| About Us |
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| Organization |
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The Oregon Commission on Children and Families (OCCF) is the largest umbrella advocacy group for children and families in Oregon. Created by legislation in 1993, and further defined by SB555 in 1999, OCCF promotes positive outcomes for children and families through a process driven by local decision-making. State Commission members are appointed by the Governor to four-year terms.
The Commission provides no direct services, but is responsible for statewide planning, standards setting and policy development, and provides communities with research-based best practices on which to base local programs for children and families. All 36 Oregon counties have a local Commission on Children and Families, which is responsible for a local coordinated comprehensive plan; community mobilization; and coordination among community groups, government agencies, private providers and other parties, of programs and initiatives for children 0-18 years of age and their families.
Funds administered through the Commission include:
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), a cadre of volunteer citizens appointed on a case-by-case basis to represent the best interests of children who are victims of abuse and neglect in Oregon's juvenile courts.
Child Care and Development Fund, a federal grant to benefit children and working parents by increasing the supply and enhancing the quality of child care services and supports in communities.
Children, Youth and Families, supporting prevention initiatives for children prenatal to 18 and their families; Youth Investment, a federal grant focusing on non-delinquent youth, 11-18 years of age, who are acting out or who are victims of neglect.
Great Start, designed to help ensure Oregon's youngest children, prenatal through eight years of age, reach the first grade with good physical, social, intellectual and emotional development.
Healthy Start Family Support Services, which provides voluntary comprehensive risk assessment and support services, including community-based home visiting and referral to other community resources to all newly born children and their families.
Relief Nurseries, based on a model system of comprehensive family services, including parenting education, mental health services, substance abuse assessment and counseling, respite from parenting, and therapeutic early childhood programs.
Safe and Stable Families, a federal grant that promotes the expansion of family support and family preservation services.
Youth Investment, a federal grant to benefit non-delinquent youth who are chronically acting out and who are victims of neglect through evidence based practices.
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| Mission |
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Oregon’s Commission on Children and Families provides progressive public and private leadership that works collaboratively to support and strengthen communities to improve the lives of children, youth and families. We are committed to locally-driven, results-oriented change through:
- informed and effective public policy;
- passionate voice and strong advocacy on behalf of children, youth and families;
- engagement of diverse communities to plan and develop shared action on children’s issues and;
- wise investment of resources with a preventative focus on healthy families.
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| Vision |
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All Oregon's children and youth will be safe, healthy, well-educated, employable and valued contributors to their communities.
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| Guiding Principles |
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Inclusive and Culturally Diverse
We engage all system stakeholders by valuing relationships and honoring the language, customs, life experience and knowledge of culture and social class.
Excellence and Shared Accountability
We share responsibility for the stewardship of resources, system performance and best practice efforts.
Responsive and Innovative
We promote positive proactive change that is built upon the people and technological strengths, knowledge and assets of our state, communities, families and individuals.
Prevention and Strength-based
We believe community preventative efforts are an integral part of services for children and youth at all stages of their life.
Community Driven
We acknowledge local community wisdom and ability to determine issues and solutions.
Integrity, Respect and Passion
We practice open and inclusive decision-making that respects multiple perspectives and honors the people in our system who are driven by their passionate concern for all children, youth and families.
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| Mandate |
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The Oregon Commission on Children and Families has a charge from the Legislature to establish statewide policies for services to children and families. It supports local Commissions on Children and Families in each county as they develop plans to enable families and communities to help children reach their full potential. The State Commission ensures accountability, helps evaluate progress in the counties, and builds the policy framework for local commissions' work.
OCCF is composed of three separate components:
- The State Commission, composed of members appointed by the Governor who have as their purpose the development of policy and strategies that improve the well being of children and families statewide
- Local Commissions, composed of members appointed by the Board of County Commissioners in each county who have as their purpose the development and implementation of a comprehensive plan which guides the development of initiatives and supports for children and families in each county
- Staff for both the State and Local Commissions, who support the goals and activities developed by the members of the state and local commissions
Additionally, both the state and local commissions work in collaboration with a number of other state and county level agencies and organizations to improve conditions for children and families. The state agencies include the Department of Education (schools for 5-18 year olds, or 0-21 for those with disabilities), Child Care Division of the Department of Employment (expanding and enhancing quality child care), Department of Human Services (welfare, health and social support agencies), and the Oregon Youth Authority (juvenile justice agency). All state agencies have been asked to focus on key target measurements known as the Oregon Benchmarks. These targets measure statewide progress toward a long-term vision for the state using selected indicators.
Commissions also partner with non-profits, the faith community, business and other entities interested in improving supports for children and families in their communities.
The OCCF system has established an evaluation system for the programs receiving commission funding. In progress is the development of an evaluation system that will measure the improvements to systems which result from the collaborative and non-funded work being done in communities. In addition, the Legislature has designated specific data for the Commission to collect in order to measure performance in key areas related to its mission and goals. The Commission compiles this data in Annual Performance Progress Reports (APPRs) which are submitted to the Oregon Progress Board.
One of the primary strengths of the commission system in Oregon is the involvement of citizens in making decisions and evaluating the results for their own communities. Local ownership of process often brings more efficiency of service and greater leverage of resources. Residents of each county are involved in developing the plans, selecting programs and initiatives to implement the plans, and evaluating the results of that work.
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