Happy New Year! 🎉

We’re thrilled to kick off another year by bringing parenting resources and early learning information right to your fingertips. From helpful tips to engaging activities, we’re here to support you and your little ones every step of the way.

Stay tuned for more tools, insights, and inspiration to make this year a great one for your family!

Let’s learn and grow together in 2025.

Warm wishes,

Four Rivers Family

Happy New Year to our community partners, families, and early educators! We’re grateful for your ongoing work supporting families with young children across our five counties. Hub staff have spent the end of last year and the beginning of this year visioning for the Early Learning system. We have also reflected on our growth with the completion of our 23/24 End of Year report.

As we approach June 2025, our priorities include Birth to Five Early Literacy, Parent Leadership Council, Every Child Belongs, Coordinated Enrollment/Preschool Promise(PSP) and preparing our Parenting Education Regional Funding Application to support the Parenting Hub.

We have two conferences planned for April 2025: Journey to The Stars, in partnership with Child Care Partners and the Columbia Gorge STEM Hub, and The Children’s Wellness Summit, with PacificSource, GOBHI, and Mid Columbia Center For Living. We’re also providing early literacy kits to families using Healthy Families Oregon home visiting services. Additionally, the Hub has allocated $7,000 to Books For Kids, Columbia Gorge, to support building home libraries for children 0-5.

In February 2025, we’ll submit our Regional Funding Application to Oregon Parenting Education Collaborative (OPEC) to enhance parent education in our region. We welcome input from community members, including caregivers, to help shape these opportunities.

Thanks to the strong support from our community, the Hub is making great progress, and we look forward to a successful year of supporting our youngest learners.

Shira Skybinskyy, Four Rivers Director

In April 2024, the Four Rivers Early Learning and Parenting Hub received the ECSEPP grant from DELC to help childcare and preschool providers prepare for House Bill 2166 and State Bill 236, which will ban suspensions and expulsions in licensed, publicly funded early childhood care programs starting July 1, 2026.

In May 2024, the Hub gathered input from 32 Early Childhood Leaders, 30 educators, and 14 caregivers across a five-county region. Feedback highlighted the need for support for both educators and children.

DELC has since partnered with the Oregon Infant Mental Health Association (ORIMHA) to develop resources and create a Regional Support Network to respond to the new bills. The exploration phase is nearly complete, and we are preparing for the implementation phase.

A key priority is hiring a Bilingual Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant to provide support through reflective supervision and resources. Interested candidates can apply here.

In 2025, the program will be renamed the Every Child Belongs (ECB) Program, reflecting its commitment to inclusivity. We are excited to connect with partners and caregivers to ensure the program meets regional needs. To join the Regional Service Network, contact Shira Skybinskyy.

The Hub’s Parent Leadership Council (PLC) is made up of about 20 parents and caregivers from our five counties. We represent the adults caring for tiny humans every day through the sleepless nights and the challenges to get a vegetable in there somehow. There will be future articles from other parents on the council, but for this inaugural message I just want to say:

We’ve been there and we’re here for you!

If you are struggling with parenting or finding a good fit for early education or nutrition etc., you are welcome to contact the Hub and a staff member can recommend a resource or connect you with a parent leader in your area. If you’re interested in leadership, come join us for a monthly meeting and share your perspective!

- Bonnie Kraxberger, PLC Parent Member

Four Rivers is dedicated to supporting families by offering a range of parenting education opportunities throughout the year in our region. These programs are designed to empower parents with valuable skills, resources, and strategies to nurture healthy, thriving families. From workshops and classes to community events, Four Rivers provides accessible and practical tools to meet the diverse needs of parents at every stage of their journey. With a focus on fostering strong family connections, these opportunities contribute to the overall well-being of our community.

Coordinated enrollment is a strategy that helps families find early childhood education and care programs. Four Rivers Family is actively working with community partners to develop processes so families can learn about, choose, and connect with early learning resources that match their needs. Preschool Promise is just one of the programs in our region.

Preschool Promise (PSP) is free, high-quality preschool available to Oregon families who are living at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level in Oregon. Spots are currently open in The Dalles, Maupin, Hood River, and Parkdale! 

Preschool Promise:

• Helps children prepare for kindergarten

• Creates an inclusive, welcoming environment for all children and families, regardless of ability, family composition, culture, language, or family income

• Operates in a wide variety of settings: centers, homes, and schools

• Supports parents as partners in their child’s learning and development

• Is designed for children aged 3-4 (Child must be age 3 by Sept. 1st, 2024)

Contact Erica Hernandez for questions or to apply. Support available in English and Spanish.

Flyer in English and Spanish

We’re excited to keep you connected with upcoming events designed to support parents and engage early learners. Stay in the know for upcoming interactive workshops, fun family activities, and helpful resources.