A Message from leadership
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This month’s update from Director Alyssa Chatterjee
I can’t believe April has come to a close! This was a month of connection. In addition to DELC’s annual All Staff, I was lucky to spend a several days on the road and visiting with partners.
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs
I was able to kick off the month of April on the road, visiting with the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs to visit their Immersion School and Early Childhood Education facilities. Dana Castano and I were treated to a lesson in the Ichishkin language, as well as a cultural dance with the preschoolers in the immersion program. We also got to see the beautiful facilities at the Early Childhood Education program, which houses Early Head Start, Head Start, and child care programming. It was a beautiful visit, and I so appreciate the Tribe for hosting us!
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
Carey and I were able to close out the month visiting the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation with the entire Tribal Affairs Office: Lloyd Commander, Dana Castano, and Dori Houser. We got to visit Lil Turtle Retreat Daycare, which operates on Tribal land to serve the community, and provides care to infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and after school care. DJ and Katlyn shared their commitment to this work and their vision for providing high quality services to the families in the their community.
We also got to visit the beautiful Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center to learn more about the Maternal Child Health supports offered by the Tribe. Ashleah, the Átawišamataš Program Manager and Makiesha, an Átawišamataš Program Home Visitor, shared the innovative ways they are expanding home visiting services through the Family Spirit program, the only evidence based home visiting program that centers Tribal culture, with their federal Tribal MIECHV grant. Thank you so much for hosting us!
Early Learning Hub Gathering
In addition to several Tribal visits, several of us were able to join the Early Learning Hub directors for their Spring Hub Gathering in Pendleton. I was able to spend half a day in conversation about what communities are facing, discuss how the Hubs are a critical player in helping the Legislature understand the importance of early childhood education, and think about creative ways to support initiatives like Every Child Belongs as we prepare for the final cohort to begin services. It was exciting to be able to share physical space and strategic thinking. Thank you for having me!
Transition Ahead
We are always changing and growing at DELC, and with that comes transitions. Our Deputy Director of Operations, Cooper Brown, recently announced that he will be leaving DELC for a position with the Oregon Youth Authority. Cooper joined us at a critical time in our agency’s development – we were still designing DELC and what a new Operations Division would look like. Since then, he has led the critical work that is foundational to everything DELC is responsible for as an agency. An interim Deputy Director of Operations will be announced within the next several weeks while we determine a permanent hiring plan. We will miss Cooper, and wish him well on his next adventure at OYA!
Carey’s Corner: What Am I Reading
I was reading the annual early childhood education workforce survey from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) that found across the country a particularly difficult year of tough choices given the rapidly rising costs for both providers and families and increases in other persistent challenges such as educator burnout and instability. These findings were in contrast to a recent presentation about Oregon’s Baby Promise program, that provides financial sustainability for infant and toddler care in a few regions. It also providing supports that not only improve the quality of care but ameliorate burnout. You can watch the presentation to learn about Baby Promise, hear from families and providers, and see positive data about its successes: