FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 31, 2024
Media Contact:
Jenefar de León Cossey
Public Relations Specialist
JdeLeonCossey@yamhillcco.org
Yamhill Community Care Chosen as Pilot Site for Upstream Initiative by Oregon Health and Education Collaborative
Pioneering Child Success Model with Emphasis on First 1,000 Days of a Child’s Development
McMinnville, Ore. – On Tuesday, Jan. 30, Yamhill Community Care (YCCO) launched the Oregon Health and Education Collaborative (OHEC) Upstream Initiative, where community organizations gathered together to begin designing a Child Success Model (CSM), focusing on the first 1,000 days of a child’s development from conception.
YCCO is one of five designated pilot sites across Oregon chosen by OHEC. The YCCO’s Community Prevention Wellness (CPW) funds have been invested to support this work. The OHEC Upstream Initiative fosters community among leaders and organizations to collaborate on developing effective solutions to generate a comprehensive Child Success Model (CSM).
The goal is to work collectively with the designated pilot sites to co-create a blueprint for the Child Success Models (CSMs) that could be replicated statewide through legislative measures. YCCO will base the context of its work on FamilyCore, a community services network that connects parents with a local advocate to help navigate the broad system of support available to help meet challenges head-on and nurture strong families with children ages 0–5.
Once funded, the CSM blueprint would ensure that all children receive all necessary support to promote healthy development in the first 1,000 days of life. It aims to prepare children and families for a successful transition into the education system while providing ongoing community support to meet their educational and health needs.
The collaborative efforts between OHEC, YCCO, and other participating organizations will help shape a future where every child in Oregon has access to the necessary resources for a strong start in life. The Upstream Initiative aims to create a solid foundation for children’s growth, success, and well-being.
“We look forward to working on this important initiative,” said Seamus McCarthy, CEO of YCCO. “YCCO is an excellent pilot site because of our Collective Impact Model which brings the community together to achieve population and systems level change. We firmly believe in the importance of early childhood development, and this pilot project will enable us to collaborate with other leaders and organizations to develop effective strategies that will benefit children and families across Oregon.”
Participating organizations include YCCO Early Learning Hub, A Family Place, Head Start of Yamhill County, The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action’s Childcare Resource & Referral for Polk, Marion and Yamhill, Provoking Hope, Unidos Bridging Community (Unidos), Yamhill County Health and Human Services, Oregon Department of Human Services (Child Welfare and Self Sufficiency), Yamhill Community Doulas, and Yamhill County Public Health.
About Yamhill Community Care:
Yamhill Community Care (YCCO) is a Coordinated Care Organization that serves Oregon Health Plan (OHP) members in Yamhill County and parts of Washington and Polk County. YCCO’s more than 50 employees are dedicated to improving members’ quality of life by coordinating family support services and effective, integrated, patient-centered health care. YCCO stands out as the only CCO that is also an Early Learning Hub. Learn more at www.yamhillcco.org, and follow YCCO on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
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