Family, youth, and children
This section of the resource guide includes several subheadings: general information, education, cultural arts, entertainment, body movement, e-books, story times, sing-a-longs, and childcare options. The bright highlighted blocks have the subtopic listed. Underneath each subtopic, there are resource links.
Click on the drop-down arrow next to the text for information about the link. Click on the link to be directed to that resource.
General Information: Supporting Oregon families We believe all children and families in Oregon should have the support they need to be safe, strong, and healthy.
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Family Support and Connections program
Family advocates help families get the services they needKinship Navigator
Resources for grandparents and relative caregiversSupport and training for foster care providers
Information for resource parents and relative caregivers
Click here for more information.
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Click here for more information.
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As kids start the new school year, adjusting to new teachers and classmates can be stressful. Here are some library resources to assist you throughout the school year.
Find books at the right level for early readers.
It’s never too early to begin thinking about college! These resources can help with choosing a school, getting admitted and finding financial aid.
This list of free tutoring opportunities includes the library’s K-12 Virtual Tutoring service, providing 30-minute sessions with adult tutors weekly.
Download e-books, audiobooks and magazines for kids, teens and adults using the Libby app.
Library computers and internet access
The library offers free access to computers, chromebooks, printers and scanners within our library buildings.
If your student’s school district participates in Library Connect, their school ID number can be used as a library account.
Learn a new language online with more than 40 languages, including English for non-English speakers.
Parent-teacher conference tips
Prepare ahead of time for parent-teacher conferences to feel more comfortable and confident.
Explore lists of resources and research tools for elementary, middle and high school students.
Click here for more information.
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Parents Anonymous - trauma-informed parenting support and resource referrals
Click here for more information.
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1-855-427-2736 (4A PARENT) - Helpline open to parents - call to get emotional support from a trained advocate. Asking for help is a sign of strength.
Click here for more information.
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24/7 Hotline dedicated to the prevention of child abuse - serving the US & Canada with professional crisis counselors (and interpreters in 170+ languages) offers intervention, information, and referrals to emergency, social services, and support resources. All calls are confidential.
Click here for more information.
Education Educational materials sourced from the community.
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SENSORY & RECYCLED PLAY: Easy Kids Activities, Recipes, Parenting Hacks & More.
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Free resources, books, language lessons, and more, all with your library card!
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National Aeronautics and Space Administration's full media library available online
Click here for more information.
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Any course on Oregon history that overlooks the contributions of Black Oregonians is incomplete. We work with teachers to create lesson plans and learning materials which tell a more inclusive story, and which celebrate our state’s diverse cultural heritage. All materials are aligned with state social studies and ethnic studies standards.
Download any or all of our lesson plans for free!
Click here for more information.
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Activities: Dig into our fun, free activities your Rebel can do from anywhere.
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Teaching People's History - lessons for middle and high school folk.
Click here for more information.
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Imagine visiting the Taj Mahal or exploring the corals of the The Great Barrier Reef with your students without ever having to leave your classroom. That’s what Virtual Field Trips offer!
Virtual Field Trips allow students to navigate the world without leaving their seats or having to spend. These Free Virtual Field Trips, especially over the past few years when the world was closed, have been a game changer!
Virtual Field Trips have allowed students to travel to exotic locations and explore the world from the comforts of their home.
Click here for more information.
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These virtual field trips for kids will have them gazing at world-class art, learning about history, discovering science, and even checking out what it's like in outer space. No matter their interests, be it history, art or science, you'll be able to take a "trip" to match.
Click here for more information.
Cultural Arts & Entertainment
Museums, Black Specific Cultural Arts & Education, Music, Art, Coloring, and Virtual Tours.
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Oregon Black Pioneers is so much more than online history exhibits and digital projects. We offer talks, events, walking tours, presentations and living history opportunities all across the state. Chances are, we will be speaking somewhere near you soon! Take a look at our schedule of public programs below to see where you can catch an OBP presentation in person.
Click here for more information.
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Get ready to dive into the excitement of Black Children's Book Week (BCBW) on a tour of the incredible virtual Black Children's Book Museum! A proud 2024 BCBW sponsor, R2S is thrilled to be part of this vibrant celebration of diversity in children's literature.
Click here for more information.
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Google's open access to online tours of museums all over the world
Click here for more information.
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Educating yourself with these shows is one more way to understand the current moment.
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Free kid art classes.
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YouTube Channel with free streaming of past symphony concerts.
Click here for more information.
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Explore, learn and engage with the National Museum of African American History and Culture through our extensive list of digital resources and educational offerings.
Click here for more information.
