Our Children Oregon

Meet our new Policy and Advocacy Intern, Chloe Acosta! Chloe is a dedicated policy advocate, community organizer, and college student pursuing a Communications and Political Science degree. She is passionate about children's wellbeing, voter education, and health equity. Chloe works with a variety of community organizations, including some of Our Children Oregon’s partners, around the state and has multiple years of experience. Chloe also has been an elementary educator for the past 3 years. She sees firsthand the challenges and joys students and staff face. She brings her legislative and education experience along with her rural Southern Oregon perspective into the work she does. Outside of advocating, Chloe can be found with her cats and a good book or running her own digital marketing company she founded in 2023. We are so thrilled to have you on the team, Chloe, and thank you for all that you do! 👏 - - - #ourchildrenoregon #childrensagenda #pnw #pnwkids #pnwfamily #oregon #portland #pdx #pacificnorthwest #oregoncoast #portlandoregon #everychildmatters #progessnotperfection #childrenshealth #literacy #earlychildhood #education #educationmatters #salemoregon #bendoregon #corvallis #policy #advocacy #students #kidscount

"So when you enter those places of trust, or power, dream a little before you think." – Toni Morrison 🌟 Kassy Bonanno, one of OCO's Policy and Advocacy Interns, finds inspiration in this powerful quote, reminding us that dreaming is an essential part of creating change. While the path to progress can feel long and challenging, dreaming is a free and powerful first step towards transformation. It’s the vision that drives us forward, even in the face of obstacles. ✨ - - - #ourchildrenoregon #childrensagenda #pnw #pnwkids #pnwfamily #oregon #portland #pdx #pacificnorthwest #oregoncoast #portlandoregon #everychildmatters #progessnotperfection #childrenshealth #literacy #earlychildhood #education #educationmatters #salemoregon #bendoregon #corvallis #policy #advocacy #students #kidscount

Meet our new Policy and Advocacy Intern, Kassy Bonanno! Kassy is a senior studying Public Health and Public Policy at Oregon State University. A lifelong Oregonian, she is drawn to opportunities that increase the health and safety of her statewide community. Kassy's first introduction to the world of policy was as a high school student lobbying for environmental justice. She found that policy has the potential to tackle some of the biggest challenges in the world. For the past three years she has worked doing legislative advocacy around higher education, public health, and housing. Having worked as an outdoor educator and street outreach volunteer, she understands the unique challenges facing Oregon youth and is committed to their success. In her free time you can find her at the library or the bookstore. We are so thrilled to have you on the team, Kassy, and thank you for all that you do! - - - #ourchildrenoregon #childrensagenda #pnw #pnwkids #pnwfamily #oregon #portland #pdx #pacificnorthwest #oregoncoast #portlandoregon #everychildmatters #progessnotperfection #childrenshealth #literacy #earlychildhood #education #educationmatters #salemoregon #bendoregon #corvallis #policy #advocacy #students #kidscount

Daisy Vasquez-Villa, our valued former Policy and Advocacy Intern, highlights OCO's partnership with The Annie E. Casey Foundation's KIDS COUNT Network and KIDS COUNT Data Center. Casey is a private philanthropy committed to building a brighter future for children and young people nationwide. The Foundation achieves this by strengthening families, building resilient communities, and ensuring access to opportunities. Casey began publishing the annual KIDS COUNT Data Book 35 years ago. To drive policy reform, KIDS COUNT makes high-quality data accessible to decision-makers and the public. Casey staff collaborate with a network of child-advocacy and research organizations for each state, to collect and report credible information. Our Children Oregon, including its predecessor, has proudly served as the Oregon KIDS COUNT partner for more than 30 years, since 1991. As the state partner, we contribute Oregon data on child well-being to the national KIDS COUNT Data Center, which is available online to the public. By providing the most recently available and reliable data that reflect all regions and demographics, we spark crucial discussions about child well-being. This information empowers child advocates and decision-makers to better serve their communities. To learn more about OCO’s partnership with The Annie E. Casey Foundation's KIDS COUNT Network and KIDS COUNT Data Center, visit our website at https://buff.ly/3Z5HeuS ! - - - #ourchildrenoregon #childrensagenda #pnw #pnwkids #pnwfamily #oregon #portland #pdx #pacificnorthwest #oregoncoast #portlandoregon #everychildmatters #progessnotperfection #childrenshealth #literacy #earlychildhood #education #educationmatters #salemoregon #bendoregon #corvallis #policy #advocacy #students #kidscount

Meet one of our Children’s Agenda partners, Oregon Housing Alliance! Oregon Housing Alliance has a vision of every Oregonian having a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home. Their goal is to advance a legislative agenda in Oregon that addresses the most pressing housing needs. Their alliance has decades of experience solving these issues and helping people get into and stay stable in affordable rental homes as well as accessing homeownership. Their coalition includes advocates, local governments, housing authorities, community development corporations, environmentalists, service providers, and more, all dedicated to increasing the resources available to meet these housing needs. Thank you for all that you do Oregon Housing Alliance! 👏 To learn more about the Oregon Housing Alliance, please visit https://buff.ly/4hRU8oM! - - - #ourchildrenoregon #childrensagenda #pnw #pnwkids #pnwfamily #oregon #portland #pdx #pacificnorthwest #oregoncoast #portlandoregon #everychildmatters #progessnotperfection #childrenshealth #literacy #earlychildhood #education #educationmatters #salemoregon #bendoregon #corvallis #policy #advocacy #students #kidscount

