CARE Connections gains Oregon! Ready to Learn grant

Southwestern Oregon Community College is the recipient of a $15,436 grant from Oregon! Ready to Learn Initiative of the Oregon Community Foundation to support, through CARE Connections, the training and mentoring of childcare providers in children’s language, literacy, social and emotional development.

CARE Connections is the Family Education and Resource Department of Southwestern, and its mission is to improve quality of life for individuals of all ages by providing education information support to families and care providers in Coos and Curry counties. The CARE Connections Child Care Resource and Referral and Lifespan Respite/Family Caregiver programs link families with care providers and promote the development of skilled child and adult caregivers/providers through training programs. CARE Connections is collaborating with multiple community partners, including the North Bend and Myrtle Point libraries, Even Start and the Southwestern Family Center.

“Increasing children’s school readiness combined with positive interaction with their caregivers improves dramatically their future success in school and ultimately the work place,” said CARE Connections Director Laura Nier.

The Oregon Community Foundation is partnering with the Lora L. and Martin N. Kelley Family Foundation trust for Phase 2 of the Oregon! Ready to Learn Initiative. This represents a second five-year commitment on behalf of OCF, with half of Phase 2 funding supplied by the Kelley family. The initiative is designed to expand access to proven early childhood programs that promote early literacy and language development, so that children enter school ready to learn. In February, 12 grants were awarded totaling $223,017.

The OCF, established in 1973, manages charitable funds donated by individuals, families and businesses to enhance and support the quality of life in their communities. Today, the foundation’s endowment consists of more than 1,200 funds with combined assets of $850 million.

Press Release Date: February 26, 2007