Portland Children's Levy Newsletter

 FEBRUARY 2018

Dan Saltzman, Portland City Commissioner | Lisa Pellegrino, Director 
Pass it On
Portland City Council votes on placing PCL renewal on ballot
The Portland City Council votes Wednesday, Feb. 7th on placing the Portland Children's Levy five-year renewal on the May 15th ballot. The Levy was last approved by city voters in Spring 2013 for a five-year renewal, with current grants set to expire in June 2019. If approved by voters, new funding would resume in July 2019 and run through June 2024.
       
State assessment parent survey online now 
The online Parent Survey for Oregon's Infant Toddler State Self-Assessment is open through Friday, Feb. 9th in English and  Spanish.
This survey is being offered to parents of 0-3 year-olds by the Oregon Early Learning Division, in partnership with the Oregon Health Authority and community organizations. The goal of the survey is to learn about parent experiences and what kinds of support parents want and need. Get involved by taking the survey and sharing it with others.  Please forward email to your networks and invite parents to participate.  
       
New study shows more OR households are struggling
A new report by Worksystems shows that rising costs for rent, food, healthcare, childcare and transportation are making it harder for families to make ends meet, underscoring PCL efforts to provide affordable childcare, as well as efforts in hunger relief. Read The Skanner story here  
       
Homeless Youth Law Clinic advocates for rights of young adults 
Recently, the HYLC  participated in a community gathering bringing together over 130 people and families for the Focus on Homeless Youth event. The org put together 307 kits for homeless youth, provided activities and learning experiences for children, and shared the work of HYLC. A brief video of HYCL and community lawyering approach for the event is below:
 
 
PCL Making a Difference:
New Avenues for Youth
New Avenues for Youth celebrated last week with the opening of its Youth Opportunity Center and Bank Of America Learning and Opportunity Lab, co-located on the campus of the Rockwood Boys & Girls Clubs at 454 SE 165th Ave.
The new center is designed to be a local hub to provide outreach to and wraparound services for youth in East Multnomah County experiencing housing instability and homelessness; and programming for LGBTQ youth and youth in foster care and youth involved in sex trafficking.
 See the KGW story here.

Featured Video
Oregon Food Bank's School-Based Food Pantry
This month we are focusing on our investments in hunger relief programs. Thank you to the Oregon Food Bank for inviting us to hear about the connection between food, health and learning at its school-based pantry at Earl Boyles Elementary.

Do you have a story about a PCL-funded program which might make a great featured video or photo gallery? If so, contact John Coghlan with the details.
Allocation Committee News
The PCL Allocation Committee will meet from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 26th at Portland City Hall Council Chambers. An agenda will be sent to the PCL database the week before the meeting and posted on the PCL website. 
Early Childhood Updates
An article in the Rand Review details another new study on the economic returns of early childhood interventions. A takeaway includes: "With this expanded evidence base, policymakers can be highly confident that well-designed and implemented early childhood programs can improve the lives of children and their families." Read the study here.
PCL News
Invention Bootcamp: Free STEM camp for HS students 
Portland State University has opened applications for its  2017-18 Invention Bootcamp program , a  month-long, immersive invention experience for high school students of all backgrounds and experience levels to gain technical skills; form critical connections with college mentors, professors and industry professionals; and collaborate with peers from across the state.  

Applications are due Friday, March 2nd. Give your students an early advantage by encouraging them to apply as soon as possible. More info can be found here.  
       
City of Portland Fix-it Fairs!
The City of Portland's 2017-18 Fix-it Fairs are scheduled for the following Saturdays: 
                         
Feb. 24, 2018
Madison High School
2735 NE 82nd Ave.
Portland

The fairs are a free event where people can learn simple ways to save money and connect with community resources, with many workshops available in Spanish. Go here for more info. The PCL has several tables at the fairs: if your organization is interested in attending any or all of the fairs to spread the word about your services, please contact marygay.broderick@portlandoregon.gov
PCL Helps Nonprofits Recruit Volunteers

I t's a good idea to be listed on our Volunteer Opportunities page.  If you are an org that accepts volunteers, please  email us  with: 
  1.  A link: either to your website where volunteer information can be found, or the email and/or phone number of the name of the person responsible for volunteers.
  2. A short blurb about what you are looking for from volunteers.
  3. If you would like to include any specific wording about outreach to older and/or retired potential volunteers.
PCL Staff Contacts
Director, After School & Hunger grants:
Assistant Director and Early Childhood & Mentoring grants:
Child Abuse Prevention/Intervention & Foster Care Grants Manager:
Communications Director:

Community Outreach and Information Assistant
Fiscal Specialist:
Who We Are

The Portland Children's Levy was created by city voters in 2002 and overwhelmingly renewed by the electorate in Fall 2008 and Spring 2013. Funding for the latest five-year Levy began July 1, 2014, with program investments made through June 2019.

The Levy is supported through a property tax paid by City of Portland homeowners that generates $17.8 million toward investments in proven programs in areas of Early Childhood, After School, Mentoring, Child Abuse Prevention/Intervention, Foster Care and Hunger Relief. The Levy reaches over 8,000 children and their families annually; in addition, Levy-funded hunger relief services provide food to over 11,000 children and 9,167 parents/caregivers annually.

The Levy is annually audited and administrative costs do not exceed 5 percent.
Questions? Contact: Call Mary Gay Broderick at 503-823-2947 or e-mail
See our website at www.portlandchildrenslevy.org