Policy and Planning
The Oregon Commission on Children and Families (OCCF) is the largest umbrella advocacy group for children and families in Oregon. Created by HB2004 in 1993, and further defined by SB555 in 1999, OCCF promotes positive outcomes for children and families through a process driven by local decision-making.
The Commission provides no direct services, but is responsible for statewide planning, standards setting and policy development, and provides communities with research-based best practices on which to base local programs for children and families.
In 1994, the Washington County Commission on Children and Families (WCCCF) was established by the Washington County Board of Commissioners. The Commission was charged with the development of a comprehensive plan to support the wellness of children and families in Washington County and to develop a service system built on the strengths and resources of our communities.
As part of that work the Washington County Commission recently developed a Comprehensive Community Plan for Children and Families. The plan, which covers a six-year period from 2008-2014, documents the work of more than 250 individuals and organizations who gathered in small and large groups over a one and a half year period to develop the plan.
People from diverse sectors of the community shared their perspectives about the status of children, youth and families, their needs and issues, existing services and delivery systems, what strategies could be effective in a variety of settings and communities to address concerns, and how to strengthen our capacity as citizens, schools, and community organizations to support the positive development of all our children and families.
Washington County worked to assure that the planning process was broad-based and inclusive. The Strategies Committee, convened by the Commission on Children and Families to guide the planning process, was composed of representatives from major partner agencies and constituencies.
The Strategies Committee sought, through the planning process, to engage people through their local communities and to have the plan reflect the diversity of the unique geographic communities of Washington County, and through this community-driven approach identify the county-wide concerns and areas of focus.
In order to make the plan as accessible as possible it can be opened and printed in its entirety or in sections.
Full Plan: Comprehensive Community Plan for 2008-14 2010 Plan Update
Sections: Executive Summary; Introduction; County Profile; Health, Parenting; Positive Youth Development; School Readiness; Strategic Foci; Next Steps; Banks; Beaverton; Cornelius; Forest Grove; Gaston; Hillsboro; Sherwood; Tigard; Tualatin; References; Success Stories; Success Story Mental Health; Success Story School-Based Health Centers; Success Story Summer Food
In 2007 the Washington County Commission on Children and Families developed Community Profiles for nine Washington County Communities including: Banks; Beaverton; Cornelius; Gaston; Hillsboro; Sherwood; Tigard; and Tualatin. The profiles look at rates and trends in the areas of population, poverty and education.
