WCK July Newsletter 2023

ANSWER:  A champion for out-of-school-time programs for all children and youth in Washington County!

We provide resources to parents and providers.

We expand awareness of the need for and value of OST programs to civic leaders, the business community, and elected officials.

We engage collaborators in our growing network in problem-solving and brainstorming efforts to pursue funding and other options to increase access to vital early learning, after-school, and summer programs.

Some current examples of these efforts are included in this newsletter and will be celebrated at our event on August 3rd.  Please consider supporting our efforts by attending the gala, making a donation, or volunteering!  Please reach out to me with any questions.

Larry Crepeaux
Executive Director
larry@washingtoncountykids.org

PS – Please join us on social media and help spread the word about Washington County Kids.  The exposure will help us expand our footprint across this large county.  If you already follow, you should notice some significant changes in our social media communications.  The creative credit goes to Sierra Bollander, our summer intern, please read more about her below.

ANNUAL FUNDRAISING EVENT
AUGUST 3rd

Our very special guest, Coach Heather Seely-Roberts!

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from an exceptional coach and role model.  Both her youngest sons volunteer at one of our out of school partners, which is how we made the connection and invited her to the event!

Heather is an inspiring force in the world of coaching, and we’re honored to have her share her journey with us. As the only female head coach of a 6A boys varsity team in Oregon, she’s breaking barriers and making history.  Her coaching career spans 30 years, including coaching high school girls’ teams and making her mark in the college ranks. Her dedication and passion led her back to Oregon, where she coached her own twin boys.  Under her guidance, her sons’ team achieved incredible success, including winning a district championship and earning a top ranking in the state.

But it’s not just about winning games…get your ticket today and come get inspired!

“Reach for the Stars Fundraising Event”
August 3rd at Ruby Vineyard in Hillsboro
General Admission Only $75 for a lovely evening celebration with hors d’oeuvres, music, plus silent and oral auction items.  Did I mention our hosts at Ruby Vineyard will have their delicious wines available?
Donations are being accepted by our auction coordinator.
Sponsorships start at $250 and include event tickets!

Tickets on sale now!
GALA TICKET LINK

Discover the Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation Department THRIVE After-School Program! 
Looking for a safe and nurturing after school care program for your child in the Beaverton School District? Look no further! The THRIVE After-School Program is a high-quality program designed for students from Kindergarten to 5th grade. We offer a wide range of exciting activities, including arts and crafts, physical play, cooking, and supervised homework time.
Our goal is to create a fun and educational environment where kids can explore their talents, build social skills, get homework assistance, and enjoy free time. Enrollment for the 2023-2024 school year is open now. For more information, or to secure your child’s spot with a $50 enrollment fee, contact the facility associated with your child school. Help your child thrive with us!

Cedar Hills Recreation Center 
Contact: Lori Jensen, l.jensen@thprd.org
Barnes Elementary School
Ridgewood Elementary School
West Tualatin Valley Elementary School
William Walker Elementary School
Cedar Park Middle School

Conestoga Recreation & Aquatic Center 
Contact: Stefanie Pace, s.pace@thprd.org
Greenway Elementary School
Hiteon Elementary School
Nancy Ryles Elementary School
Sexton Mountain Elementary School
Scholls Heights Elementary School
Conestoga Middle School Elementary School

Garden Home Recreation Center 
Contact: Cynthia Guajardo, c.guajardo@thprd.org
Chehalem Elementary School
Fir Grove Elementary School
Montclair Elementary School
Raleigh Hills Elementary School
Raleigh Park Elementary School (waitlist)
Vose Elementary School
Whitford Middle School

Tualatin Hills Athletic Center 
Contact: Kyle Kotchik, k.kotchik@thprd.org
Beaver Acres Elementary School
Elmonica Elementary School

Larry & Sierra at the July 15th Hillsboro Farmers Market with THPRD Thrives ambassadors, Hannah and Liv.

OST NETWORK EXPANSION
We have begun updating our current provider list information and using other resources to expand our database.  In September, we will expand our quarterly OST Provider meetings to more frequently gather and connect with providers to learn how we can best support these organizations countywide.

Please review your organization’s information and/or have someone contact us with your latest up-to-date information.

