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Friends and Neighbors,
Happy 1st week of school! What fun memories I have of getting my boys ready for the new school year. Now, as a mom of two public school teachers, I sent my messages of love and support to them this morning. Teachers give their heart, soul and passion to helping us educate and raise good humans. Here's to a fabulous year of teaching and learning!
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Upcoming Events
Community Conversation
Join me for my 95th Community Conversation at Ava Roasteria in Orenco, outside on the plaza. Bring your questions and share your thoughts or concerns. I look forward to seeing you there!
Preschool Storytime at the Cornelius Library
Legislative Updates
Upcoming Legislative Days
September 21st through the 23rd are designated as Legislative Days. The purpose of Legislative, or Leg Days, is for committees and task forces to convene and hear about current issues, upcoming bill concepts and if there are any Emergency Board funding requests. The three committees I currently serve on are listed below. Click on the links in the coming weeks, for updates on when these committees will meet and what their agendas will be.
Ballot Measure 110 was a voter-approved response to possession and penalties for specified drugs. Recently, funds have been release by the Oregon Health Authority to the Behavioral Health Resource Networks across Oregon. Approximately 20 million dollars will come to Washington County for Behavioral Health and Addiction response. Read about it here. You can find more statewide information and updates on Ballot Measure 110 here: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/hsd/amh/pages/measure110.aspx
During Legislative Days, it is my understanding there may be a report on Ballot Measure 110/Senate Bill 755. You can watch the Senate Interim Committee on Judiciary and Ballot Measure 110 Implementation and check the committee page here for updates on meeting time and agenda.
Employment Department Updates
Employer News - Meet Frances!
From the Oregon Employment Department
 Our new system, Frances Online is now live and supports both unemployment insurance (UI) and Paid Leave Oregon, the new program for family, medical, and safe leave.
Beginning with the third quarter filing in 2022, Frances Online replaces the Oregon Payroll Reporting System (OPRS) and the Employer Account Access (EAA) portal.
The system will start supporting the Statewide Transit Tax (STT) and Paid Leave Oregon contributions in the first quarter of 2023.
You will use Frances Online to:
- Easily update your account information, manage account access and add and make changes to your staff access, and connect your clients to your account.
- File and amend your combined payroll report and find your tax rate and those of your clients.
- View the letters we send you, and send and receive secure messaging from inside the system, and more!
Go to Frances Online now to get started
Serving Senate District 15
Lunch and Learn
Last Thursday I held my 94th Community Conversation at Godfather's Pizza in Forest Grove. It was a great conversation as we heard updates and current issues from Mayor Pete Truax, Police Chief Henry Reimann, Forest Grove Superintendent Dave Parker and Chamber Executive Director Juanita Lint. Homelessness and workforce continue to be two main areas that people are concerned about and want to discuss positive solutions.
Crisis Intervention Team Ride Along
Friday was a day to walk in the shoes (or alongside) one of our Hillsboro Police Department officers with the Crisis Intervention Team. I am still processing everything I saw. Trauma. Sadness. Pain. Substance Abuse. Mental illness. Hope. Partnership. Commitment. Family. Frustration. Compassion. Professionalism. Healthcare. Hurt. More. I also witnessed the full capability and strength of our first responders and providers, working together to address the crises people are facing. Thank you HPD, Hillsboro Firefighters, Metro West Ambulance-Hillsboro, W.C.C.C.A. 9-1-1, Kaiser Westside Medical Center Emergency Room, Washington County, Oregon's Hawthorn Walk-In Center, Project Homeless Connect Washington County, Bybee Lakes Hope Center and Safe Place Shelter. There was so much to process and much work to do and support needed. This was my 5th ride-along that I have completed, 2 with the Washington County Sheriff’s Department and 3 with the Hillsboro Police Department. I will arrange for a ride-along with the Forest Grove Police Department in the near future. I thank the City of Hillsboro for their commitment to support the Crisis Intervention Team that allows them to build their response efforts to reach the need in the community. During my 4 hour shift, we had 4 calls and a visit to Project Homeless Connect to check-in with staff about our friends utilizing the center. The Crisis Intervention Team is seeing very real time the crushing reality of the trauma real people are facing in our community. Their rapid response from one call to the next, makes me be concerned for the officers’ personal wellness care too. One call after another, our first responders answer the call. The need is too great and the system for the response is fragmented. I am grateful for their service to our community and committed to supporting their efforts.
 For more information on the HPD Crisis Intervention Team, visit here. If you want to discuss a mental illness or crisis issue with a professional, call the Washington County Crisis Team hotline 24/7 at 503-291-9111.
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 for people experiencing a behavioral health crisis to call, text or chat online at 988lifeline.org. Calls may be responded to in English or Spanish. Text and online chat are currently only available in English.
People can also dial 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month —a time to raise awareness of this stigmatized, and often taboo, topic. We use this month to shift public perception, spread hope and share vital information to people affected by suicide. Our goal is ensuring that individuals, friends and families have access to the resources they need to discuss suicide prevention and to seek help. ~shared from the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Visit here for more information.
Hillsboro Farmer's Market – Washington County Solid Waste & Recycling Booth
Saturday was a beautiful day at the Downtown Hillsboro Farmer's Market. I was able to stretch my Metro Master Recycler skills and volunteer to help people connect to the #ReduceReuseRecycle way of life! It was great to see friends and neighbors and connect with community.
Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute
Yesterday, I toured the Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, or cc-TDI, in Beaverton. They will soon be relocating to a new facility in Senate District 15 and I am excited to welcome them! On the tour we visited with their researchers and interns to learn about their projects, and toured their COVID pod room that was built during the pandemic so they could all have safe zones to work from, as they are essential workers and could not stay home. I am grateful that science, research and determination to find cures, drives the work they are doing.
