That`s why child care providers, families, and advocates are calling on the Oregon Legislature to choose children by supporting the Child and Adult Care Food Program (HB 3201).
Today, Children`s Institute, early childhood partner @adelantemujeres and our friends at @hunger_free_or testified at a hearing in support of HB 3201, which would ensure that children in child care receive nutritious food, support child care providers, and help communities thrive.
Learn more at the link in bio!
#orpol #orleg #foodaccess #childcare
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.
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!
– Kali Thorne Ladd, Chief Executive Officer
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 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.
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.
Early School Success and Early Learning Academy
Early School Success (ESS) is transforming learning for children from preschool through fifth grade. By engaging school communities across Oregon, ESS aims to create seamless, equitable, neuroscience-informed and age-appropriate learning experiences for every child.
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 (ESD), Douglas ESD, 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.
ELA Learning Outcomes
Highlights from Yoncalla
It has become clear that Yoncalla Early Works has become 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 in their own communities. In 2022, Yoncalla continued to strengthen early learning, family engagement, health, and staff wellbeing and support.
2022 Bright Spots:
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.
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.
Policy Brief
Facilities Investments Would Build Capacity for Oregon’s Early Childhood System
The Early Link Podcast
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
Revenue & Expenses
Ways to Support Children’s Institute
Save the Date!
Join us October 19, 2023 to celebrate 20 years of impact.
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.