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Year of Healthy Children and Families
Year of Healthy Children and Families
College of Health
College of Health announces “Year of Children and Families”
Join in celebrating the OSU Child Development Center’s centennial and the
Hallie Ford Center’s 15th anniversary
In 2026, the College of Health celebrates a century of helping give children the best start in life. For 100 years, the OSU Child Development Center has served local children and families while preparing future early childhood educators and serving as a living laboratory for child researchers.
At the same time, the Hallie E. Ford Center for Healthy Children and Families is celebrating its 15th year promoting the development and well-being of children, youth and families by generating, translating and sharing research-based knowledge that impacts people across Oregon and beyond.
Events
Events supporting healthy children and families.
- April 10: Beyond Gamification: Using Robots to Unlock the Power of People Through Play
- May 29: 2026 Schild Nicholson Neurodiversity Lecture “The Enduring Impact of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure: Research Examining Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders at Midlife
- October: 2026 Campbell Lecture
- TBD: HFC 15-year celebration
- TBD: CDC 100th anniversary celebration
Dedicated to Healthy Children and Families
These College of Health centers and programs are committed to improving children’s health and well-being.
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Hallie E. Ford Center
The Hallie E. Ford Center at OSU promotes child and family well-being through research, training and outreach. Interdisciplinary approach serving Oregon and beyond.
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OSU Child Development Center
The OSU Child Development Center discovers and disseminates knowledge that contributes to the optimal development and well-being of young children and their families. It is the only program in Oregon that provides student teaching in a combined Head Start and tuition paying prekindergarten lab setting.
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HFC centers, programs and groups
The Hallie E. Ford Center houses research centers, programs, and faculty groups focused on early childhood, parenting education, family policy, and children's environmental health.
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IMPACT & IMPACT for Life
IMPACT is a physical activity program for children, youth and young adults with disabilities.
IMPACT for Life is a transitioning service program offshoot from IMPACT and integrates adults with disabilities into community physical activity opportunities including local gyms, swim clubs and indoor rock climbing
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Extension Family and Community Health
Housed on campus and in communities across the state, College of Health faculty funded by OSU Extension Family and Community Health partner in communities to promote healthy nutrition, food safety and security, physical activity, behavioral/mental health and well-being, emergency preparedness, community resilience and more.
Good News and Stories
Megan McClelland and colleagues published two new studies on early childhood self-regulation and executive function, including research spanning Poland, Iran and the United States.
Megan McClelland moderated a Children & Screens national panel on self-regulation and joined a PBS Kids school readiness webinar, sharing her expertise in human development and family sciences.
OSU's Early Learning Systems Initiative was featured in the Oregon Early Childhood Inclusion 2026 Impact Report for training thousands of early childhood professionals and strengthening family engagement across Oregon.
The news is hard right now, for adults and kids both. This post from OPEC's Megan McQueen helps parents decide when to talk, how much to share, and what to do when children feel scared. Includes book recommendations and resources for families affected by immigration enforcement.
Learn practical strategies for raising a child with a disability, from seeking early intervention and building support networks to managing your emotions as a caregiver.
HDFS doctoral student Mehwish Dawood shared research on parenting styles and child engagement at SSHD 2025, highlighting the role of family-teacher relationships in early learning.