Newsletter
Vroom in Oregon to Continue to Thrive in 2017
October 10, 2016
The Early Learning Division is pleased to announce that the Vroom program will continue thriving in Oregon in 2017! The ELD will support 15 community organizations across the state that will share the Vroom brain-building tools in their regions and services for families. More details to come. In other great news: select Vroom tools have now been translated into the following languages: Russian, Chinese, and Vietnamese. These new languages – the result of the great work of the ELD translation…
Preschool Promise Kicks Off
October 10, 2016
ELD eNewsletter - October 2016
By: By: Gwyn Bachtle, Early Learning Specialist & Preschool Promise Program Coordinator
Preschool Promise, the ELD’s new publicly-funded preschool, has begun! By the middle of October all 1300 children enrolled in Preschool Promise will be receiving services. The program leverages high-quality, local and culturally-relevant early learning programs by funding enrollment for children whose family income is at or below 200-percent of the poverty level. By incorporating a “mixed delivery” approach, Preschool Promise provides opportunities for families to access and choose the preschool program that best meets their needs. Nine Early Learning Hubs…
Head Start Awareness Month
October 10, 2016
ELD eNewsletter - October 2016
By: By: Shawna Rodrigues, Head Start Collaborations Director & Michael Connor, Preschool Program Specialist
Thank you to Governor Kate Brown for proclaiming October as Head Start Awareness Month in Oregon! The State of Oregon partners with the Office of Head Start to support funding for 21 Head Start programs across the state to provide Federal Head Start and Oregon Head Start PreKindergarten (OPK) services to our communities. In addition, there are seven programs across the state of Oregon that provide OPK services (with Oregon-only funding). In Oregon, the majority of slots are funded through…
Story of Impact: Shoot for the Stars
August 10, 2016
Early Learning Division eNewsletter - August 2016
By: Laurie Potts, Director of the Southwestern Community Partnership Family Center
Kelly Fleming leads a program, Wilderland, in Langlois, Oregon. Wilderland always sought to grow and develop to serve their children and their community. CARE Connections, Coos & Curry Counties’ CCR&R, received funds through the Early Childhood Professional Development grant to support a cohort of providers to take classes and move forward towards Quality Rating and Improvement system (QRIS) star ratings. QRIS stars are awarded to participating early learning programs that meet a defined set of quality standards. Kelly was on…
P-3 Alignment Taking Shape
August 10, 2016
ELD eNewsletter - August 2016
By: Brett Walker, P-3 Alignment Specialist
People often ask me “what does the ‘P’ in ‘P-3’ stand for?” or “what does ‘P-3’ really mean?” In Oregon, we define P-3 as prenatal through third grade and use P-3 as shorthand for efforts, both at the state and local levels, to connect early learning and K-3 education. While P-3 incorporates a wide range of strategies and approaches, much of the work currently underway in Oregon focuses on supporting children to ensure smooth and successful transitions into kindergarten, engaging…
Vroom Expansion in Oregon
August 10, 2016
ELD eNewsletter - August 2016
By: Ari Wubbold, Vroom Coordinator
Vroom is expanding in Oregon! The Vroom initiative provides free brain-building activities that parents can do with their young kids (ages 0-5) to encourage key math, reading, and language skills and is now in a community near you. Using a network of 25 regional pilot sites and statewide partnerships with the Oregon Healthy Authority (OHA), Department of Human Services (DHS), and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), these early learning tools are reaching families where they live and access parenting resources.…
An Interview with Shawna Rodrigues
August 9, 2016
ELD eNewsletter - August 2016
By: Aarika Guerrero, Communications Assistant
Shawna Rodrigues joined the Early Learning Division (ELD) in early July as our Head Start Collaborations Director. Shawna brings a unique plethora of knowledge and experience that makes her a welcome addition to our team. The role she steps into was originally created to bridge the gap between the federal and local levels of Head Start and to ensure that the state level work doesn’t get lost in translation. There are eight priority areas that the Office of Head Start…
An Interview with Elisabeth Underwood
August 9, 2016
ELD e Newsletter - August 2016
By: Aarika Guerrero, Communications Assistant
Elisabeth Underwood joined the Early Learning Division (ELD) in early July as the Home Visiting Specialist with Healthy Families Oregon (HFO). She comes with a wealth of knowledge and experience in early childhood settings and programs. Her new role includes supporting home visiting initiatives such as the Maternal Infant Early Childhood Home Visiting grant and professional development opportunities and pathways for home visiting program staff. She will also assist with the multi-site HFO Oregon re-accreditation process in 2017. Re-accreditation of…
Lynne Angland Award Recipients
July 10, 2016
Early Learning Division eNewsletter - July 2016
By: Aarika Guerrero, Communications Assistant
The Early Learning Council, overseeing body for the Early Learning Division, has selected two recipients for the Lynne Angland Award. The award recognizes people and organizations who improve safety, quality, affordability and access to child care in Oregon at both the state and local levels. Lynne Angland was a passionate visionary dedicated to Oregon’s families. Lynne’s service, passion and leadership improved the lives of Oregon’s children and families, and her untimely death left a void that only her diligent advocacy…
Changes Ahead: Oregon Child Care Resource & Referral System
July 10, 2016
Early Learning Division eNewsletter - July 2016
By: Margie McNabb, Professional Development Specialist
As Oregon’s Early Learning System continues to strengthen and grow, many changes and opportunities for collaboration are happening in 2016. Parents need a comprehensive system to find and access child care and early learning services. Providers need increased opportunity and access to professional development and supports that include culturally relevant, racially and economically diverse training opportunities that promote children’s optimal brain development. Recognizing this need, the Early Learning Division is partnering with 211Info to provide parent referrals! Moving Forward:…