WCK President, Katie Riley

Child Care Studies
The Washington County Board of County Commissioners recently received the report on the child care study they commissioned from EcoNorthwest consulting firm.  The study looked at the need for childcare for children under 6 years of age. There were many barriers to expanding services and participation for children under 6 years including regulations, costs, problems in recruiting staff, and lack of family participation post-COVID.  There were additional problems with zoning for care facilities and inconsistency of regulations among cities and the state.  The new law (HB 3109) which allows child care in residential areas is expected to alleviate that barrier to some degree.  The authors projected a need for almost 14,000 additional early child care slots and over 3,000 staff by 2030, assuming that 67% of the children in this age group need care, but this does NOT include afterschool and summer care.  Currently approximately 34% of children under 6 years in the county receive childcare in 14,691 childcare slots.  The consultants recommend updating permit definitions and tracking timelines to establish new sites.  The report was submitted to the county Economic Development Team.  We look forward to a future study of the need for afterschool and summer care to round out the perspective of the needs for older children.

This past year I served on a League of Women Voters’ task force to update their previous 1988 child care report.  The report includes both early learning and care for school-age kids.  The final report is posted on our website and on the LWV website. Many of the barriers found in the EcoNorthwest study were also outlined in this report.

Grants
We were just notified of funding from the Marie Lamfrom Foundation and will share more details next month.  So grateful for their support!

Unfortunately, no funding opportunities materialized for summer care and we did not get the YDD worksource grant.   We understand that award announcements may not be made about the HECC worksource grant until October.

For a star-studded time
Do you have your tix yet for our gala on August 3rd | Reach for the Stars?  The link to sign up is in this newsletter.  Oral and silent auction items are arriving every day including art pieces!  Do you have a bare wall in your home?  Consider a painting or a piece of fiber art!  You can participate in the silent auction even if you can’t attend the event in person.  And we have a beautiful full-size hand-quilted star-quilt from the Westside Quilters for our raffle—tickets are only $5 or five for $20.  So many treasures!  And we have a great speaker!  And Patty Ogden, our caterer, has some tasty surprises you don’t want to miss.

We are grateful to our sponsors:
Vernier Education (their name was recently changed)
Kate Grandusky, Chair of the Forest Grove School Board
Hai Pham, State Representative and Pediatric Dentist
Joe and Corinne Christy, Joe is the former Juvenile Department Director
Brad Avakian, former BOLI Commissioner,
Karen Bolin with Edward Jones
Margaret Doherty, , former State Representative
Werner James with Edward Jones
Room 122
Terry Styner (apologies for last month’s misspelling!)
Narce Rodriguez, former Forest Grove School Board member
Penny Hoodenpyle
Sherri Meshke, Owner, Hillsboro Learning Center, LLC
Sheri Schouten, former State Representative
Pam Treece, County Commissioner
JayeCee Whitehead, Dean of the College of Letters and Science, Pacific University

I am so pleased to introduce you to our Summer 2023 Intern: Sierra Bolander.

Sierra is a rising Senior at the University of Oregon, where she is pursuing a major in Business & Economics. Balancing her academic journey with real-world experience, Sierra has been working full-time at a local Eugene liquor store while in school. This exposure has fueled her passion for the world of business and ignited her interest in the realm of marketing.

As she approaches graduation, her aspirations include traveling to broaden her horizons, then eventually diving headfirst into a marketing leadership role. Sierra is driven to create strong connections between communities and businesses, fostering an environment of collaboration and development.

Embracing the opportunity to grow professionally, Sierra underwent multiple rounds of interviews in pursuit of a summer internship. Among the various choices, she chose to join Washington County Kids – a decision rooted in her deep connection to the organization’s values.

WCK’s vision of empowering every child to reach their full potential strikes a chord with her passion for making a positive impact on society. The organization’s unwavering commitment to children’s well-being and advocacy for sustainable funding resonate with Sierra’s own values.

Recognizing the connection between her expertise and WCK’s mission, Sierra was eager to contribute her understanding of business operations and marketing strategies to enhance the organization’s outreach and fundraising endeavors.

Sierra perceives her involvement with WCK as not just a stepping stone in her future career but also an opportunity to create a noticeable difference in the Washington County community.

This fall, we will be restarting the Advisory Council with two specific goals:
> Review and evaluate progress made on the amazing 2023 Strategic Recommendations.
> Review current programs and budget allocations to propose updated recommendations for 2024 and beyond.
Interested?  larry@washingtoncountykids.org

Did you know that we provide Out-of-School Time Provider Training?  In fact, attendees have received over 100 hours of career credits in just the last 15 months!

Please register early!
Friday, September 8, 2023 | 10 am to 12 pm
Subject: De-escalating Negative Behavior

PROVIDER TRAINING REGISTRATION

2023 SPEAKER SERIES: FOR PARENTS
Our live events have now concluded but you can still enjoy the recorded presentations designed to provide useful information and tools for parents of children k-12!

You made it to the end of the newsletter and I thank you for your outstanding interest in Washington County Kids.  May I ask you for some feedback?

larry@washingtoncountykids.org