OPEC Hubs

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Multnomah County Programming for families with children ages birth-6

Proposals must be submitted no later than April 24, 2026 at 5:00pm Pacific on the application form here.

Introduction

The Oregon Parenting Education Collaborative (OPEC) is a multi-year initiative supporting the expansion of access to high-quality parenting programs and a stronger and more coordinated parenting education system in Oregon and Siskiyou, CA. By providing increased access to high quality, evidence-based or best practice parenting education series to parents and caregivers, OPEC aims to increase positive parent-child relationships, expand parent knowledge related to child development and effective parenting skills, reduce parental stress and isolation, and support the health, development, and school readiness for children.

Currently, there are 16 OPEC Hubs providing services to all counties in Oregon, with the exception of Multnomah County. Providing quality, accessible programming to parents in Oregon’s most populus county is a great priority of the OPEC network. While community assessment for the feasibility of a Hub continues in this region, OPEC is seeking applications from multiple agencies/organizations that are capable of delivering evidence-based and culturally responsive best practice parenting education class series and parental supports to parents of children birth to six years old in Multnomah County Oregon.  The funding sources for this opportunity is the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care through Oregon State University.

Program Description

1. GOAL
   1. Provide evidence-based and/or best practice culturally responsive parenting education class series and activities to Multnomah County parents and caregivers of children ages birth to 6 years old, and/or parents who are pregnant or expecting, through virtual and/or in-person programs.
      1. Proposals must include delivery of a minimum of 2 multi-session evidence based (or culturally adapted best practice) parenting education class series.
      2. Proposals may include supplemental parent/child programming, staff training, or organizational support.
   2. Successful applicants will demonstrate the ability to offer high quality, easily accessible programming to universal and/or target populations.
   3. Class series will meet all fidelity requirements designated by the curriculum publisher (when applicable) and have a successful parent retention rate of at least 75% of participants attending at least 70% of class sessions offered. Additionally, 75% of multi session series participants will report an increase in quality of parent-child/youth interactions as measured by Parenting Skills Ladder (PSL) responses.
2. FUNDING CONSIDERATIONS
   1. There is no minimum award amount for this opportunity.
   2. Maximum award amount per organization is $25,000.
   3. There will be multiple providers selected.
   4. Funding of capital improvements is not allowed.
   5. Applications must propose serving parents/caregivers of children who reside in Multnomah County.
   6. Applications must propose serving parents/caregivers of children ages 0-6.

OPEC aims to create a space that is welcoming and inclusive, where all people are valued for their identities, including for their gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, religion, abilities, languages and lived experiences. Proposals from diverse partners, culturally-specific organizations and underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply.

Funding Cycle and Timeline

            Application Due Date                                                                                      April 24, 2026

            Award Decisions and Notification                                                                   May 20, 2026

            Agreement Start Date (Estimated)                                                                 July 10, 2026

            Agreement End Date - all programming must be completed by this date     June 30, 2027

            Final Reporting Due Date                                                                                July 15, 2027

Eligible Uses of Funds

• Delivery of evidence-based and/or culturally responsive parenting education programming through  group classes and meetings (see Appendix A). Eligible programming costs include facilitators preparation and delivery time, program materials, translation and interpretation services, food, incentives, child care staff and materials, and transportation for participants, as appropriate. Proposals must include programming plans to provide a minimum of 2 multisession evidence-based parenting education series during the contract period.
• Family workshops and family activities (one-time or multi-session) that aim to promote parenting education, relationships between children and parents, and/or a relationship between parents and other parents or parents and community services.
• Professional development expenses related to ensuring quality delivery of parenting education programming, including training, curriculum and class materials
• Virtual parenting class programs are allowed. When applicable, program facilitators must adhere to curriculum publisher recommendations for virtual adaptations.

Disability Access

OSU, OPEC and the work of awarded programming partners will deliver programs that provide individuals with disabilities access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the access provided to individuals without disabilities.

Content posted to the web must follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA. Examples of content include websites, PDF files, Word files, PowerPoint files, Excel files, and video and audio content.

Additionally, awarded applicants to the extent permitted by law, will:

• • Ensure that applicants and employees are not subjected to unlawful discrimination in hiring, compensation, or the terms, conditions or privileges of employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, age, political affiliation, or disability; and
  • Ensure that any subcontract, purchase, or other agreement used to carry out the parenting education work expressly prohibits discrimination in hiring, compensation or the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, age, political affiliation, or disability.

To Apply

To apply, submit an application here: 2026 OPEC Request For Proposals – Multnomah Families 0-6. 

The application form will ask for the following information:

Section 1: Organization info

Section 2: Project Summary file upload, using the project summary template

Section 3: Project Narrative

Section 4: Program budget file upload, using the project budget template

Section 5: Budget Narrative

If you have questions about this opportunity, please contact: [email protected]

Proposals must be submitted on or before April 24, 2026 at 5:00pm Pacific . Applications received after the deadline or not submitted as directed may not be able to be considered.