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Join Us in Salem: Advocate for EI/ECSE Funding on February 26
Dear Families,
At Northwest Regional ESD, we are dedicated to ensuring every child has the resources and opportunities they need to thrive. To achieve this, adequate funding for Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education (EI/ECSE) services is essential—and your voice can make all the difference.
This legislative session, we have a unique opportunity for families to come together and advocate for the future of EI/ECSE programs. On Wednesday, February 26, we invite you to join us at the Legislative Summit in Salem to share your story with lawmakers and help secure the funding our children deserve.
This family-friendly event is a chance to show decision-makers the faces behind the programs they support. We encourage you to bring your children—it’s a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate the real-life impact of these services. Your experiences, challenges, and successes will resonate deeply with legislators and leave a lasting impression.
Here’s what you can expect:
- Opportunities to meet with legislators and share your story.
- Guidance and resources to make your advocacy experience meaningful.
- A chance to connect with other families passionate about early childhood education.
For more details about the event, including how to prepare and how to participate, visit Legislative Summit Details.
If you are unable to attend the Summit on February 26, we encourage you to join one of our other advocacy workshops. These sessions will provide valuable guidance on how to effectively share your story and advocate for the funding needed to sustain and grow these critical services. Together, we can ensure every child has access to the support they deserve.
Your voice is powerful, and together we can advocate for a brighter future for all children with developmental delays and disabilities. Please join us at one of our advocacy events to make your voice heard.
If you have any questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank you for being such an important part of our community.
Warm regards,
Stacy Rager
Executive Director, Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education
Northwest Regional ESD
Share your voice!!
Come learn how to connect with state decision-makers and share your experience with special education. View this information in a PDF flyer format.
 The antkwak Early Learning Center will officially open this spring and summer. Children and families will begin receiving evaluations in April and students in inaugural preschool classes will begin this upcoming July. Photo courtesy of LoopNet.
New Early Learning Center Facility
The board has approved "antkwak Early Learning Center" as the name for a new facility opening in Spring 2025. The name antkwak (listen to the pronunciation), meaning "frog" in the Northern Kalapuya (Tualatin) language, honors the location on Aloclek Drive and was chosen through collaboration with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, involving linguistic and historical experts.
Thousands of children, ranging from birth to age five, will benefit annually from services and evaluations at our new antkwak Early Learning Center. The center will be a hub for early learning programs in Washington County, including special education for children under five.
The nearly 50,000 square-foot building includes 11 large classrooms all with natural light, sensory-friendly design and structural amenities such as child-sized toilets and sinks. It also includes an assessment center, professional learning spaces and indoor and outdoor play areas.
Hundreds of children who experience various disabilities will have the opportunity to attend specialized and/or inclusive preschool programs depending on their needs. Babies, toddlers and their families will attend playgroups, receive coaching and other early intervention services.
Efforts to design the building were guided by input from community partners, staff, families and accessibility specialists, ensuring it is a welcoming, sensory-friendly and functional space.
A dedication ceremony and soft opening in May 2025 will offer a preview to the public.
Read more about antkwak Early Learning Center.
Connecting Through Play
“Research shows play can improve children's abilities to plan, organize, get along with others and regulate emotions. In addition, play helps with language, math and social skills, and even helps children cope with stress.” Read this article for ideas to play and connect with your child!
An important part of connecting through play is being able to follow their lead. How can you do this?
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Describe your child’s play
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Imitate your child’s play activities
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Repeat and add onto what they have said or done
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Validate their efforts and actions
You can read more about this topic here.
If you are finding that you have a hard time connecting with your child or keeping their attention during play, try out the following tips from Affect Autism:
- Be in a state of authentic joy
- Stay in the moment and respond to your child’s cues
- Wait, watch, and wonder
- Be silly and playful – enjoy the moment together
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Mirror what you see your child presenting emotionally
- Always presume competence
To spark some creativity, here are 5 fun games to play together and connect!
"Enter into children's play, and you will find the place where their minds, hearts, and souls meet." — Virginia Axline
*Take a look at the 2024-2025 ASD Summer Camp List for more opportunities for your child to play this summer!
**Registration is now OPEN for most summer camps. If you are interested, it is important to secure a spot before registration closes – spots can fill up fast!
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library now Available in Washington County
The Imagination Library is a book-gifting program started by the Dolly Parton Foundation that mails free age-appropriate books to children ages birth to age five to build their home libraries and support early childhood reading in families.
Families in Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Multnomah, Tillamook and Washington counties are eligible to participate. Shout out to The United Way of Columbia-Willamette for sponsoring this program for families.
Parents can now sign up their children through the Imagination Library website.
Help Me Grow Oregon Developmental Playgroup in Washington County
This eight-week, in-person developmental playgroup is accompanied by virtual Positive Parenting classes and begins Jan. 21 at the Beaverton City Library.
This playgroup is FREE for families with children 0-6 years old and living in Washington County.
View the flyer about this opportunity in English
In Help Me Grow’s commitment to remove barriers to access, each participating family will receive:
- Transportation reimbursement.
- Free child care during playgroups for siblings older than 6.
- Healthy, catered family dinner at playgroups.
- Learning materials to take home.
- Gift cards for full participation.
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