Child
Care Research in Oregon, Portland State University
This site this site describes and provides PDF files of Arthur
Emlen’s research on work, family and child care from 1965
to the present. Arthur Emlen is author of the text, as well as grandfather
of the children who photos grace the pages. The site also mentions
child care related research of the faculty at PSU’s School
of Social Work (SSW) and the Regional Research Institute for Human
Sciences (RRI). The Child Care Research in Oregon site is part of
a larger educational web site and home page called Child Care - Work & Family
created for PSU’s SSW and RRI as a “Focus Topic”. 
- Arthur Emlen’s research on work, family, and child care
– 1965 to present
- Child care related research of the faculty at PSU’s School
of Social Work and the Regional Research Institute for Human Sciences
Children
First for Oregon
Children First for Oregon is a non-profit, non-partisan organization
dedicated to increasing child well-being in Oregon through public
education, research and advocacy.
- Annual Report Card and State of Oregon’s Child County
Data Book
- Other publications related to family financial stability, and
children’s health and safety
Evaluation of Incredible Years and Early Childhood Mental
Health Consultation to Child Care Centers Project
Email Constance Lehman for
more information.
This three year project is federally funded by the Sustance Abuse
and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) through a grant
to Multnomah County. The project incorporates the Incredible Years
Parent Series, an evidence-based program developed and researched
by Carolyn Webster-Stratton to address early aggressive behaviors
in children, with center-based early childhood mental health consultation.
The parenting series and consultation are provided through Morrison
Child and Family Services to selected child care centers in Multnomah
County. The external evaluation is conducted by the Regional Research
Institute, Graduate School of Social Work, at Portland State University.
The program focuses on children ages two to six years who are at
risk of, or currently have emotional or behavioral problems, their
parents, and child care center teachers. The evaluation is exploring
how the two interventions, Incredible Years and early childhood
mental health consultation, are implemented within community child
care settings. In addition, the impact of the parent series, in
combination with center consultation, is being compared with the
impact of center consultation only by measuring child, parent, and
teacher change.
Multnomah
County Commission on Children, Families & Community
The Commission on Children, Families & Community and its Early
Childhood Council convene people in the community to work on early
childhood projects, create collaborations and advocacy, apply for
and manage grants.
- Early Childhood Framework and other early childhood documents
- Web based directory of Parent Educators
Multnomah
County Library Create a Reader Early (C.A.R.E.) Evaluation
This project consists of three components (1) trained volunteers
who regularly read to children at child care centers, (2) skill
building workshops for child care center staff, and (3) newsletters
to share early literacy information. Essential Services, a private
consulting firm directed by Constance Lehman, conducts the external
program evaluation.
The purpose of the evaluation is to document (a) program development
and implementation, (b) challenges to development and implementation,
(c) impact of the volunteer reader training on volunteer reader
knowledge and skills, and (d) effectiveness of the center skill-building
workshops in building the capacity of childcare center staff to
implement best practices. The evaluation will be completed in February
2004.
Northwest Regional Education
Lab, Child and Family Program
This site provides research, evaluation, programs, products, training
and technical assistance to improve schools and child/family programs.
- Relief Nursery
- Oregon Head Start
- Links to other sites
NPC Research
NPC Research, based in Portland, OR, provides quality social services evaluation, policy analysis and research. We are dedicated to improving the effectiveness of human services offered to children, families, and communities. NPC has numerous studies of child care and early childhood programs in Oregon. Several of our projects include:
- Lane & Multnomah Counties' Child Care Contribution Tax Credit Projects. NPC conducts the evaluation of the pilot projects launched in Lane and Multnomah Counties using funds from the Child Care Contribution Tax Credit. These projects aim to address childcare affordability, provider compensation, and childcare quality. Program activities include providing wage enhancements for providers who engage in professional development, offering one-on-one technical assistance to providers around quality improvements, and subsidies to families to help with childcare expenses. Evaluation activities include observations and provider and parent surveys. The final report on the Lane County project is available at http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/CCEP_Final_Evaluation_Report_0908.pdf and the Year 1 report on the Multnomah County project is available at http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/Neighborhood_House_Year_1_Final.pdf.