Data Cards are vital to making intricate data more approachable so legislators, advocates, and the public can quickly grasp essential information without wading through lengthy reports. Released annually, these cards provide up-to-date insights on important areas like: economic conditions, health, education, and community support, giving a current view of childrens’ status at both the state and county levels. For policymakers, Data Cards offer clear, actionable information that can guide decision-making and set legislative priorities by highlighting key issues and identifying where to direct resources, ensuring that decisions are informed and effective. Advocates and community groups also benefit. They use these clear snapshots to raise awareness, drive advocacy efforts, and track progress over time. The accessibility of the data supports their work in pushing for necessary changes and improvements in child well-being. If you found this overview helpful, be sure to check out the 2023/2024 data cards on the OCO website: https://buff.ly/3oHdNN2 - - - #ourchildrenoregon #childrensagenda #pnw #pnwkids #pnwfamily #oregon #portland #pdx #pacificnorthwest #oregoncoast #portlandoregon #everychildmatters #progessnotperfection #childrenshealth #literacy #earlychildhood #education #educationmatters #salemoregon #bendoregon #corvallis #policy #advocacy #students #kidscount

Emma Gould, our valued former Policy and Advocacy Fellow, explains OCO’s role as partners in the KIDS COUNT® Network, and how our Data Cards play a crucial role in translating data into action for child well-being. The Annie E. Casey Foundation's KIDS COUNT Network — of which Our Children Oregon is a partner — is dedicated to monitoring the well-being of children across the United States. KIDS COUNT gathers and analyzes extensive data on various aspects of child welfare, including: economic stability, health, education, and community support. The aim is to provide a clear and comprehensive picture of how children and families are doing, helping everyone from policymakers to the public make informed decisions. A key element of this initiative is the KIDS COUNT Data Cards. These cards are designed to turn complex data into accessible, easy-to-understand snapshots. Created through partnerships with organizations like Our Children Oregon, Data Cards present crucial child well-being metrics in a format that’s both concise and user-friendly. Check out OCO’s Oregon KIDS COUNT Data Cards today! → https://buff.ly/3oHdNN2 - - - #ourchildrenoregon #childrensagenda #pnw #pnwkids #pnwfamily #oregon #portland #pdx #pacificnorthwest #oregoncoast #portlandoregon #everychildmatters #progessnotperfection #childrenshealth #literacy #earlychildhood #education #educationmatters #salemoregon #bendoregon #corvallis #policy #advocacy #students #kidscount

In 2022, an estimated 143,999 children in Oregon faced food insecurity—a staggering 17.3% of our kids. This marks an almost 5% increase from the previous year. Rates had decreased between 2019-2021, likely due in part to pandemic-era food security initiatives, many of which have since been phased out. This recent increase in food insecurity is notably higher than pre-pandemic levels. This data comes from our Oregon KIDS COUNT 2023/2024 State and County Data Cards, which are available to the public through our website, ourchildrenoregon.org. Our Children Oregon is deeply committed to championing legislation that offers youth and families the resources they need to thrive. As a steering committee member of the School Meals for All (SMFA) coalition and a member of the Food for All Oregonians (FFAO) coalition, OCO collaborates with various stakeholders to promote community-led solutions to hunger in Oregon. To learn more about SMFA and FFAO, or to sign pledges for either one of these coalitions, please visit schoolmealsoregon.org and buff.ly/3ZKXEIz ! - - - #ourchildrenoregon #childrensagenda #pnw #pnwkids #pnwfamily #oregon #portland #pdx #pacificnorthwest #oregoncoast #portlandoregon #everychildmatters #progessnotperfection #childrenshealth #literacy #earlychildhood #education #educationmatters #salemoregon #bendoregon #corvallis #policy #advocacy #students #kidscount

Meet one of our Children’s Agenda partners, Children’s Institute! Children’s Institute is dedicated to improving outcomes for Oregon’s kids. Since their founding in 2003, they have aimed to leverage research, practice, policy, and advocacy to shift systems towards justice for families so that all of Oregon’s children have access to opportunity. They recognize that many policies and practices designed to address economic inequality do not meet the needs of children of color as well as children who live in rural communities. Children’s Institute is working to create a future where race, ethnicity, income, geographic isolation, disability, language, immigrant and refugee status, houselessness, and foster care no longer predict the outcomes of children living in Oregon. They are doing this by working at the intersection of racial and economic justice to serve as an accelerator for social change. Thank you for all that you do Children’s Institute! To learn more about Children’s Institute, please visit https://buff.ly/48Ly7E2 ! - - - #ourchildrenoregon #childrensagenda #pnw #pnwkids #pnwfamily #oregon #portland #pdx #pacificnorthwest #oregoncoast #portlandoregon #everychildmatters #progessnotperfection #childrenshealth #literacy #earlychildhood #education #educationmatters #salemoregon #bendoregon #corvallis #policy #advocacy #students #kidscount

OCO’s Data and Research Manager, Jenna Marie, and Policy and Advocacy Manager, Grace Fortson, had the amazing opportunity recently to attend the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Annual Data Institute to learn best practices for ensuring data is grounding our advocacy work. Specific takeaways included updates to race/ethnicity reporting, data visualization best practices, planning for the 2030 Census, and drafting letters to the editor! Grace stated, “It was so energizing to collaborate with advocates for evidence-based policy from around the country! I’m glad that Annie E. Casey facilitated the space for us to learn together and I look forward to taking that into our work for 2025’s legislative session.” It was invigorating to celebrate the amazing work our partners in the KIDS COUNT Data Network are doing and we can’t wait to attend again next year! - - - #ourchildrenoregon #childrensagenda #pnw #pnwkids #pnwfamily #oregon #portland #pdx #pacificnorthwest #oregoncoast #portlandoregon #everychildmatters #progessnotperfection #childrenshealth #literacy #earlychildhood #education #educationmatters #salemoregon #bendoregon #corvallis #policy #advocacy #students #kidscount