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It's Official: We Have Formed the Friends of Washington County PAC
By Susan Bender-Phelps
 

Tom Hughes will be our primary spokesperson

“I’ve agreed to join Friends of Washington County Kids to campaign for the ballot initiative that will fund out of school time programs,” announced Tom Hughes, former Metro President, mayor of Hillsboro, and educator. Hughes stated, “Too many of our families struggle to find affordable, accessible, high-quality programs for their children. We want to change that. Consistent, locally sourced funding will allow us to serve more children by expanding existing, proven programs. Kids who participate in out-of-school time programs do better in life and in school. Parents whose children are enrolled in safe, accessible, and affordable high-quality programs are more productive at work and less stressed.  Together, we can put Washington County kids and families first.”

Hughes was a public school teacher for 30 years and taught in Aloha. He saw first-hand the struggles of working families to find and access quality out-of-school time programs for the children. “As a matter of fact,” adds Hughes, “my wife and I faced those same challenges when our kids were in school. We both worked and these programs were essential for our family.”

Just as important, he saw the dramatic difference between kids who were in quality programs and those who were not in his classroom. “You can see the difference most dramatically in three areas. First, kids who go to preschool are ready to start kindergarten. Many of those who don’t have the advantages of preschool, eventually catch up. But so many never do. Kids involved in after-school programs are occupied in positive ways. They aren’t alone at home or on the street getting into trouble. And good quality summer programs make all the difference in kids’ ability to retain what they learned during the school year. In fact, programs like the Hillsboro Boys & Girls Club has a significant number of young people who go back to school in September ahead of where they left in June.”

Friends of Washington County Kids is a newly formed political action committee (PAC) to support and fund the work of Washington County Kids. Susan Bender Phelps is President, Maureen Barnhart is Secretary, and Luann Pelton is Treasurer. You can help by volunteering once the campaign gets rolling, or by donating money to get the ballot measure passed. We need a volunteer to help us set up a website. Of course, we’ll also need your VOTE.


Update on SB 543

 SB 543, which would allow the formation of Children’s Service Districts by petition was heard in the Human Services and Housing Committee in the House on Wednesday, April 24th.  The Washington County Kids’ sign-on letter included 34 individuals and 22 organizations.  Separate supportive testimony was submitted by 26 people. At the hearing 15 people made oral presentations of their testimony!  In addition to Washington County supporters, people came from Depoe Bay in Lincoln County, Hood River in Wasco County, and Portland!  Additional people attended and provided moral support.  Together with all the written comments, it was impressive!    See photos of testimony on our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/WashingtonCountyKids/   

Testimony had to end at 3 pm so the hearing will be continued on Wednesday, May 8th in HR 50 (located in the basement of the Capitol).  The session starts at 1 pm but the hearing order has not been scheduled yet.  Those people who wanted to testify on April 24th but were unable to attend can attend this session; however, a work session has also been scheduled for the bill after the hearing so anyone who testifies will need to be very brief because the committee members need to have time to vote on the bill and send it to the floor of the House for a final vote.  

 

There is opposition--The League of Oregon Cities and the Association of Oregon Counties provided opposing testimony in addition to Washington County's lobbyist.  Concerns seem to center around fear that current priorities may face competition for scarce funds that may lead to less funding for those programs.  We have emphasized that this is enabling legislation and does not automatically result in automatic formation of any new district; however, citizens should be able to decide if children's needs should be a priority.  

 

Please feel free to take a look at the testimony that was submitted.  You can see all testimony at  https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2019R1/Measures/Overview/SB543  If you wish to submit testimony, it can be sent to hhs.exhibits@oregonlegislature.gov



Hillsboro Inukai Family Boys & Girls Club Celebrates their new playground


On Friday, April 12th, the Hillsboro Inukai Family Boys and Girls Club celebrated the grand opening of their new Nature Playground!   Erin Huber, Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Portland Metropolitan Area introduced Rachel Schutz, Vice President of Club Services, who welcomed everyone.