- Child Care Quality Improvement Project. In July 2005, NPC completed an evaluation of the Child Care Quality Improvement Project in 11 Oregon counties, which included several programs utilizing CARES-model wage enhancement, scholarship, and other strategies to improve child care quality in Oregon.
- Transitions to Kindergarten Project. This project, a collaboration between NPC and Portland State University's Research and Training Center for Family Support and Children's Mental Health, is working with two Oregon Head Start centers to strengthen their capacity to deliver high-quality services supporting children's social and emotional well-being, with a specific focus on mental health consultation and transitions to kindergarten. The evaluation includes interviews with Head Start teachers and other staff, observations of classrooms, and interviews with Head Start parents and kindergarten teachers. Children's outcomes are tracked throughout the Head Start year and through the beginning of kindergarten.
- Evaluation of Healthy Start of Oregon. Healthy Start of Oregon aims to support positive family and child well-being and prevent child abuse by providing both universal and targeted home visiting services. First-time parents are screened for risk factors, and high-risk parents are offered more intensive home visiting services. The evaluation uses a performance measurement approach, assessing outcomes for children and families at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months of program involvement. Since receiving the contract for this statewide evaluation, the program and its evaluation have expanded to all 36 Oregon counties, and the evaluation has been an integral part of the state's effort to be accredited by the Healthy Families America program model.
- Evaluation of Early Literacy Projects for The Library Foundation. NPC is involved with evaluations of numerous Multnomah County literacy projects funded by The Library Foundation, including programs that provide outreach to first time parents and parents of preschoolers, as well as school-based literacy projects.
- Evaluation of Early Words. Early Words was a program designed to enhance children's early language and literacy development through providing training and mentoring to child care providers serving young children (ages 0–5 years). The evaluation used a multi-method approach to collect information about program implementation, immediate benefits of training, and training outcomes, including provider practices and child outcomes.
Oregon
Child Care Research Partnership, Oregon State University Family
Policy Program
The OCCRP conducts research related to child care policy at the
local and state levels. The Partnership also works on national-level
research through participation in the Child Care Bureau’s
Child Care Policy Research Consortium, a collaboration of child
care policy researchers who work together to build the body of knowledge
about child care at the state and national levels.
Post Graduate
Certificate in Therapy with Adoptive Families
The purpose of this program is to serve families with children
of all ages, and part of our focus is educating adoptive families
on how to advocate for the special needs of children in education.
Regional Research Institute
for Human Services, Portland State University
The Institute plans and conducts applied research with the aim
of improving human services at the national, regional, and local
levels.
- Studies of interventions designed to improve the social and
emotional outcomes for children in early childhood settings and
the services for their families.
Research and Training
Center on Family Support and Children’s Mental Health, Portland
State University
This center is dedicated to promoting effective community-based,
culturally competent, family-centered services for families and
their children who are, or may be affected by mental, emotional
or behavioral disorders. This goal is accomplished through collaborative
research partnerships with family members, service providers, policy
makers, and other concerned persons.
- Models
of Inclusion in Child Care Project is
a unique national study designed to investigate inclusive child
care, with a focus on children with emotional and behavioral challenges.
The first part of the research is an in-depth qualitative study
of nine child care centers, nominated for their success in providing
child care in an inclusive setting for children with emotional
and behavioral disorders. Family members, center directors, and
center staff share their experiences, their successes, and the
lessons they have learned. The report
includes recommendations for the promotion of inclusion in child
care settings, and additional resources.
The purpose of phase two is to investigate state level efforts
towards the promotion of the inclusion of children with emotional
and behavioral challenges in child care. A telephone survey of state
child care administrators is underway.
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