To assess the growing needs of families with young children and the capacity of current early childhood programs and facilities in Cully-Concordia, community leaders, school representatives, service providers and parents helped collect and analyze information to create an Early Childhood Needs Assessment, between fall 2010 and spring 2011. The final report with recommendations is the first of its kind in Multnomah County.
One of the recommendations from the community perspective (focus groups with local parents) is that young children (up to 5 years old) need places to socialize, interact and meet other children, including more developed parks, a community center, sidewalks and safe streets. Another finding is that early childhood programs, such as existing preschools, are at capacity and have substantial waiting lists.
Multnomah County’s Early Childhood Council, the City of Portland and other community partners are all helping to expand eligibility for, and capacity and affordability of preshcool and childcare programs in the Cully neighborhood.
For more information about the Early Childhood Needs Assessment and/or the Cully-Concordia Community Action Plan, please visit www.portlandonline.com/bps/cullyactionplan.
