Newsletter
Director’s Report: November 2017
November 3, 2017
In my first three months in this role, I have had the opportunity to travel across the state and see first-hand the great work that is happening in early learning. Through my visits to Early Learning Hubs, Relief Nurseries, child care field offices, and child care providers, it is clear our state is innovative and forward-thinking when it comes to educating and caring for our youngest Oregonians. As you know, early learning is a critical step in implementing Governor Brown’s…
First Annual Slavic Early Learning Conference
October 30, 2017
ELD eNewsletter - November 2017
By: Ari Wubbold
On May 11, the Child Care Resource and Referral of Multnomah County (CCR&R-MC), in partnership with Early Learning Multnomah , held the first annual Slavic early learning conference. Multnomah County has 162 Russian speaking early educators (with additional large Slavic communities elsewhere in the state) and this conference was intended as an opportunity to offer new Set Two trainings in response to community need and the desire of many of these providers to advance their step on the Oregon Registry.…
Healthy Families Oregon at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility: Strong Moms, Strong Bonds
October 26, 2017
ELD eNewsletter - November 2017
A plan is underway to bring Healthy Families Oregon home visiting services to incarcerated mothers at the Coffee Creek Women’s Correctional Facility in Wilsonville, Oregon. Moms within the facility, who have a young child, and who intend to parent that child upon release will now have an opportunity to have weekly home visits with a trained home visitor. Moms will have an opportunity to learn about bonding and attachment, ways to build this relationship with their child even though they are not…
Vroom in Oregon – Summary of 2016 Activities
February 10, 2017
ELD eNewsletter - February 2017
By: Ari Wubbold, Vroom Coordinator
The Vroom program provides free brain-building tools for parents of children ages 0-5. In 2016, Oregon’s network of Vroom pilot sites and partners reached an estimated 90,000 Oregonians via the Vroom app (Daily Vroom) and free other hard-copy tools. In a further effort to make Vroom accessible to all of Oregon’s families, the Early Learning Division translated select Vroom materials into Russian, Chinese, and Vietnamese. Statewide partnerships with WIC and DHS Self-Sufficiency offices helped promote the Vroom brain-building activities even…
Background Check Requirements
February 10, 2017
ELD eNewsletter - February 2017
By: Kelli Walker, Child Care Policy Manager
The Early Learning Division, Office of Child Care has implemented FBI fingerprint based background checks for all individuals employed or associated with licensed child care facilities. New federal legislation requires these checks at least every five years. Other requirements include child abuse and neglect, sex offender and criminal checks for any state where the person has lived during the last five years. When an individual applies for or renews their enrollment in the Central Background Registry, they receive information on…
An Interview with Sue Miller
February 10, 2017
ELD eNewsletter - February 2017
By: Aarika Guerrero, Communications Assistant
In November 2016, Sue Miller became the new Early Learning Council Chair. Sue has been working in early childhood for over 20 years and is passionate about giving all children a chance to meet their potential to lead rewarding lives. She shared, “I recognize that achieving this goal will require unwavering support for families, beginning prenatally.” All Early Learning Council members serve at the pleasure of the Governor as volunteers and must submit an application for review by the Early…
An Interview with Sidney Traen
February 10, 2017
ELD eNewsletter - February 2017 By: Aarika Guerrero, Communications Assistant Sidney Traen, Program Development Specialist, started with the ELD in November 2016. In her role, her primary focuses are Child Care Resource and Referral (CCRR) Contracts, Focus Child Care Network Grants, and Professional Development for License Exempt Providers. Sidney comes to the ELD with a wide array of experience including: being a K-12 teacher, Early Childhood Educator, Educational Coordinator, Center Director, CDA approver, Trainer, Mentor, and government program specialist, which…
Oregon Legislative Process Primer
November 10, 2016
ELD eNewsletter - November 2016
By: Lisa Pinheiro, Early Learning Policy Specialist
The Oregon Legislature meets annually, convening each February. This year’s legislative session begins February 1, 2017. The Early Learning Division (ELD) participates in the legislative process as a means to inform legislators about the policy choices they make related to early childhood learning and development. The ELD provides objective information about the impacts of potential legislation and resource allocation through meetings with legislators and stakeholders, providing fiscal impact statements, and by delivering testimony before legislative committees. The Oregon Constitution limits…
An Interview with Michael Connor
November 9, 2016
ELD eNewsletter - November 2016
By: Aarika Guerrero, Communications Assistant
Michael Connor joined the Early Learning Division (ELD) in August 2016 as a Preschool Program Specialist. In this role, Michael supports public preschool in Oregon and provides technical and training assistance to public preschools in Oregon. As a long-time Head Start teacher and coach, he has knowledge of how public preschool can work, both in training and partnerships with parents. He is also an adjunct faculty member at Western Oregon University, Chemeketa Community College, and Mt. Hood Community College, so…
A New Identity for QRIS: Introducing Spark!
November 9, 2016
ELD eNewsletter - November 2016
By: Karol Collymore, Public Affairs Director
In January 2017, QRIS will become Spark! Over the next few months you’ll see important changes in our name, logo and the beginning of the process to update standards and benefits to providers, partners and families. We have been thinking and working on improvements to the Spark program in response to input and feedback from early care and education providers, parents and from our community partners. Over the next several months, you’ll see important updates (and not just the name!)…