Activistas

Inspiring Mamas: Drop-in childcare at the hospital

We've been discussing child care a lot lately, from many angles: needing it, paying for it, finding it, criticizing those who use it, you name it.  But we never once touched on this one angle that I read about in today's In Portland section - maybe you caught it?  Child care for parents in medical care.  The mama featured in the article endured 140 appointments one year as she battled breast cancer - with a toddler in tow.  My, my.  As she is quoted saying in The O, "The medical system is not designed for patient flexibility.  My grocery store, my gym, and even my grocery store have child care.  So should my doctor's office." 

So what did she do?  She and a friend hatched an idea to benefit other parents facing the same challenge and (in their spare time!) brought it to life.  They call it My Little Waiting Room.  The idea is to provide low-cost drop-in child care at hospitals while parents and siblings attend appointments.  They've got a blog (who doesn't?), so if you want to jump in, need the service, need more blogs to gobble up your time, check it out.  Like, wow, mamas.  Knock my socks off.  If there were such a thing as Activista-of-the-Year awards, these two seem like seriously strong candidates.

PS - When I told my 5-year-old son recently that something (his stellar swimming?) knocked my socks off, he wanted to know what it meant.   Uh, these two women and this program are so positively fabulous that my, uh, socks flew right off my feet?  Help! That would so not fly with him. 

Neighborhood Schools = Neighborhood Places?

An urban planner I am not (next time!).  However.  It occurred to me recently, as we decide where to send our first child to kindergarten this fall, that until the kindergarten round-up at our neighborhood school, I had never been in the place.  My fault?  Sure, to a degree.  But really, why hadn't I been in?  Because other than sending my child to school there eventually, there was no reason for me to go there. 

And sure, you could blame me for not checking it out sooner, joining the PTA, whatever.  And you might be a little bit right.  But.  I work 4 days a week and have two kids in another child care/school which I L-O-V-E and am plenty involved in.  So the idea of being involved in a second school where my kids don't attend - truly, mamas, not enough time in the day for that. 

So, to my little urban planning "aha" moment.  And rest assured, I know I am surely not the first person to have these thoughts.  Why isn't the playground at our neighborhood elementary school so great that we go there to play (some are, I know; not ours)?  Why isn't there early child care on the same property (no need for PPS to provide it), so we're intimately familiar and connected with the place?  Why aren't our neighborhood association meetings held there?  And what about locating one of those casual co-op indoor playparks for the toddler & pre-K set in the basement?  I know that outside groups do use the school facilities, but if I'm the parent-to-be, why not the sorts of activities that might attract me, my kids, my family?

Paid Family Leave in Oregon? Let the Planning Begin

Other states are trying.  We tried in '07.  And we're gonna try again in '09.  Seems like a long way off, the next session of the Oregon legislature.  Didn't we just wrap one up?  But these things take time.  And we have some things to sort out - assessing the opposition by reviewing what happened in '07 and developing the best possible policy we can based on what we know about families and their needs.  We've discussed this at length, including the '07 effort and some recent data on how the existing FMLA works (or doesn't work) for families.

So if you're thinking that Oregon should make this happen in '09 and make it happen well (i.e., not compromise it into a policy that reaches too few of the families who really need it), then jump in now!  Fellow Activista Isabel has already gotten the ball rolling and is hosting a preliminary strategy meeting on Saturday 4.05.08 @ 9 AM at her home in SE Portland.  

More from Mary ~ On Marriage

A while back you met Mary, our very first Guestivista.  Turns out Mary has loads more to say about a whole lotta things, so when the mood strikes she's gonna opine on her favorite topics right here on Activistas.  Yeah!  Different issues, different angle, different voice.  Bring. it. on.  Today, she's got marriage on her mind:

I pray that my children will be able to marry, at least to have the choice.  I don’t ever want to have to utter the words: “You can get married, but you can’t,” or “You can get married, but you’ll have to go to Canada,” or “You can get married, but you’ll have to wait, I’m so sorry.” 

   

My partner and I have a 10-month old and are planning for our second. As lesbian parents, planning is a bit creative. Foreplay usually entails visiting our attorney. Alyson and I have been together 8 years. We met in NYC, fell in love, moved to PDX, bought a home, and started a family. On March 4, 2004, we got married in the city we love and call home. Months later, we received our refund check in the mail. It sits among the smiling photographs in our wedding album. 

Connect with Activistas ~ Sunday 3.9.08

Seems like there's a special week or month to celebrate just about everything these days, including National Sleep Awareness Week, a biggie for us parents.  But this weekend is actually relevant - it's International Women's Day. Wikipedia describes the special day as a major day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women.  Yee-ha. 

And we're celebrating right here in P-town by joining the Hollywood Theater celebration this Sunday 3.9.08 (map here).  There'll be films and a marketplace, which is where you'll find us.  It runs from 10 AM to 2 PM; we'll for sure be there from 10 to Noon, later if we're busy meetin' and greetin'.  According to Milagros, a partner in all this, the marketplace will feature local women-owned businesses and businesses serving women.  It's free and there's a kids’ play area (with at least two of our kids in it).  It'd be great to connect in person, swap issues and strategies, and make grand plans for a family-friendly city, state, country, globe.... See you there! 

