Policy Trends
Prioritizing Early Childhood in Oregon: A Discussion with State Rep. Karin Power & Rep. Jack Zika
In this episode, host Rafael Otto speaks with Oregon state representatives Karin Power (D), representing Milwaukie, Sellwood, and Southeast Portland, and Jack Zika (R), representing Redmond. Power and Zika serve as the chair and vice-chair of the House Committee on...
Building an Infrastructure for Early Learning & Care with Alyssa Chatterjee
On this episode we chat with Oregon's Early Learning System director, Alyssa Chatterjee. She is the fifth Early Learning System director and will oversee the transition as the division becomes the Department of Early Learning and Care. Alyssa was among the first employees at the Early Learning Division, when it was formally created. She has served under Governor Kate Brown as deputy education policy advisor and has focused on early learning policy for the state since 2012.
Legislative Recap: 2022 Short Session Brings Big Wins
The 2022 legislative session came to a close on Friday, March 5, and as we welcome spring and a time of renewal, Children’s Institute is optimistic about the future of early childhood in Oregon.
In the short span of five weeks, the Oregon legislature passed several of the Early Childhood Coalition’s legislative priorities, ...
Home Visits Help Families Stick Together
In this article, parents share their experiences with voluntary home visits and why family support programs are so needed.
Infant Mental Health & Children’s Rights with Dr. Sherri Alderman
On the latest Early Link Podcast, host Rafael Otto speaks with Dr. Sherri Alderman, a developmental behavioral pediatrician. Dr. Alderman is faculty at Portland State University with decades of experience advocating for child rights, working clinically and on...
‘You feel like you have someone in your corner,’ Parents and Providers Urge Leaders to Invest in Family Support Programs, Home Visiting Services
When Marnesha Strickland gave birth to her daughter, the hospital connected her with a program to support her with her newborn. Shortly thereafter, Strickland was introduced to Vanessa Stewart, a home visitor with Albina Head Start, which is a contractor providing...
Passage of HB 4005 a Step Toward Freedom
There were challenges in the child care and early learning space prior to the pandemic, but the crisis has only been magnified over the past two years. HB 4005 was designed to address this crisis, helping our communities throughout the state that need it most....
Federal Aid Program Brought 60k Oregon Kids Out of Poverty
President Biden's expanded Child Tax Credit brought 60,000 Oregon children out of poverty.
The Early Childhood Coalition Gave me a Space to Speak as an Expert in Family Care
Working with Children’s Institute and the Early Childhood Coalition gave me a space to speak as an expert in family care and I was able to help shape priorities for the 2021 legislative session.
Oregon’s Early Childhood Coalition Releases 2021 Legislative Report
In 2021, parents, child care providers, and community organizations on Oregon’s Early Childhood Coalition (ECC) advocated for early childhood policies to support young children, families, and communities furthest from justice.
