In winter and spring 2022, a series of remote listening sessions and interviews was conducted to listen deeply to families with young children. These sessions were designed to elevate the perspectives of families from historically and currently marginalized communities, and to use this information to shape program investments and policy changes in Oregon’s early learning system.
  
To support utilization of findings, the Early Learning Division has committed to incorporating the results and recommendations from these and other needs assessment and evaluation studies into Leadership Responsive Plans that link data-based recommendations to policy action. Findings will also be shared broadly with state and local organizations and community partners involved in providing early learning and family support services, and are made available in multiple languages on the PDG Strengths and Needs Assessment page of ELD’s website. This work is part of ongoing research and needs assessment conducted as a collaboration between Portland State University’s Center for Improvement of Child and Family Services, OSLC Developments Inc., AB Cultural Drivers, and the Oregon Early Learning Division.