Media Resources

For general information about NDI and for interviews, please call Janet Hamada, our Executive Director, at 541-308-2201.

Media releases:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE        
Contact: Liz DiLauro
April 7, 2008
Phone: 202/638-1144

Jon Reeves of Salem and Karen Enns of Hood River Named Birth to Three State Advocacy Leaders: Will Help To Improve Services for Babies, Toddlers and Families of Oregon

Washington, D.C. –   Jon Reeves, Program Director of Child Care Information Service in the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency and Karen Enns, Program Manager of New Parent Services and Families First at Next Door, Inc. in Hood River have been named among the first Birth to Three State Advocacy Leaders by the national nonprofit organization ZERO TO THREE.

Reeves and Enns will work with state public and private partners to improve and coordinate programs and services for the 134,794 babies and toddlers of Oregon.  Specifically, they will work with the Early Childhood Coordinating Council to develop priorities for infants and toddlers as part of their early childhood policy framework and educate legislators as to the connection between these priorities and Oregon’s school readiness agenda.

States across the country are working hard to strengthen and coordinate their early childhood policies and services,’ says Matthew E. Melmed, executive director of ZERO TO THREE.  “Karen Enns, Jon Reeves and the other Birth to Three State Advocacy Leaders have the experience, passion and knowledge to help make this a reality for Oregon’s young children.”

Enns and Reeves are two of 12 infant-toddler professionals nationwide to be selected as a Birth to Three State Advocacy Leader in ZERO TO THREE’s new initiative Creating Connections for Babies.  The project involves six states that are committed to engaging new leaders of the infant-toddler professional field in establishing coordinated and comprehensive services for babies and toddlers:  Kentucky, Oregon, New Mexico, New York, Virginia and Wyoming.  The work is supported by the Buffett Early Childhood Fund.

Reeves and Enns were named State Advocacy Leaders after a competitive selection process where national and state panelists chose individuals based on their commitment to policy change and their experience and leadership in child development.

Enns has been working in the maternal and child health field for more than 20 years, focusing most recently on child abuse prevention and parent support for families in Hood River, Wasco and Sherman counties.

Reeves has worked with children and families in Oregon for 13 years.  In addition to his role as a child care resource and referral director, Reeves became one of the first recipients of the Portland State University Infant Toddler Mental Health Graduate Certificate.

ZERO TO THREE is a national nonprofit organization that informs, trains and supports professionals, policymakers and parents in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers. www.zerotothree.org
# # # # # # # #

3/24/08

2008 Bowl for Kids’ Sake BIG & Little  Success!

The annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake  fund raiser for Big Brothers, Big Sisters Program surpassed their 2008 pledge goals for Hood River and The Dalles teams.   More than $41,000 was raised Saturday, March 8, 2008 as Gorge teams bowled after collecting pledges to support the program.

Jenny Halsch, Program Manager for Big Brothers, Big Sisters stated, “It takes businesses, families, students and seniors to make this annual event successful.   These funds will enable our program to continue matching positive mentors with kids in need in the gorge.  That is pretty amazing!”

Top fundraisers for The Dalles included:  Napa Auto Parts, Mid-Columbia Womens’ Clinic, and Wasco County Sherriff’s Office
For more information on the Big Brothers, Big Sisters Program, contact Jennifer Halsch, Program Director @ 541-308-2231