The Latest
Advocate for Children in Oregon
Learn more about the programs and services in Oregon that support young children and families: home visiting, child care, early intervention, early childhood special education, and preschool. Parenting is hard work, especially with young children. Fortunately,...
What’s the Connection Between Early Childhood and the Behavioral Crisis in Oregon’s Classrooms?
Recent news reports and a report released this month from the Oregon Education Association reflect an increasingly pervasive and alarming trend in classrooms: Across the state and at all grade levels, educators, parents, and other child advocates are reporting that...
ACE Study Drives Change at Gladstone Elementary School
Rafael Otto contributed content and photos for this story. At John Wetten Elementary in Gladstone, Oregon, a new classroom called the Skills Learning Center (SLC) offers students a calming environment for working on self-regulation skills. It features quiet music,...
Building a Culture of Care at John Wetten Elementary
We visited John Wetten Elementary in Gladstone, Oregon recently to learn about how the district and the school are working to address ACEs, or Adverse Childhood Experiences. Superintendent Bob Stewart and Principal Wendy Wilson have worked to establish a “Culture...
Parents, Educators Call for “More Time, More Hours” to Improve Early Special Education Outcomes
The transition to kindergarten is tough for a lot of kids, but for those with developmental delays and disabilities, it can be especially challenging. Tristan Davis, who was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder through Early Intervention (EI) services offered by...
A brief explanation of ACEs – Adverse Childhood Experiences
Reporting contributed by Niki Reading The idea that early childhood experiences help shape the trajectory of a person’s life—in both positive and negative ways—makes intuitive sense to most. But thanks to pioneering research and advocacy in the field of childhood...
Learn More About Voluntary Home Visiting
With a 2019 investment, Oregon could make meaningful progress toward offering universal voluntary home visits to new parents who need and want additional support in their first few months home with a new baby. While expanding home visiting services to all infants...
On Transforming Education with Dr. Pedro Noguera
Dr. Pedro Noguera is an acclaimed sociologist whose research and scholarship focuses on how schools are influenced by social and economic conditions, as well as by demographic trends in local, regional, and global contexts. He is the distinguished professor of...
Listening to Our Communities on Early Childhood: Medford
Photo Credit: The Learning Loft Preschool Last week, Children’s Institute staff visited Medford for two days to hear from parents and teachers and tour early childhood facilities with state legislators. From Coquille to Baker City, Redmond to the Rogue Valley, we...
Oregon’s Relief Nurseries Support Families and Keep Kids Out of Foster Care
Oregon's nationally recognized Relief Nursery model serves families with children ages 0–5 who are most at-risk for abuse and neglect. In 2019, Children’s Institute is joining a coalition of early childhood advocates to request an additional $5.6 million in funding...