Educational Opportunities for Children and Families’ mission is to connect, empower and transform the lives of children and families. EOCF has been providing premier early learning and family support programs at no cost to eligible families for almost 57 years, estimating that they have positively impacted more than 30,000 families in the communities they serve since 1967. Although they have locations in Long Beach, WA and Woodland, WA, they are primarily located in Clark County with over 50 classrooms located in the Evergreen, Vancouver, Ridgefield, Battleground, Washougal and Camas school districts.

EOCF provides multi-generational support and connections to resources to help close disparity gaps for children and families furthest from opportunity with the goal of ensuring that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential. From essential daily nutrition to housing, education, and employment resources, EOCF staff members work collaboratively with families using a holistic approach, ensuring all needs are met. Their goal is to prepare children for kindergarten and empower families, collaborating with parents and local resources to provide a superior educational and family support experience that is second to none.

EOCF serves more than 1,350 children and families furthest from opportunity in their federal and state-funded programs, many of whom are challenged with overcoming generational poverty, are living with a documented disability, or experiencing houselessness. Another 2,000 children are served in the HotShots Youth Sports program for children grades 1-6.

EOCF Programs

Their programs for children birth through 5 years old support varying language skills, social-emotional skills, nutrition, dental, health and mental health, preparing children to move from infant to toddler to preschooler with caring and guided instruction from EOCF staff. EOCF relies heavily on funding from state and federal sources to provide their services: Early Childhood Education Assistance Program (ECEAP), Head Start, and Early Head Start. EOCF is the only provider of Head Start services in SW Washington. Their current funding sources allow them to meet just 25% of the community's early childhood education needs.

• Early Head Start provides full-day preschool, childcare, home-based, and family support services for infants and toddlers (prenatal to 36 months); and prenatal women in Clark County that are determined to be income-eligible based on current Federal Poverty Guidelines and Early Head Start Performance Standards.
• Head Start is a preschool program for children ages 3 to 5, offered in the classroom (Center-Based) or within the family’s home (Home-Based).
• ECEAP offers preschool to children ages 3 to 5 years old. In the classroom, ECEAP is provided in Part-Day and Full-School Day models.
• Home-based preschool and family support services are offered within the family’s home. Child & Family Educators use “Parents as Teachers” curriculum and learning supplies that support parent-child interactions, daily routines, and household materials. Group socializations occur monthly, within small groups of program children, parents, and EOCF educators.

Their programs promote high-quality, culturally/linguistically responsive and developmentally appropriate best practices, focusing on the whole child. Racial equity sits at the center of their service provision as 75% of the children and families they serve identify as children of color, and 38% of their staff identifying as people of color. EOCF’s staff and families’ unique cultural needs require intentionality to ensure equity in their processes.

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