OUR CHILDREN OREGON

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 AND FELLOW ADVOCATES WITH A ROADMAP FOR THIS WORK BY PRIORITIZING POLICY SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THE MOST PRESSING PROBLEMS AND OPPORTUNITIES 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 137 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.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, AND 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, EDUCATOR, AND SUPPORTER, AFFILIATE ORGANIZATIONS ARE ENGAGED THROUGH OCO'S CHILDREN'S AGENDA COALITION TO ADVOCATE FOR POLICIES AND INVESTMENTS THAT WILL PROVIDE CONCRETE SUPPORT FOR THE FAMILIES THEY SERVE AND CATALYZE UPSTREAM PREVENTION INVESTMENTS. OUR CHILDREN OREGON ALSO ACTS AS A CONDUIT FOR OREGON TAX-CHECKOFF DOLLARS TO REACH CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND FAMILY SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE, AND ACTS AS A DISTRIBUTOR OF OREGON'S CHARITABLE FUND DRIVE (STATE AGENCY WORKPLACE GIVING) FUNDING TO SIMILARLY ASSOCIATED STATE PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS.

ALL CHILDREN THRIVE:THE ACT COLLECTIVE IS A NEWER PROGRAM OF OUR CHILDREN OREGON THAT INCLUDES INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY AND FAITH-BASED GROUPS, AND SMALL BUSINESSES AND COMPANIES COMMITTED TO IMPROVING CHILD WELL-BEING STATEWIDE. THROUGH ACT, OCO IS WORKING TO BUILD 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.