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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 14, 2011)
Page 16 (The Fortiani» (Pbseruer December 14, 2011 Urging Caution on Governor’s Overhaul Parent’s Corner BY Sometimes when we're hungry, we bite off more than we can chew. Then, we end up choking. T hat’s my reaction to the well-m eaning efforts of the governor's Early Learning Council, which has just issued plans to drastically over haul the delivery of early child hood services to Oregon's most needy children. The c o u n cil, at G ov. John Kitzhaber's urging, was supposed to "diagnose" the system 's ills and draft a proposal to revam p early learning. Along the way, however, the council forgot to diagnose the problem s associated with research-based, com prehen R on H erndon sive early learning program s such as Head Start. It, instead, deliv ered a mass of restructuring rec om m endations as solutions to problem s it never diagnosed. The council wants legislators to consider its all-encompassing, di agnosis-less prescriptions in Feb ruary. This is a recipe for heartburn and indigestion, if not gagging. The crux of the proposal gives th is u n e le c te d c o u n c il o f governor’s appointees total power to set standards, policies, require ments and services for early learn ing services across Oregon. The council proposes to provide ser vices through local "hubs" that w ould serve as o n e-stop-shop ing policies to an unelected body. intake centers for fam ilies. These This naturally creates anxiety and hubs would contract with "family uncertainty among program provid resource managers" who will serve ers. They're wondering why they're as state-appointed casew orkers being punished without first being for hundreds of fam ilies. This told what they've done wrong. would end early childhood edu The real losers here will be the cation as we know it in Oregon children and families, children who and add a new administrative layer live at or below the poverty level - all by as early as next year. and are now served by tested, scru Given how m any years it has tinized and monitored programs like taken to plant and nurture the o r Head Start. This proposal, unfortu chard that is now O regon's early nately, takes a "give me the author learning system , this is akin to ity and ask questions later" ap setting a forest fire to prune proach. branches. Talk about heartburn. Recently the council did take a Much o f this sounds good, but positive step, however, in propos im plem entation is where every ing to implant federal Head Start thing gets tricky. This change standards in law. This will, we hope, could result in dism antling high- prevent any future tampering with functioning program s like Head the nourishing menu of Head Start Start for the sake o f applying un services our neediest children re tested theoretical changes. In quire, the intensive education, stead o f determ ining what pro physical, dental and mental health grams need uprooting, pruning or services and family involvement that more fertilizer, the council has these standards mandate. These proposed a broad transfer o f au standards will help guarantee out thority over statewide early learn comes. But before we embark on a major overhaul of these programs for our poorest and most disabled children, the council must issue its diagnosis of what changes need to be made first. We stand ready to work with the co u n cil and m ove fo rw ard collaboratively. In a recent editorial in the Oregonian, the newspaper correctly support more accountabil ity and budget innovation in early childhood programs. So do Head Start advocates. We stand ready to adopt any real changes that are based on a clear diagnosis of what ails our programs. But until that diagnosis is delivered, Head Start will continue to ask the council to protect Oregon's poorest children and families, who currently benefit from research-proven pro grams. Ron Herndon is a long-time ad vocate for educational opportuni ties for African-American children. He has served as director of Head Start in Portland since 1975 Help to Grow Small Businesses and Professional Skills S m all a ll b u s in e s s e s in sion i initiative. n itia tiv e — i .u - egon an d th e O re g o n underserved areas of Portland and The Small Business D evelop M icroenterprise N etw ork, will M ultnom ah County can get help ment Centers at Portland Com m u oversee the technical assistance to grow their businesses and gain nity College and Mt. Hood C om and training. professional skills under a new munity College, as well as the Last October, County Chair Jeff Portland Developm ent Commis- M icro-Inventors Program of Or- Cogen and M ayor Sam Adams r-------------- — • ■---------------------------------- ---------- Chiropractic Auto Injury Clinic, PC Zchon R. Jones, DC 333 NE Russell St., #200, Portland, OR. 97212 (503) 284-7838 Truly making a difference in the lives of Auto Accident victims and Injured Workers for nearly 20 years. Il you or someone you know has been in an accident, call us so we can help you with your needs. (503) 284-7838 We are located on the corner ofM LK and Russell Street, on the second floor above the coffee shop. p *« *• œ •— < C l Parking .Aren Russell St. S M c H 1 R O r R A c T 1 c *. ovt to Portland Mayor Sam Adams (left), Portland Community College Board Nember Harold Williams (right) and PCC District President Preston Pulliams at a ceremony last October announcing a Portland Development Commission partnership to help small businesses in underserved areas. announced the p artn ersh ip . A total o f $450,000 was allocated among five non-profit organiza tions to support assistance for approxim ately 150 to 200 busi nesses during the course o f the upcom ing year. The initiative is a non-credit, 10-session business training pro gram that com bines 30 hours o f training with 20 hours o f business advising - a $ 1,600 value. The consortium is targeting busi nesses in Northeast 42nd Avenue, Southeast Division and 82nd Av enue, Northeast Cully Boulevard, Southeast 124th to 148th Avenue, Parkrose and Rosewood. Others small businesses outside these ar eas may be eligible as well.