Shared from cc-TDI website:
Our mission is to translate scientific discovery into clinical trials by understanding and proving new disease-specific treatment options for children with cancer.
There are new discoveries made in research labs, but sadly they are rarely if ever translated into new treatments for children. The process of turning a new scientific discovery into a new treatment is tedious, time-consuming, and rarely generates big profits. Kids wait for cures in hospital beds while potential discoveries lie dormant in scientific journals. Today we still have childhood cancers without any effective treatments upon diagnosis or relapse.
One in every 5 children has one of these incurable cancers that even 40 years of ongoing research doesn’t address. To overcome this stalemate, cc-TDI is embarking upon a bold scientific course of discovery to send more targeted drugs into clinical trials for those childhood cancers that have the most dire outcomes.
To donate to this 501©(3) organization and/or to learn more about the incredible work they are doing, visit their website here.
Tour of Ironworkers Local 29
Today I had a wonderful time visiting the Ironworkers Local 29 in Portland. I got to see projects they are working on and try my own hand at welding. I met Minna Long, a very impressive Ironworker who won the Local 29 apprentice competition and will now be going to Denver, CO to represent them at the International Apprentice competition with locals from all across the country.
Local 29 has a 4-year apprenticeship where apprentices start at $24.97/hour along with full family healthcare, retirement benefits, and wage increases every 6-months of 800 hours of on the job training. As a union Ironworker, you will build the bridges, skyscrapers, and green energy infrastructure of the future! To learn more please email info@iw29appr.com or visit iw29appr.org. The apprenticeship is accepting applications every Wednesday at the union hall (11620 NE Ainsworth Circle, Portland, OR 97220) between 9-11 am and 1-3 pm.
Community Outreach
National Hispanic Heritage Month
Shared from HispanicHeritageMonth.gov
 September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic American Heritage Month. We celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month to recognize the achievements and contributions of Hispanic American champions who have inspired others to achieve success. Discover documents, exhibits, films, blog posts and more from the National Archives and Presidential Libraries that highlight Hispanic culture. Explore the site.
Hillsboro and Centro Cultural de Washington County - El Grito Celebration
Shared from the City of Hillsboro
We are kicking off Hispanic Heritage Month with our annual El Grito celebration in partnership with Centro Cultural de Washington County. September is a significant month to recognize the achievements and contributions of Hispanic American champions who have inspired others to achieve success.
Join us for our 2022 El Grito Celebration on Saturday, September 17 at Shute Park. Enjoy music, family activities, food, vendors, interactive community booths, and more.
Centro Mercado
Today, I was happy to volunteer at the Centro Cultural Free Food Mercado. The free food market is open to anyone in the community—no requirements, no appointment needed. The Centro Mercado is located across the street from Centro Cultural at 1216 East Baseline Street. Today, I worked to assemble food bags that will be distributed to local labor camps. The Centro Mercado needs weekly volunteers to help with this task. Visit here to learn more about the Mercado and here to sign up as a volunteer.
Forest Grove Annual Corn Roast and Harvest Festival
September 17th from 11am-5pm at Pacific University, 2043 College Way, Forest Grove, OR 97116.
The annual Forest Grove Corn Roast and Harvest Festival is hosted by the Forest Grove/Cornelius Chamber of Commerce and Pacific University.
There will be great food, fun games, crafts, live music, local vendors and events for both children and pets.
For more information go to discoverforestgrove.org or call 503-357-3006.
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City of Hillsboro Housing Needs Analysis - Community Engagement Opportunity
Shared from the City of Hillsboro
 The City of Hillsboro is currently updating its Housing Needs Analysis to assess whether there is an adequate supply and variety of housing for Hillsboro community members at all income levels - and they could use your help.
Hillsboro is a diverse community with 108,154 residents of all ages, incomes, and abilities. The Housing Needs Analysis (HNA) aims to help Hillsboro meet the housing needs of its diverse residents.
The analysis will:
- Work with the community to identify current and future housing needs.
- Measure the current state of housing including current housing supply and types of housing available.
- Provide a technical analysis of maps, data and forecasts of demographic and economic trends.
- Refresh inventory of land that could be suitable for future development.
- Update the previously adopted Housing Needs Analysis from 2016.
- Guide future decision making on policies and programs related to housing.
This project has an intentionally inclusive community engagement process to reach a representative cross-section of Hillsboro’s diverse community. There are multiple ways to get involved. Visit here to find out more.
Hillsboro OrenKoFest - Saturday, September 24th
Oktoberfest in Forest Grove - Saturday, September 24th
Additional Resources
Senate District 15 Links
Federal Delegation Links
Education Links
Food and Housing Assistance
This will be the second to last newsletter until after the election in November, due to a 60-day blackout period. On Friday, we will send out a "Save the Date" for my upcoming Community Conversations through the end of the year. I look forward to reconnecting by newsletter in November, seeing you at the table at a Community Conversation or at an upcoming event.
Be good to yourself and each other. ❤
Onward & Upward,
 Senate District 15 lies on Kalapuya land. The Atfalati were the northernmost band of the Kalapuya that lived along the Tualatin River in present day Washington County. Many of the Atfalati descendants are members of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon today. The Indigenous Peoples of this land experienced a painful history of colonial violence, sickness and removal from their land. The Atfalati are the foundation of Oregon’s past and we must honor them well into our future.
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1715
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-207, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Sen.JaneenSollman@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/sollman
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