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Portland Children's Levy Newsletter
MARCH 2018
Dan Saltzman, Portland City Commissioner | Lisa Pellegrino, Director
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A community conversation about youth in the justice system
The judges of the Multnomah County Circuit Court are hosting a forum about youth in the justice system from 6 - 8 p.m., Wednesday, March 14th at Portland Community College MAHB Auditorium, 705 N. Killingsworth Ave.
No RSVP needed.
This is a follow up to the Community Listening Sessions the judges had in 2016 and 2017. More info can be found here and the judge's' response to the listening sessions/next steps can be found here.
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2018 National Student Parent Success Symposium
The National Student Parent Success Symposium is the only national conference that promotes the advancement of support services for college and university students who are raising children while completing their education. Services for Students with Children on the Portland State University campus will host the 2018 NSPSS conference for the first time on the West Coast. from June 18th-20th.
"Lifting Generations Together" will bring researchers, faculty, program administrators, policy makers and student parents together to explore the multi-generational benefits and challenges of ensuring student parent success. To purchase tickets or for more info visit the conference website here.
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GirlFest need volunteers
Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington serves more than 14,000 girls annually, and is looking for volunteers for GirlFest on March 24, 2018.
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Articles show high price students pay for local housing crisis
Powerful stories this week in The Oregonian speak to the dire consequences that the city's tight housing market and family evictions have on children. See the stories here.
Many PCL-supported organizations are reaching these children and families; Open School's Step Up at Roosevelt HS was just one that was mentioned.
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PCL Making a Difference:
LifeWorks NW/Children's Relief Nursery
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When Eileen and James and their two boys, 18-month-old Josh and 2-month-old Jamie, started to participate in services at the
Children's Relief Nursery, they were living with grandparents. Eileen felt isolated, and had few activities and support outside the home since she was not working and didn't have her own transportation. She and James had had several incidents of domestic violence along with some separations, and she was unsure about their relationship.
They began participating in home visits. Josh was identified as needing early intervention services for speech, and started attending the CRN therapeutic classroom and receiving speech therapy from the Multnomah Early Childhood Education Program. His language has improved greatly with these services.
In addition, Eileen and James attended a parenting class to learn more positive parenting techniques. She decided to stop using physical discipline and is now using "time outs." She is determined to raise her children in a way that will lead to them having a positive relationship with her throughout their lifetime that doesn't involve fearing her. Jamie attended the respite class during the parenting class, which also gave the couple a break from their children, thereby reducing their stress.
In addition, they gained insight into their relationship issues and are interested in attending couples therapy. Eileen has also gained insight into how her stress and mental health issues affect herself, especially her physical health and her relationships with James and her children. She is interested in participating in therapy for herself as well.
Eileen has also started working and now has a car, which helps her in taking the children to medical and other appointments, getting to work, and transporting herself and her family to other activities in the community. Through developing a relationship with a CRN Home Visitor, along with attending the Parenting Class, and Family Fun Days, Eileen met other nursery parents and developed relationships with them.
Eileen and James have expressed how helpful CRN services have been, and are committed to ongoing positive change.
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Want to see what the Portland Children's Levy Does?
Here's a video featuring six grantees;
Oregon Food Bank
, Albina Head Start,
LifeWorks NW
,
Friends of the Children,
Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest
and
College Possible
. A big thanks to everyone involved!
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Want to help spread the word about the Levy? Introduce us to your social network by resharing and retweeting our video posts:
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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.
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Allocation Committee News
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The PCL Allocation Committee met Monday, Feb. 26th. The meeting can be viewed on cable channel CityNEt 30 at 7 p.m. Monday, March 5th. A recap can be found on the PCL website here and the meeting can be viewed on the YouTube link below:
Meeting highlights included AC members approving
up to $150,000 for a consultant to help with the design and implementation of a public involvement process to inform funding priorities for the next five-year Levy if approved by voters in May.
The current Levy expires June 30,2019.
In the meantime, PCL staff will complete the Request for Proposals (RFP) process to select a consultant so work could begin as soon as possible after election results are known.
In other matters, staff presented highlights from its annual date report
"Investment Expectations, Results and Implications, 2016-17." The
highlights can be viewed
here, and the full report is available
here.
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Accessing Swindells Resource Center
Swindells is a good way to link families with resources, as well as answer your questions about community help for child development.
To access resources: Go to the Swindells homepage here.
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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 TODAY Friday, March 2nd!!Give your students an early advantage by encouraging them to apply as soon as possible. More info can be found here.
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PCL Helps Nonprofits Recruit Volunteers
- 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.
- A short blurb about what you are looking for from volunteers.
- If you would like to include any specific wording about outreach to older and/or retired potential volunteers.
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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:
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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
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