Meeting Notes | March 10, 2022
Lane Early Learning Alliance — Family Leadership Council
March 10th, 2022 | 6:00 - 7:30 pm | Zoom Meeting
Welcome & Introductions
In attendance: Claire Hambly, Emily Reiter, Johanis Tadeo, Jen Cisneros, Cassedea Ashley, Sol Granados, Kathryn Dumas, Adrian Pollut, Heidi Johnson, Nina Watkins, Megan Miller, Mariela German, Abbie, Denise B, Susana Salinas, Rosa, Brenda Brown
Icebreaker
A reminder of Group Agreements
2. Johanis Tadeo - Program Organizer for SAfER (Springfield Alliance for Equity and Respect)
● Johanis Tadeo; 541-337-4386; Safer@calclane.org
● Mica Contredas Education Justice; 541-525-3247; mica@calclane.org
● SAfER is committed to immigrant rights and racial justice, LGBTQ rights, and the right to shelter. Johanis is working closely with the Spanish speaking community as an advocate. He is a great resource and can give insight to community issues he is seeing and resources.
○ Seeking feedback from Lane County parents;
○ March 28th forum for Latinx families- if you are having any issues navigating the school system
○ Forum for whole community in April
○ Springfield SD just hired Taylor Madden, Diversity Equity & Inclusion Coordinator, has been great to work with
○ Work with families and the City of Eugene, issues with police
○ Assisting with issues with teachers
○ Able to host forum/meeting if there’s info that isn’t getting to families
○ School board will finally have interpretation at meetings
○ Office in Springfield - House of Unity, have resources for families ○ Families are incentivized to attend meetings with food!
○ Also available to help support staff and teachers
3. Claire Hambly FRC Information and Request for Feedback
● Revaluating Hub Investments for Family Support Programs. Claire will give an overview of the history of the FRC’s. Where they are, what they do, and how/why we’ve historically directed the FSS (federal) and HSAF funds their way. Asking FLC for input on how/where they’d like to receive the kinds of services we can fund with those streams.
● Slides available
● Did you know about FRCs prior to being a part of this group?
○ Heidi: heard about them in the context of school-aged children
○ Cassedea: yes
○ Megan: no
○ Kathryn: went to Peggy’s Primary Connection
● Want to reallocate funds that aren’t being used well; where would you like to receive those kinds of services if not through school-based resource center?
○ Nina: Barrier is that kids with disabilities aren’t getting services; now kids in 1st and 2nd aren’t getting services; funding in the schools but not staff and solutions; a lot of kids; high needs for kids with behavior and physical issues
○ Cassedea: I would love for them to bring back preschool storytime/craft or a nature class for preschoolers to access like the programs Tinkergarten, Ready For K and Music Together. I really miss programs like those in this area and music, craft/preletter writing are such great skills to learn. For instance Creswell, Pleasant Hill doesn't have any preschool programs for the community to use outside daycares/preschools
○ Adrian: as a rural parent, having access to any of these resources; not access for rural families for ages 0-5; district is probably the best place to start; idea of starting a Rec Center out on coast (Siuslaw Vision)
○ Heidi: focusing money in rural areas; respite? Using money for orgs that provide respite care
■ Claire: can’t use it for respite care, that funding goes to Relief Nurseries
○ Jen: I am wondering about scholarships for kids educational camps. For example, the NAACP really saved our family with scholarships. My daughter attended school at The Science Center during covid instead of doing it at home. They also provide scholarship funding for other camps too and it is so helpful to a working parent.
○ Kathryn and Heidi: libraries
○ Kathryn: Creswell library is where most preschool activities happen; if more funds could be put towards that they might be able to do more; in a central location
○ Megan: Communities Centers maybe; would be great to have programming in the evenings and weekends for those of us who work
○ Johanis: in CG, providing information at the food pantry; in Springfield partnered with the Arc of Lane County; identify social service agencies that are already connected to families
○ Sol: important for the teachers to learn new techniques, add specialized trainings to help children have good help; teachers help our children grow and can also damage; resources to train teachers
■ Claire: can’t use these funds for teacher professional development but maybe from other funding; these funds are focused on kids and their families
■ Eugene 4J is using Conscious Discipline
○ Heidi: some of the issue if letting parents know these exist; doctors office for example
○ Brenda: agree tutoring and kid/parent activities
○ Mariela: more programs like kits-getting prek ready to transition to kinder
○ Arian: What about birth centers and places that offer post-natal care for parents?
○ Megan: It would be great if some of these programs could craft/learning kits to those of us who can't make it to day programs. It could also be helpful to parents in rural areas
○ Nina: developmental screenings; after need is identified, what happens? Took over a year to get my child evaluated; would be farther along if they had started process years earlier
○ Jen: Outdoor summer learning environments for littles. I remember trying to find ANY camp for my 4 year old last summer and everything had a waitlist... It may be that the low ratio changes the ability to serve more kids at places for little learning environments. Also, I am thinking about the ginormous long waitlist at CDRC. The families could use some support while they wait 12 months on the waitlist to get services.
○ Cassedea: Especially learning to read. Would love to see more literacy options for preschoolers
○ Brenda: yes more sports activities. everything is full. no that many options
○ Megan: Support groups for parents with kiddos who have behavior or developmental issues
■ Heidi: Megan, do you think the community would like a parent café geared toward families that are experiencing those issues?
■ Megan: I would love that. I have been enjoying the parent cafes
○ Jen: Is there any way The Parker Learning Gardens could help and collaborate? It has really cool stuff for the community.
4. Michelle Hjelm Preschool Promise Updates: ● Current openings: Creswell (Ellie’s Preschool & Daycare and Creswell Preschool Promise), Cottage Grove (Dorena Preschool Promise) and Junction City (Picket Fence Preschool).
● We now have an internal 22-23 Family Interest List so that families can be emailed or mailed our 22-23 application when it becomes available in early summer. To get on that list, interested families can call, text (541-357-5819) or email
(preschoolpromise@unitedwaylane.org) with the adult first and last name, the child’s date of birth, if they would like the app emailed or mailed when it becomes available, their preferred language and their email or mailing address depending on their request.
5. Announcements or other news/good for the order
● FLC website has been updated, please take a look. We are looking for quotes on your FLC experience. Please drop them in the chat or email me.
● Adrian: Oregon People’s Rebate- $750 to every Oregonian per year ○ English: www.opr2022.org/en/
○ Spanish: www.opr2022.org/es/
○ Frequently Asked Questions: https://opr2022.org/en/faq/
Next meeting dates
April 13, 2022