Reporting on the Upstream Initiative:Year One and What's Next in 2025
Today, The Collaborative released our report summarizing the findings and recommendations from the first year of the Upstream Initiative. This report outlines a transformative approach to supporting Oregon families during their child's critical first 1,000 days of life.
The local Child Success Models were developed by the Early Learning Hubs, CCOs, healthcare, education, social services, and community-based organizations that participated as Design Pilots in the Upstream Initiative. The themes and policy priorities outlined in the report will inform our movement-building and advocacy work for years to come.
The Oregon Child Success Blueprint
The centerpiece of the report is the Oregon Child Success Blueprint, which calls out key policy strategies in four categories that have the potential to ensure every child in Oregon has a strong start in life, no matter where they live, the color of their skin, or their family's economic situation:
Housing Stability
Food Security
Accessible Childcare
Flexible Cash Assistance
These recommendations are designed to align with existing state initiatives and metrics, providing a clear path forward for policymakers and community leaders.
The report is being shared with leadership at state agencies as well as Governor Kotek’s office, laying a foundation for scaling effective models of support.
What's Next in 2025
The Collaborative will continue supporting local leaders in participating communities as they begin to operationalize their Child Success Models. We'll also be advocating for the themes and recommendations from the Oregon Child Success Blueprint to inform state and federal policy in 2025 and beyond.
I invite you to read the full report at oregoncollaborative.org/upstream-initiative.
It includes sharp insights and specific policy prescriptions that will be of interest to the thousands of practitioners and policymakers who are working to transform early childhood and perinatal support systems in Oregon. Your partnership is crucial as we ensure that no pregnant person or child age 0-2 is hungry or houseless in Oregon.
In Solidarity,
Chelsea King
Executive Director
