Our Children Oregon

OUR CHILDREN OREGON WILL BE A VOICE AND A FORCE FOR THE COMMON GOOD FOR ALL OREGON CHILDREN, ENSURING EVERY CHILD HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALIZE THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL BY PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE, AND BY ELEVATING THE NEEDS AND THE VOICES OF THE MOST IMPACTED.

CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES, OUR CHILDREN OREGON (PREVIOUSLY OPERATING AS THE CHILDREN'S TRUST FUND OF OREGON) HAS FOCUSED ON CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND STRENGTHENING OREGON'S FAMILIES THROUGH STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS IN LOCAL AND EVIDENCE-BASED CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAMS, WE CHAMPION ADVOCACY EFFORTS TO PROTECT CHILDREN. WE SEEK TO OFFER A COMPREHENSIVE PREVENTION ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF ALL CHILDREN IN OUR STATE. SERVING IN THE ROLE OF CONVENER AND EDUCATOR, OUR CHILDREN OREGON CONVENES THE OREGON CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AFFILIATE NETWORK. A STATEWIDE NETWORK OF CLOSE TO FORTY ORGANIZATIONS DOING THEIR PART TO PROTECT CHILDREN AND STRENGTHEN FAMILIES. AFFILIATE ORGANIZATIONS ARE ALSO ENGAGED THROUGH THE CHILDREN'S AGENDA TO ADVOCATE FOR POLICIES AND INVESTMENTS THAT WILL PROVIDE CONCRETE SUPPORTS FOR THE FAMILIES THEY SERVE.

POLICY & ADVOCACY IN ORDER TO MAKE OREGON A PLACE WHERE ALL CHILDREN CAN THRIVE, WE MUST ENSURE AN EVEN PLAYING FIELD FOR CHILDREN TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. TO PROVIDE THIS FOUNDATION, CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES MUST HAVE ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO THRIVE. THIS ACCESS WORKS LIKE A POWER GRID, BUT IT IS PATCHY AND UNEVEN IN SOME AREAS. POLICY CHANGES AND FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS CAN HELP US REPAIR AND EXPAND OREGON'S RESOURCE GRID - SO THAT EVERY FAMILY AND EVERY CHILD HAS THE "ENERGY" TO ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. THROUGH THE CHILDREN'S AGENDA, WE PROVIDE STATE LEGISLATORS WITH A ROADMAP FOR THIS WORK BY PRIORITIZING POLICY SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THE MOST PRESSING PROBLEMS FACING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. OUR CHILDREN OREGON BRINGS TOGETHER A COMMUNITY OF ADVOCATES, COALITIONS, AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO CHAMPION STATE LEGISLATIVE POLICIES AND SHARED INVESTMENTS THAT BENEFIT CHILD WELL-BEING. OUR 120 PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS COME TOGETHER PRIOR TO EACH LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO SHARE THEIR EXPERTISE IN CHILD AND FAMILY ISSUES. THEIR DIVERSITY OF KNOWLEDGE, PERSPECTIVES, AND PRIORITIES INFORMS THE POLICIES WE PURSUE AND THE STRATEGIES WE EMPLOY. WHILE NOT ALL ORGANIZATIONS ARE ACTIVELY PURSUING EACH AGENDA ITEM, WE STAND TOGETHER TO PROPOSE SYSTEMIC SOLUTIONS AND INVESTMENTS THAT WILL ALLOW US TO PROVIDE A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR OREGON'S CHILDREN NOW AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. RESEARCH & DATA USING A RACIAL EQUITY LENS, OUR DATA-INFORMED STRATEGY AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS SPUR LEGISLATORS AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO BACK SYSTEMIC SOLUTIONS, INVESTING IN, AND ELEVATING THE VOICES OF, OREGON'S CHILDREN IN GREATEST NEED. BY PROVIDING RELIABLE DATA REFLECTING DIFFERENT REGIONS AND DEMOGRAPHICS, WE ENRICH DISCUSSIONS ABOUT CHILD WELL-BEING AND SUPPORT CHILD ADVOCATES AND DECISION-MAKERS IN BETTER SERVING THEIR COMMUNITIES.

YOUTH ADVOCACY & ENGAGEMENT OREGON FOSTER YOUTH CONNECTION (OFYC) EMPOWERS CURRENT AND FORMER FOSTER YOUTH TO SHARE THEIR VOICES AND TO BE HEARD IN KEY DECISIONS AFFECTING CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE. OFYC MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN KEY CHILD WELFARE ADVISORY MEETINGS, OFFERING THEIR UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE IN TRAININGS FOR JUDGES, CASEWORKERS, AND FOSTER PARENTS. THEY ALSO PROVIDE EDUCATION ON FOSTER CARE ISSUES AND ADVOCATE FOR POLICY CHANGE IN THE OREGON LEGISLATURE. ALL CHILDREN THRIVE THE ACT COLLECTIVE INCLUDES INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY AND FAITH-BASED GROUPS, AND SMALL BUSINESSES AND COMPANIES COMMITTED TO IMPROVING CHILD WELL-BEING STATEWIDE. ACT IS BUILDING A NETWORK OF COMMITTED ADVOCATES FOR OREGON'S FUTURE THROUGH ACCESSIBLE AND COST-FREE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITIES. ROOTED IN SHARED VALUES, ACT BRINGS TOGETHER YOUTH, FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS, ALONGSIDE ORGANIZATIONS, GROUPS AND BUSINESSES STATEWIDE, TO ACT COLLECTIVELY FOR AND WITH OREGON'S CHILDREN AND YOUTH.