In this issue
- A note from Lindsay
- Meet Dana Castano, OPK grant manager
- OPK Spotlight: Albina Head Start and Early Head Start
- Head Start individualized professional development
- Oregon Head Start Collaboration Office
- First Children's Finance training opportunities
- Raise Up Oregon feedback opportunity
- Sign up to receive updates from the Early Learning Division
A Note from Lindsay
Hello OPK! Welcome to the first ever OPK Newsletter. I am so excited to have yet another way to share information with you. Mostly, I just want to thank you all. Your hard work, determination and consistent commitment to Oregon’s families is nothing short of inspiring to me. From supporting staff and families pre-pandemic, to doing screenings in the rain on porches through the pandemic, and to now supporting families in their recovery from that pandemic, you all have worked so hard and Oregon is lucky to have you.
Meet Dana Castano, OPK Grant Manager
I am pleased to have joined the Early Learning Division as the OPK Grant Manager. Since the last Director’s Meeting, I have started the actual grant management work! I have enjoyed meeting with many of you during the monthly meetings and check-ins. It has been a pleasure working with you all as I learn and grow in my understanding of OPK and your unique programs.
I look forward to continuing working with you all to do great things. This group of grantees provides critical services for children and families in our state, and I am proud to support you.
Here is a little about me:
I grew up in Salem and have lived here for most of my life. Last May, I graduated with a master’s degree in economics and finance from West Texas A&M University, and before that, I earned a bachelor’s degree in economics with a minor in political science from Oregon State University. While finishing school and staying at home with my son, we became involved in Family Building Blocks, and I also serve on the Marion County 4-H & Extension Service District Budget Committee. Prior to my son being born, I worked for a mortgage servicing company in which I helped keep people in their homes and out of foreclosure. I have a passion for helping people and bettering our community, and I know that this role will support this passion.
OPK Spotlight: Mandarin Immersion Program at Albina Head Start and Early Head Start
In the OPK network newsletter, we want to highlight the amazing work by OPK grantees. This first article recognizes Albina Head Start and Early Head Start and their Mandarin immersion program. We look forward to featuring other sites from across the state in the future!
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Albina Head Start and Early Head Start offers center-based and home-based services to families living in north, northeast, and southeast Portland. The program supports Mandarin language development through immersion programming for children ages 6 weeks to 6 years. As the first Head Start site to offer Mandarin immersion programming, this program has expanded access to high-quality early learning.
This Zero to Three article highlights the impact language immersion programs can have on children’s development: “There are many developmental benefits to learning multiple languages at an early age, such as improved executive functioning skills—the ability to think flexibly, demonstrate self-control, focus attention, and tune out distractions.”
Albina also supports students with transition plans to continue their learning at Portland Public Schools (PPS). PPS has offered Chinese Dual Language Immersion Programs for more than two decades.
For more information the PPS program, click here.
Head Start Individualized Professional Development
The Individualized Professional Development (iPD) Portfolio is a learning management system created to support ongoing professional development for staff in Head Start and child care settings. There are many courses in English and Spanish, and all course are accepted in the Oregon Registry Online (ORO).
Oregon Head Start Collaboration Office
ELD created a resource for OPK grantees to learn more about the Head Start Collaboration Director (HSCO) roles, responsibilities, and priorities.
Questions? Contact Head Start Collaboration Director Rachel Elliott (she/her): Rachel.Elliott@ode.oregon.gov 971.600.4071.
First Children's Finance Training Opportunities
First Children’s Finance (FCF) is offering free, virtual trainings on business management to Oregon providers. Click below to view upcoming trainings and topics.
Raise Up Oregon Feedback Opportunity
How can Oregon better serve young children and their families?
The state is asking for public feedback on their plan for the early childhood system, titled Raise Up Oregon: Second Edition.
Visit https://oregonearlylearning.com/raise-up-oregon to share feedback on the draft plan. The deadline is Sunday, April 30, 2023. Copies of the draft Second Edition and feedback forms on the website, as well as materials for outreach efforts in your community. This opportunity to share feedback is combined with focus group sessions hosted by Early Learning Hubs.
We are asking you to spread the word! Please share this opportunity with families, community partners, and early learning and care professionals in your network. Download a toolkit for materials to support outreach efforts in your community. Please feel free to make this toolkit your own by using language that feels most natural to you and your community. This toolkit is available in Arabic, Chinese, English, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Also, please let us know about your outreach efforts so that we can be aware of who we are reaching.
 Sign up to receive updates on the Early Learning Division
The ELD provides regular updates to early learning partners and programs. From guidance to engagement opportunities to resources for supporting children and families, sign up today to get the latest from ELD.
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