The Child Abuse Prevention Collaborative, convened by Prevent Child Abuse Oregon, released its 2021 Legislative Agenda today. The agenda brings together policy and budget proposals that members believe will strengthen families to prevent child abuse or that provide intervention to reduce future harm. 

Read the full agenda. Then, follow us on social media or subscribe to our email list to receive timely updates and alerts during session, including opportunities to advocate for kids. 
​

Parenting during a pandemic is no joke. Parents and caregivers are, understandably, exhausted and burned out. We listened to parents across the state tell their stories and talk about what they needed most when we published our report on the Impact of Covid On Families. A summary of the report can be accessed HERE.  See entire blog post HERE. We also listened to their ideas for solutions. PCAO can't extend eviction moratoriums or speed up unemployment processing, but we can connect parents to one another and help break down the feelings of isolation. 

​To do this we have launched a partnership with Dr. Amy King, Licensed Psychologist and Trauma Informed Consultant to conduct a series of large and small-group virtual parent support sessions. 

HERE'S A TESTIMONIAL FROM A PARENT WHO RECENTLY TOOK THIS COURSE. ​

We are witnessing an immediate crisis for families juggling financial stress, job loss, virtual schooling, and challenges in accessing technology and high-speed internet. Families involved in child welfare are experiencing additional stressors as they attempt to meet agency expectations in the midst of the pandemic. Black and Native families are disproportionality impacted by COVID and yet are not receiving proportionate support.

Prevent Child Abuse Oregon (PCAO), through their Prevention Community Advisory Council, engaged over 400 parents and 45 community leaders to identify the most pressing issues facing Oregon’s children and families during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

Findings include:

1. Families, especially those with younger school-aged   children (5-8), are at a crisis point with virtual school. 
2. Disparities in access to technology and internet among our most vulnerable children, especially those in rural communities, leave them with little to no access to essential virtual supports.
3. Mental health support that is responsive to culture and language is in dire need. 
4. Youth are at increased risk for online sexual predators.
5. Children and youth in unsafe home environments have always been told “tell a trusted adult” but currently lack confidential access to these adults.
6. Safe and stable housing it at risk for many families.

Read the full report HERE or just download the quick 2-page Overview.

In response to these findings, PCAO will:

• Beginning January 2021, we are launching a virtual emotional support series with Dr. Amy Stoeber, Licensed Psychologist and Trauma-Informed Consultant, along with a parent consultant: “I DIDN’T SIGN UP FOR THIS”.
  • This series will validate the experiences of parents, address their concerns, and create a safe space for families to process stress in their current environment. It will offer tangible tools for parents to support their children and manage overwhelming stress.
• Create statewide partnerships to elevate the struggles all parents are experiencing and ways families can cope.

 
Partner with PCAO to support Oregon’s children and families:

Offer Financial Support

• PCAO is investing in the initial launch of Dr. Amy’s parenting series for children of all ages.  Will you consider investing?
• How else might you be able to invest in our efforts?

Provide Expertise - What is Your Role?

• Create connections for parents – providing support groups or mentoring for parents
• Create connections for parents within school settings, to provided much needed support
• Connect community partners to align resources to better support children and families
• Weigh-in on the recommendations, or share new ideas, particularly on how to effectively provide relief for families

Our hearts go out to over 500,000 Oregonians right now facing evacuation, loss of homes, and the families and friends of those who have died. There are no words to convey how deeply we feel these losses with you. And to the firefighters and other emergency personnel out there – thank you for the difficult, demanding, and dangerous work you are doing.

In the last few days we’ve seen communities’ band together to help one another prepare for the worst, from Estacada families remaining to dig trenches and spread water, Molalla neighbors helping one another move vehicles and livestock, to Talent and Phoenix where lives have been saved amidst complete devastation. All across the state individuals and organizations are stepping up to meet yet another crisis with love, compassion, and generosity.

This morning, Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office shared a list of resources for those in impacted communities, as well as ways to help for those who are not. We share this here and thank Clackamas County Sheriffs Office for their efforts to keep us all informed, connected, and safe. Check HERE for information from other counties.

​

At Prevent Child Abuse Oregon, we believe all children, regardless of race, class, culture or geography, should grow up in safe homes and communities. As a white woman, living in a predominantly white community, I have struggled hard in the last week trying to figure out where I fit into conversations about racism and white privilege. I’ve also struggled as the Executive Director of Prevent Child Abuse Oregon to know what to do and how to do it. The answer I come back to is that there really is no answer- no perfect way to take action, but action is needed.

Prevent Child Abuse Oregon is proud to host a workshop series for parents by Krista Michaels:

• Balancing your parent & educator roles
• Building structure and routines
• Helping kids cope
• Practicing & modeling self care
  
  

Wednesday May 20th and 27th from 7-9pm on Facebook Live

Help spread the word by sharing our flyer or Facebook post.

https://www.facebook.com/PCAOPrevents

​Everywhere you go there are lists of free audio books, podcasts, video’s, live book reading from celebrities, and access to learning materials.

For some of us, the stress of this time goes well beyond trying to keep our children entertained during shelter-in-place orders. Some are struggling to meet basic needs, remain calm, and access health and mental health services. Many communities do not have steady access to high speed internet.