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Library card required for this free educational streaming service.
Click here for more information.
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Free television streaming source.
Click here for more information.
Body Movement
It's hard to remember to care for our bodies - these are some things to do when stuck inside.
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Hi and welcome to the official Black Kids Do Yoga YouTube channel. We are excited that you found our page. We want to be your go to channel for family yoga and mindfulness. BKDY is an initiative of Our Family's Doing Yoga with a goal to increase representation of Black kids & families in wellness. Join our family in yoga and mindfulness play.
Click here for more information.
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An Interactive PE Workout Game... Cool activity for the entire family. Great brain break and movement activity for students at school or at home! Run through Wakanda with the Black Panther... and oh yeah... Grab the DIAMOND!!!!
Click here for more information.
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Developed by teachers, body movement to re-energize and focus.
Click here for more information.
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Gracie's Corner is a YouTube channel for kids. It provides a combination of educational, fun, and encouraging songs for children from diverse backgrounds. Come sing and dance with Gracie as she takes a fun imaginary journey with family and friends!
Click here for more information.
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IWelcome to Nurse Richie Rich! 🩺🌟 Join Nurse Richie Rich for fun, educational episodes that teach kids about health and the human body. Through engaging animations and interactive lessons, we make learning about wellness exciting for young minds. Don’t forget to subscribe for new adventures every week!
Click here for more information.
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Welcome to We Lit Academy, where learning and fun come together! Our channel features catchy sing-along songs, exciting literacy initiatives, and engaging sight word lessons to help kids build a strong foundation in reading. Join us for story-time sessions, book recommendations, and author interviews that inspire young minds and support children in their educational journey.
Click here for more information.
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Hi Friends! Wewe Mimi Sisi translates as ‘You, Me, Us’ in Swahili, and is a fun digital space to develop the physical and mental health of children to cater to their overall well-being through amazing stories and dynamic movement. Wewe Mimi Sisi is a celebration of the union between ancient African wisdom with contemporary Black excellence which gives life to a beautiful future legacy for our children.
Click here for more information.
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Mindfulness and Yoga practices on YouTube for kids.
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E-Books
These lists include free books for digital reading - children, young adults, and adult books available.
Story Time & Sing-A-Longs
Several musical artists and authors are going digital - join them on their media platforms to read a book, learn a new song, or have a living room dance party!
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Welcome to Black Children’s Books Read Aloud. This channel features books by black authors that represent black children and their families. Representation matters and I hope this channel will serve as a resource of black positive books for all age groups. New books are posted every Monday. If you are interested in having your book featured on the channel, please email blackchildrensbooks@gmail.com.
Click here for more information.
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Little Readers is a place for kids to enjoy simple stories and use their imagination. This channel provides kids with unique stories and interesting facts to help grow their imagination and keep them entertained. There are stories for both toddlers and children and they are both short and entertaining, some stories require kids to interact and fill in the blanks.. this will help them gain more vocabulary and it will engage them. If you like the stories, SUBSCRIBE and share the stories to your friends, and comment down below what sort of stories are you into. Thank You!!
Click here for more information.
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About Netflix Jr.: Welcome to the official Netflix Jr. channel! Where kids can learn, sing and play with their favorite Netflix characters - from StoryBots to Super Monsters and everyone in between.
Click here for more information.
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A place for kids and families to enjoy learning through music, movement, and cultural exploration.
Click here for more information.
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YouTube Channel story time with Mo.
Click here for more information.
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Mr. Pete's Playhouse is a children's program starring Julio Petersen as Mr. Pete. Mr. Pete takes children of all ages on a fun learning adventure which includes various segments of songs, movement, readings, arts & crafts and so much more!
Click here for more information.
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This month, Read Alouds of PreK children's books selection.
Click here for more information.
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Welcome to Shon's Stories, where imagination meets learning for children from preschool to 5th grade! On this channel, you'll find a variety of engaging content, from Storytime sessions that bring children's stories to life with fun read-aloud, to educational videos that make learning enjoyable and interactive. Our goal is to encourage a love for reading, spark curiosity, and create joyful learning experiences. With our lively songs, kids can sing, dance, and learn valuable lessons all at once. "Reading, singing, laughing, learning, growing" is our mission to support happy, well-rounded kids.
Click here for more information.
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Astronauts read stories from spaceships currently deployed
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Children's stories read in Spanish.
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Vooks is a digital library of children’s storybooks brought to life with subtle animation, read-aloud narration, engaging music and sound, and read-along highlighted text. We’re educational, safe screen time that inspires a love of reading in kids around the globe.
