Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Pass it On

**Registration is now open for A Clinical Response to Child Abuse Conference, offered annually by CARES Northwest.

  Training Date: Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015

  Time: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

  Location: Legacy Emanuel Medical Center – Lorenzen Center Auditorium

  Cost: This training is free of charge and funded by the Department of Justice CAMI       grant.

Target Audience: Priority will be given to professionals from CARE’s 14-county region associated with county multi-disciplinary teams (MDTs) and/or child abuse intervention centers (CACs). Space is limited to 120 attendees. Professionals from MDTs and CACs outside CARE’s 14-county region are welcome to register and will be confirmed as space permits. Continuing Education Credits:Applications have been submitted to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), Legacy CME and DPSST for continuing education credits. 

**Seven local organizations have rallied behind

Squires, an organization dedicated to empowering teen fathers. On Saturday, Sept. 26th Squires, along with: Impact NW, A Social Ignition, Black Parent Initiative, Maranatha Church, Man Up, Men’s Health Project, and the Know Agenda Foundation, will join for “UNMASKED” and will screen the film “The Mask You Live In.” After, there will be a panel and discussion, activities, lunch and a men’s fair, as well as University Of Oregon Hall of Famer Latin Berry, who will speak. 

TICKETS are FREE and available through the Squires website www.squirespdx.org 

“UNMASKED” doors open at 8:45 a.m. at Maranatha Church, 4222 NE 12th Ave. While this event is geared toward men under 25, men of all ages, sports teams and clubs are welcome to this high-energy event.

**The 2016 East Portland Action Plan Civic Engagement Grants Program for projects benefiting East Portland has released its grant application, due Oct. 1, 2015. 

The EPAP encourages civic engagement in under-supported race/ethnic culturally specific communities with language appropriate communication that leads to further community involvement of people not usually included in decision making.

**The YWCA offers high-quality and engaging social change trainings. All of the info can be found here.

**Meals 4 Kids, a PCL-funded program through Meals on Wheels People that delivers meals to children and their caregivers throughout Portland, is looking for volunteer drivers. Interested? Contact lynette.vicens@mealsonwheelspeople.org

 In the News:  

**Many thanks and congrats to Human Solutions Executive Director Jean DeMaster, stepping down after many years with the agency. Read her story here in the

Portland Tribune.

**Food deserts in parts of Multnomah County make it challenging for many low-income families to buy and prepare healthy food and meals. Read the story in The Skanner. The Portland Children’s Levy has tried to ease this burden by expanding the number of food pantries through the Oregon Food Bank and supporting a meals delivery program through Meals on Wheels.

**A recently introduced U.S. Senate child welfare reform proposal would strengthen at-risk families by increasing state funding for child abuse prevention programs. Read more about it in this Eugene Register Guard story here.

PCL Programs Making a Difference: Playworks

How Junior Coaching Is Giving me Life Skills (by a Portland Public School student)

“When I was chosen to be a Junior Coach, I was excited to help at other recesses and have extra playtime outside during my school day. Now that I am farther into the school year, I have realized that being a Junior Coach is not only a fun opportunity, but also has taught me more problem-solving skills, given me confidence and helped me create a greater sense of responsibility both at school and at home.

About a week ago, I had a group of friends come over to play. One boy wanted to go to a park near our house for the last 30 minutes. But another girl felt strongly that we would play hide and seek inside. Without using too much of our time left, I helped facilitate a compromise after listening to what each other wanted. In this situation, listening to each other’s ideas — a skill I learned as a Junior Coach — helped me a lot.

Being a Junior Coach also gives you a chance to experience being a leader. I am a shy person. I find it hard and scary to talk in front of a group of people. As I am a Junior Coach out on the playground, I get the opportunity to lead games and explain the rules to the kids who aren’t sure of the rules or haven’t learned the game before. Practicing being a leader and speaking in front of a group has led me to participate more in class, and I find myself willing to share my ideas with other people more often.

AS I come back from my Junior Coaching job, usually my class has handed out worksheets or talked about important things that I need to know about. My teacher doesn’t tell me all of these things. It is my responsibility to ask him and find out what I have missed in class. I now find myself remembering to do my chores at home, and my mom doesn’t have to keep asking me to do things like my homework as I now am able to practice this at school more often.

I am glad I was chosen to be a Junior Coach. It has taught me skills that I have found myself using outside on the playground, and many other times during my day. It has also given me a chance to realize what skills I am strong at and the many that would be helpful to work on. And as I am working on certain skills, I have definitely seen a big difference.”

Playworks is an after-school program and includes training/practice in conflict resolution, leadership, teamwork and physical activity.

PCL Allocation Committee meeting news

There are currently no Allocation Committee meetings scheduled. Agendas are sent to the database before the meeting and posted on the PCL website here. Questions? Email marygay.broderick@portlandoregon.gov

In other news, two reports are now available: an audit of PCL completed by the City of Portland Auditor’s Office here and the PCL 2013-14 annual services and outcomes data report here.

“Like” us on our new FB page

The Portland Children’s Levy has a new, more dynamic FB page. Click on the link above to “like” it and please pass along to your colleagues, clients and board members as well.

Check out the new 2015 PCL Progress Report!

Take a look at the PCL 2015 Progress Report featuring “A Day in the Life” for grantees serving Portland’s children! Click here to view the PDF online. Also, hard copies will be available at all Allocation Committee meetings or by contacting

marygay.broderick@portlandoregon.gov   

Contact PCL Staff for the Following Areas
 

*Director, After School & Hunger grants: 
lisa.pellegrino@portlandoregon.gov
  
*Assistant Director and Early Childhood & Mentoring grants:
meg.mcelroy@portlandoregon.gov
  
*Child Abuse Prevention/Intervention & Foster Care Grants Manager:
lisa.hansell@portlandoregon.gov
  
*Communications Director:
marygay.broderick@portlandoregon.gov
  
*Fiscal Specialist:
john.kelly@portlandoregon.gov
  

Who We Are

The Portland Children’s Levy was created by city voters in 2002 and overwhelmingly renewed by the electorate in Fall 2008 and Spring 2013. Funding for the new five-year Levy began July 1, 2014 and includes hunger relief as a new focus area.

 
The Levy is supported through a property tax paid by City of Portland homeowners that generates $12 million toward investments in proven programs serving 10,000 Portland children and their families in areas of Early Childhood, After School, Mentoring, Child Abuse Prevention/Intervention, Foster Care and Hunger Relief.
 
The Levy is annually audited and administrative costs do not exceed 5 percent. 
Questions? Contact: Call Mary Gay Broderick at 503-823-2947 or e-mailmarygay.broderick@portlandoregon.gov
See our website at www.portlandchildrenslevy.org 

Program Areas:

Early Childhood, After School, Mentoring, Child Abuse Prevention & Intervention, Foster Care, Hunger Relief