About Us
In January 2023 a group of colleges and universities across the state of Oregon convened on Oregon State University's campus to begin the Higher Education Early Learning Partnership of Oregon (HEELPO). Through a grant with the Ford Family Foundation, the group worked to create the mission, vision, and values that will guide future work of HEELPO in the advocacy of early care and education (ECE) on Oregon's colleges and university campuses.
Mission
We are a statewide network of higher education Early Care and Education (ECE) professionals dedicated to quality ECE on campuses in communities across Oregon. Our Partnership demonstrates quality ECE by modeling programs that link knowledge with practice, support academic research, further develop ECE professionalism, provide career pathways in ECE, and share resources. Our quality ECE campus programs advocate for and serve the needs of the ECE profession and Oregon’s parenting students. The Partnership is a recognized sector leader and advocates for publicly funded ECE programs and campus early learning centers, universal access to quality care, community collaborations and partnerships.
Vision
To have state, higher education, and community leaders value and resource campus Early Care and Education (ECE) academic programs and centers to promote student success and cultivate high quality ECE Professionals to educate and care for Oregon’s children and families.
Values
As colleagues and partners in early care and education, our work centers on trusting relationships in which we create equitable, meaningful, safe and brave spaces to share expertise, support, and information to guide our work. We cherish the diverse lived experiences and collective wisdom of one another and the families, children, students, and communities we serve.
Steering Committee
HEELPO 2024-2026 Steering Committee
Lynn Green, Director, Helen Gordon Child Development Center, PSU
Amy Howell, Professor, ECE, Program Director, COCC
Becky Lamoreaux, Director, Moss Street Children's Center, UofO
Amy Luhn, Director, Family Resource Center, OSU, HEELPO Steering Committee Co-chair
Will Parnell, Professor and Co-Coordinator of Master's ECE, PSU
Kate Puckett, Assistant Professor, ECE Program Chair, EOU, HEELPO Steering Committee Co-chair
Robin Taylor, Executive Director, CCBI, Business Programming and ECE, Chemeketa
