What’s Changed for Kids In Oregon this Year

Thanks to the many partners we worked with this year and the contributions of countless supporters like you, we’ve been able to make significant progress toward our goal of ensuring all children in Oregon have access to high-quality early care and education. This year, we are particularly proud of our collective work to:

• Pass the Student Success Act, an historic investment in Oregon’s children
• Develop incentives that will reward our health system for providing critical services to young children
• Implement Universally Offered Home Visiting
• Introduce Early School Success, our new initiative to better align the early years and early grades

Click through the slide show below to see what’s changed for young kids in Oregon this year. Scroll down further for a thematic overview of this year’s coverage and to learn about two things you can do today to contribute to this important work!

2019 Year in Review

At Birth: A Welcome Visit

All new families in Oregon will soon have the option to receive home visiting services thanks to state legislators and early childhood advocates who made this voluntary evidence-based program a priority in 2019.

Here’s a sampling of our coverage on this topic:

• Learn More about Voluntary Home Visiting
• In Lincoln county, Universally Offered Home Visiting is Already Making an Impact

For Infants & Toddlers: Available, Affordable Child Care

As we continue to shine a spotlight on the state’s child care crisis, demand for safe, affordable care that serves all families grows stronger.  In 2020, we’ll work with the Child Care Task Force and others to make this vision a reality.

Here’s a sampling of our coverage on this topic:

• Oregon’s Infant-Toddler Care Dilemma
• The True Cost of Early Childhood Programs [Podcast]
• Combating Inequality Through Early Care and Education [Podcast]

For Young Kids, Health Sets the Stage

In 2019, we helped demonstrate the connection between health and early learning, working with partners and other advocates to bolster innovative efforts that support this vital aspect of school readiness. We also worked with advocates to secure full funding for early intervention and early childhood special education.

Here’s a sampling of our coverage on this topic:

• Gov. John Kitzhaber on Health Care Transformation [Podcast]
• Early Mental Health Support is Vital [Opinion] 
• CI Joins Amicus Brief in Supreme Court DACA Case
• 5 Things to Know About Early Childhood Mental Health
• A Primer on Early Head Start 
• A Broader Definition of Public charge will Harm Millions of Families [Public Comment]
• Community Efforts Deliver New Health Clinic to Douglas County
• Learn About Incentive Metrics [Video]
• More on our Health and Learning Initiative

For Ages 3-4: High-Quality Preschool

With the passage of the Student Success Act, more young children across the state will have access to high-quality early learning programs. In 2020, we’ll focus on ensuring these public investments are well-spent.

Here’s a sampling of our coverage on what a high-quality classroom experience looks like, as well as more detail on efforts to expand preschool access to all children in Multnomah County.

• SEAL Transforms School Systems [Podcast]
• Early Works at Earl Boyles: The Power of Partnership [Video]
• On Effective Preschool with Christina Weiland [Podcast]
• Tools of the Mind with Deborah Leong [Podcast]
• Making Progress for All Learners Through Leap
• Multnomah County Commissioner Jessica Vega Pederson Discusses Preschool for All [Podcast]

For Kids 5 and Up: Seamless Elementary Transitions

In 2019, we began working with school districts to ensure children have a seamless educational experience from preschool through fifth grade. In 2020, we’ll continue to innovate with school communities to boost high-quality instruction from the ground up.

Here’s a sampling of coverage on our new initiative, Early School Success, and the transformational power of community leadership and action.

• Early School Success: A New Partnership with School Districts
• Beaverton and Forest Grove Chosen for Early School Success
• The Power of Partnership [Video]
• The Potential to Transform K-12 [Opinion] 
• On Transforming Education with Dr. Pedro Noguera [Podcast]
• Who’s in Charge of Student Success? In Yoncalla, It’s Everyone