Running Start: Get parents involved in schools

The Chalkboard Project says that it is "uniting Oregonians to make our public schools among the nation's best."  One way they want to do that is by getting parents more involved and connected in their children's classros.  Chalkboard's past research and studies have shown that children do better in school when their parents are involved but a majority of Oregonians believe there is "not enough direct parent support of the learning process with their children."

The Running Start program is designed to address this gap.  Nonprofit organizations and schools can apply for $200-400 stipends (before 12/31/08) to defray some costs to offer 'trainings' to parents, administrators, teachers, parent advocates and support staff.  "The aim is to educate adult leaders with a deeper understanding of the barriers to parent engagement and how to overcome them."  Funds can be used to pay a trainer, fund childcare so parents can attend the session, or pay for materials.

Is parent involvement low at  your school?  Could it be because we parents are not fully aware of the impact our involvement has on our child's learning?  You can help strengthen connections betwen parents and schools!  Spread word of this program at your school and spearhead an effort to bring the training to a school near you.  Here is the program overview and Running Start application (*doc).

More Childcare, Folks, Not Less

We've been talking about local child care issues lately here on Activistas, but now it's time to go national, mamas.  Moms Rising has out the word out about potential federal budget cuts for 2009 that would reduce a bunch of key programs, including child care.  Ugh.  Haven't we been saying we need more childcare, mamas?  Gives me the feeling someone's not listening.  We either need to talk louder or change the ears.  Likely both! 

Anyway.  The National Women's Law Center has an excellent summary of the effects of the proposed cuts, including these:

• With no increase in funding proposed for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), the Administration estimates that 200,000 low-income children and their families will lose child care assistance between FY 2007 and FY 2009.

• The small increase for Head Start proposed by the Administration-$149 million-is not even sufficient to cover inflation. This is on top of a cut of $11 million in the FY 2008 budget. As a result, 13,000 fewer low-income infants, toddlers, and preschoolers will be able to enroll in this comprehensive child development program in FY 2009 compared to FY 2007.

• The Even Start program [promotes family literacy] would be eliminated. This is the fourth straight year that the Administration has proposed to eliminate Even Start, which already absorbed a funding cut of over 50 percent in 2006.

The O Community Writers: Voice of the SAHM

I read very few blogs.  There's just not enough time in the day or space in my head.  But I like the idea of the Oregonian's community writers.  The series brings diverse perspectives to the fore, and even makes the great leap from blog to print weekly.  The first 15 writers started in late fall, and the new bunch digs in this month. 

Among them is a Stay at Home Mom (SAHM) who plans to bring that voice to the fore.  It is so great to see the parent voice out and about.  Thanks to Sarah Nuxoll, a new Portlander, for taking this on.  Check out what she has to say  - there's a short video on the O web site where she introduces herself (just click on her picture), and of course you can read her blog posts over the next three months - and comment if you have things to add.  Her first one, "The modern Mrs. Cleaver: One mother's perspective," went up a few days ago.

Health Reform in Oregon: Join the Conversation

Obviously, we're pro blogging.  Here's one we thought you might want to know about, in case you have VERY STRONG OPINIONS (like me!) about the dreaded state of our heath care system.  On the NW Health Foundation's Talk Health Reform blog, you can learn from the health care policy wonks, ask questions, and share your opinions - all in the great hope, of course, that they might have the expertise, the connections, the sheer persistence, to one day do something about it.  And you'll have been part of all the excitement.  Yahoo.

So, if you've got a minute to spend on something when you should really, really be doing something else (like, maybe, making a doctor's appointment, doing laundry, and cutting out construction paper shapes - simultaneously), visit TalkHealth Reform: A public conversation about health policy.  They do an excellent job of informing readers how it all works, what's happening now, and where you can step in if you're so inclined.  Plus, they actually draw from the blog comments to advocate change.  Love that.  You comment, they do something with it.  Check it out, mamas, the laundry can wait!

Mayoral Candidates talk FAMILY

**UpDaTeD 4/2/08**

We've been on a roll of late, getting pinged by local electeds and local elected hopefuls alike.  We're all for elevating our family issues to our city officials.  Last week's meet 'n' greet with city council candidates --John Branam, Jeff Bissonette, and Chris Smith -- was just the beginning.

In our most recent effort, we are combining forces with Central Portland Families to organize a mayoral forum with two candidates: Sam Adams and Sho Dozono.  Obviouisly, this is a big deal for Portland and for all of us mamas and papas out there.  To that end, we'd like to find a time and place that works.  Mark your calendars:

Mayoral Candidates talk FAMILY
Saturday, April 19th, 2008
1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Mississippi Studios
3939 N. Mississippi Ave, Portland, OR 97227

Get those mamagendas ready.  This'll be our chance!