Family Newsletter

This will be our only newsletter for summer session. We will have a Back-to-School newsletter come out in late August.

We will have a break from services beginning on August 10. Some services will resume on August 26. If your child is attending preschool, check with your child's teacher to find out the start date as different programs have varying start dates.

If you have a child that elopes, here are some strategies to help reduce the risk. Please also talk with your child's Early Childhood CARES team if you need support with this behavior.

• Put child locks on external doors. You may need to add a lock higher up that a child is unable to reach.
• Learn your child's triggers and work to reduce them. Is your child more likely to run off when they are exposed to loud noises? Or are they running to find something they want?
• Teach safety expectations with social stories. Practice stop and go games and give praise when they listen. Pre-teach expectations before you go out of the house. For example, "Walk with me."
• Request a free Big Red Safety Box from the National Autism Association. These include door/window alarms, ID tags for kids, and more.
• For children who are capable developmentally, teach them their first and last name, address and phone number. This is important safety information for them to be able to share if they do get lost.
• You can order temporary safety tattoos to put on children with contact information in case they got lost.

Summer is the season for outdoor festivals. Here are some upcoming festivals in Lane County that you may be interested in checking out.

• Bohemia Mining Days, July 16-18, Coiner Park, Cottage Grove, free
• Oregon Asian Celebration, July 18, 10 am - 9 pm, Alton Baker Park, Eugene, free
• Lane County Fair, July 22-26, 11 am - 8 pm daily, Lane County Fairgrounds
• Blackberry Jam Festival, July 24-26, 8:30 am - 5:30 pm, City of Lowell, free
• Scandinavian Festival, August 13-16, 10 am - 10 pm, Junction City, free

Visit Families Connected Sensory Zone at These Summer Festivals

Families Connected and Familias en Conexión are excited to bring the Sensory Zone to several community festivals this summer, helping make these events more welcoming and accessible for everyone. You can find them at the Oregon Asian Celebration and the Blackberry Jam Festival.

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is a USDA Federal program that sets standards and provides reimbursement for healthy meals and snacks served to eligible children. The SFSP plays an integral role in giving eligible children and teens access to meals when school is not in session. June 22nd – August 21st, Monday – Friday, 11:30am – 12:30pm. Flyer attached with link for list of sites and daily menu.

Visit this link for resources on summer camps, water play, meals, and more.

Join a welcoming space each second Wednesday of the month, 6-8pm. Connect with parents, learn about resources with Escudo Latino and Bridging Communities, and discuss special education with FACT Oregon. Contact Rosa Belem Ochoa Consulting to learn more: (541) 601-9113 rosabelemochoaconsulting@gmail.com

Circle of Friends is a school for children Kindergarten aged and above who are complex learners located in Cottage Grove. The Circle of Friends Community Engagement Committee is relaunching and hosting a quarterly educational event. The first one is Understanding Your Parent Rights During the IEP Process. See attached flyer.

As Oregon’s Parent Training and Information Center for Special Education, FACT Oregon offers extensive support and resources to families. One of their latest resource is an inclusive education toolkit for families of young children with disabilities. You can view it on their website here: FACT Oregon Toolkit.

• Strength in Neurodiversity Pool Party, Friday July 24, 6:30-8:30 pm at Amazon Pool, free
• Wraparound 101: A Roadmap to Better Support for Your Family, Tuesday July 28, 6-8 pm, online. Pre-register here.

Safe Lane Transportation Coalition provides offers free child passenger safety checks to families in Lane County. Caregivers can schedule an appointment for a one-on-one safety check. See this page to submit a request for an appointment.

Need help finding emergency shelter? Lane County has a Shelter Finder website to assist individuals and families looking for shelter. Click here to visit the site.

Parenting Now has a comprehensive community resource guide available for families with information on basic needs, counseling, family education & support, and more. You can download a PDF of their 2026-27 resource guide below.

Email: eccares@uoregon.edu
Website: https://earlychildhoodcares.uoregon.edu
Location: 1500 West 12th Avenue, Eugene, OR, 97402 USA
Phone: (541) 346-2578
Facebook: facebook.com/earlychildhoodcares