New Investees

(From the July 2006 Newsletter)

The Investment Committee concluded its efforts for this year and selected two new investments: the Child Care Improvement Project (CCIP) and the Forest Grove School District Latino Community Network (FGLCN). Both of these programs have children as their main focus and they will expand SVPP's involvement in the Portland metropolitan area providing many volunteering opportunities for our partners.

Child Care Improvement Project (CCIP)
One of the high leverage areas where we can make a difference in the lives of at-risk children is in early education and child care. Home-based child care centers, typically used by low income parents, are a weak link. The quality varies and is often poor due to few resources. Oregon provides no state support and the state has low subsidies.

CCIP, which works to improve the quality of home-based child care, is a well-regarded and effective program in Multnomah County. They currently coach and provide resources to nine networks in the county.

The objective of SVPP's investment is to create one to two additional home child care networks. SVPP volunteers will also help providers in CCIP networks to grow their child care businesses by providing technical assistance, marketing advice, business training, and expanding and strenthening CCIP's infrastructure and programs.

SVPP will also work with the City Club of Portland and others to advocate for improved early education and child care in Oregon.

Expected Investment = $40,000/year x 3 years = $120,000. Team leads are Bill Porter and Eli Lamb.

Forest Grove School District Latino Community Network (FGLCN)
The Forest Grove School District has seen more than a 200% increase in its Latino population growing from 800 students in 1993 to more than 2,400 in 2005 and now accounts for 25% of the total district population. At the same time, 95% of the local Latino population lives at or below the poverty level.

The educational results have been disappointing with 80% of the Latino students not meeting state standards in English/language arts, and 90% not meeting standards in math. Parents want their children to succeed in school but, with the average Latino parent educational level at the second grade level, they lack the ability to help their children.

FGLCN has four program objectives: 1) expand local interagency engagement (i.e. all agencies with a consistent strategic plan), 2) empower parents by connecting them to students and schools, 3) empower students using technology to reach beyond school-based learning, and 4) develop learning families by providing educational support tools and techniques for Latino parents, and by increasing technology and learning tools in the home.

SVPP will help with local outreach by providing technology support for in-home learning tools and by providing web development assistance.

The initial investment will be $40,000. The major challenge is that we are starting on the ground floor. The good news is that the Forest Grove School district is very committed to FGLCN and there are clear improvement measurement tools in place. The team lead is Constance Edwards.