Click here for more information.
Childcare Options
Childcare options in the Portland Metro area.
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Mission
The Department of Early Learning and Care fosters coordinated, culturally appropriate, and family-centered services that recognize and respect the strengths and needs of all children, families, and early learning and care professionals.
Vision
All children, families, early care and education professionals, and communities are supported and empowered to thrive.
Find information about childcare and preschool, public funding for free childcare, and information about becoming a childcare provider.
Click here for more information.
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Champions offers incomparable out-of-school programs
Champions partners with principals, teachers, and parents to create more than 600 before- and after-school and year-round learning environments that spark wonder in children. A member of the KinderCare Education family of brands, Champions is backed by the resources and expertise of one of the world’s largest education companies. KinderCare Education serves more than 186,000 children in 40 states, and Champions specifically serves more than 40,000 of those children in 21 states and Washington, D.C.
Click here for more information.
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More than an After School Program
For more than 70 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metro has been at the forefront of youth development, providing school year and summer programming for youth in the Portland-area.
Boys & Girls Clubs offer a wide variety of impactful and enriching programs and services for youth ages 6-18 including Education & Career Readiness, Health & Wellness, Character & Leadership, Arts, Sports & Recreation, and Family & Community Services.
Click here for more information.
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The Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) program helps families who are working, in school, or receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) pay for child care, including registration fees. We also work with partners across the state to help families find and keep good child care. Sign up for email updates
ERDC is a subsidy program. This means many families still pay part of the child care cost. This is called a copayment (copay).Click here for more information.
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Early Head Start provides early, continuous, intensive, and comprehensive child development and family support services to low-income pregnant women, infants, toddlers and their families.
All Early Head Start programs serve families through a full day, full year program option that best meets the needs of their families. After conversations with families, this program provides options that can meet the needs of families. As infants and toddlers grow and change, and as family needs evolve, diverse program options can support them over time. This ensures that families can grow within a consistent, supportive setting.
Click here for more information.
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Baby Promise offers free, high-quality early care and education for infants and toddlers from low-income families in Oregon. Serving children ages six weeks to three years, Baby Promise is a publicly funded program and complements other early learning programs such as Preschool Promise and Oregon Pre-Kindergarten.
Baby Promise considers the first three years critical for establishing secure attachments within the family and supporting children’s social-emotional development. A secure attachment is an ongoing, nurturing connection that boosts a child’s confidence, trust, and social-emotional skills. Social-emotional skills help young children understand and communicate emotions, form friendships, and deal with challenges. Baby Promise serves as a foundation for high-quality learning that children and their families may build upon.
By expanding access to early care and education, Baby Promise provides primary caregiving and continuity of care opportunities for Oregon families. These opportunities allow children and families to develop close, long-term relationships with their Baby Promise providers. These relationships may strengthen Oregon families by giving them a greater sense of security, safety, and stability.
Click here for more information.
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Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten (OPK) is modeled after Head Start to support family success and healthy child development. OPK offers free, high-quality culturally responsive preschool, infant and toddler care in a variety of settings and models. All families receive an advocate who provides support services which focus on family goals and well-being. All families also receive home visiting services.
Program services include:
Birth to Five early childhood education, developmental assessments and screenings
Child health/mental health and disability support
Health and Nutrition services, including access to resources for houselessness and food insecurity
Parent Education, Family Goal Setting
Opportunities for Parent Leadership, lobbying experience, Policy Council membership and even Employment
OPK emphasizes the role of parents as their child’s first and most important teacher and families as advocates and leaders. Parents help make programming decisions through the Policy Council and must sign off on all program components.
Eligibility: A pregnant parent or a child up to kindergarten entry is eligible if the family’s income is equal to or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) or is categorically eligible. Categorical eligibility includes SNAP, TANF, Foster Families, Families experiencing Homelessness.
Click here for more information.
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Voters in Multnomah County overwhelmingly supported “Preschool for All” on November 3rd, 2020, with 64 percent of voters approving the measure to extend early education to children across the County. Measure 26-214 directed the Department of County Human Services to administer the program.
Preschool for All (PFA) connects 3- and 4-year-olds in Multnomah County to free, culturally responsive, inclusive preschool experiences. The program will grow over time, increasing the number of children and families that it serves each year.
Need to reach us?
Email: preschoolforall@multco.us(link sends e-mail)
Call: 503-988-1280
For questions about the family application or technical support with the online application
Email: pfa.support@multco.us(link sends e-mail)
Call: 503-988-7818Follow us on Facebook(link is external) and Instagram(link is external)!
Click here for more information.