An exploration of early childhood development as a business and economic development strategy
Douglas County Business Leader’s Summit
On Early Childhood Investment
A Call to Action – Something for Everyone
Consider what you can do to act boldly in your workplace and community to implement strategies that strengthen the early childhood system and help children be ready for school!
Be Educated!
Be an Advocate!
- Talk to colleagues, friends, family and neighbors about what you learned today.
- Endorse the statewide “Ready for School” initiative www.ready-for-school.org.
- Write to your state legislators, representatives and County officials about investments in early childhood education.
Be a Family-Friendly Employer!
- Offer or expand flexible work arrangements (Flex or part-time, job sharing, flex-place hours)
- Financial Assistance (flexible benefits/flexible spending accounts, child care discounts)
- Contact Family Connections of Lane and Douglas Counties (www.lanecc.edu/lfc/employer.htm) to find out how you can support your employees in finding and retaining quality child care
Be a Volunteer!
- Join a non-profit board of directors.
- Spend time in preschool classrooms or other early childhood settings.
- Offer your business expertise and know-how (marketing, strategic planning, etc.).
Be a $upporter!
- Donate in-kind materials, space, etc
- Set up matching charitable gifts for your employees.
- Adopt a local early childhood program and provide financial and volunteer support.
- Ask your accountant about Oregon's child care tax credits.
Be a Champion!
- Bruce Hanna, co-speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives, invites you to become a champion for early childhood in our community. Join the "Douglas County Champions for Early Childhood." For more infomation please contact MeChelle FeldKamp at mfeldkamp@oregoncf.org or Joan Kerns at jkerns@oregoncf.org.