Congratulatory speeches were provided by Depave President, Ted Labbe, Mayor Steve Callaway, and contributing organizations. Through many partnerships as well as the ideas and work of youth and families, the club’s long-time dream of opening a playground became a reality.  A huge mural by Arturo Villaseñor welcoming all people graces what was once a blank wall.  Through contributions from Parr Lumber Company and the Tualatin Valley Soil and Water District, the area includes benches, a stage, and planted areas instead of asphalt paving and dumpsters. The playground is pleasant and inviting.


 

Grant funds coming to Washington County programs

Adelante Mujeres is one of five recipients of the Atlantic News Magazine and Allstate Insurance’s national Renewal awards.  The non-profit will receive $40,000 over a two year period to help empower and educate Latino families. Over 9,300 applicants from throughout the country competed for the award. Adelante Mujeres sponsors the Chica’s Youth Development Program to benefit young Latinas at various sites in the county.  The Chica’s program will be one of the beneficiaries of the funding. Adelante Mujeres acknowledges the need for more services for youth in our county and is working with Washington County Kids to let people know about those needs. The award highlights Adelante Mujeres’ dedication to serving the community.  An article about the award appeared in the Forest Grove News Times.

 

Thanks to a grant from the Intel Foundation, Adelante Mujeres and the Hillsboro School District will also work together on a program to encourage girls to pursue science careers.  The El Camino program will work with fifth through eighth grade Latina students in afterschool workshops on STEM programs. .

 

Another grant was announced for Adelante Mujeres’s Chicas’ program.  The Portland Trailblazers Foundation in association with Wells Fargo bank awarded $10,000 through their “Take it to the court for education” program.  

 

In addition, The Trailblazers and Wells Fargo awarded $5,000 to the Echo Shaw Elementary School’s Traditional Mexican Ballet Folklorico Dance Club which practices after school.  The funds will be used to purchase new costumes.

 

Congratulations to these programs!

Join us!


WCK's next meeting will be Monday, May 20th at the Shute Park Library in Hillsboro. See you there at 6:30 p.m.!

Saturday Academy Camps this Summer!

Camps are hands-on and fun!    
 

Click here for a sampling of the camps offered for Grades 2-12 that include Writing, Engineering, Math, Astronomy, Robotics, Marine Biology, Animation, TinkerLab and more. Financial Aid is available as part of registration.
 
 

First Washington County OST provider meeting held

 

An exciting launch marked the first ever quarterly meeting of Washington County out of school time providers.  Hosted by Washington County Kids, ten providers representing programs throughout the county met on Thursday, April 25th in the Beaverton Community Center to share information about their programs and get to know each other.  The programs included Centro Cultural de Washington County, Chess for Success, Creativity HQ, Girls Inc., Hillsboro School District, Math Gamers, Metropolitan Family Service (afterschool programs in Greenway and McKay schools), Next Generation Work Systems, Saturday Academy, and Washington County Cooperative Library Services.  Each person described their program and current activities. Networking will be useful in potentially working together on programs and grants. They were invited to provide information for the WCK eNewsletter to let others know about their offerings. Activities for this coming summer were particularly requested. Updates on follow-up activities from the OST Summit were provided.  Attendees were offered the opportunity to work with WCK on additional OST follow-up such as presentations and messaging materials including fliers and a video that will be developed with Oregon Ask. A sample flier was distributed. Planning for a training on mental health behavioral issues for a Friday in June was warmly received. Attendees were asked their ideas for future meeting content and timing.  A suggestion to share current challenges resulted in a general discussion of difficulties in working with a school district. WCK representatives will follow up. A request to share contact information will result in a list to be sent to providers.

 

The next meeting will be held in July or early August and will be scheduled in a morning at the early part of the week to accommodate providers who were unable to attend the first meeting.

Amazon Smile supports WCK


Be sure to set your Amazon Smile preferences so you are supporting Washington County Kids with every purchase!

UPDATE-Fred Meyer Rewards


Our account number has been changed.  It is now EG761.

Please visit this website to link your Fred Meyer Rewards Card to WCK.  You still receive the same rewards as usual, but Fred Meyer makes a small donation to WCK when you choose to link your card.  You can enter our organization number: EG761, to link your card to our reward account.  Thank you!
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