Have you registered yet for UCP Oregon’s 2023 Toy Giveaway?
 
This event is open to all families who use UCP Oregon’s Family Support Services.
 
Circa now, almost 50% of the toy pick-up spots are filled, so make sure to RSVP ASAP.

The event will be held on December 21 and 22, 2023 at the UCP Office, from 10am-4pm.

​Learn more about the event here.

​Can you believe that December is almost here?
 
This week, UCP Oregon is celebrating “Giving Tuesday”—a day to pause and reflect on what’s truly important this holiday season.
 
If UCP Oregon matters to you, we encourage you to donate today.
 
Your donation will make a big difference right here in the Portland area. You’ll be helping 800 families and 1,000 adults with disabilities live independent lives and get the support they need.
 
Plus, your donation will count for the 2023 tax year! Donate to UCP Oregon today!

Happy Thanksgiving!
 
Today, UCP Oregon expresses profound gratitude for the support of the UCP community—our customers, employees, supporters and partners—and the larger intellectual/developmental disability (I/DD) community. We couldn’t do it without you!
 
UCP Oregon also recognizes the complex history and ongoing struggles faced by Indigenous peoples. Today is Thanksgiving, but it’s also the National Day of Mourning.
 
The National Day of Mourning serves as a reminder to honor the resilience of Indigenous peoples, acknowledging their contributions and confronting the injustices they continue to endure.
 
As we gather with friends and family, let us use this time not only for gratitude but also for reflection and commitment to a more just and inclusive society for everyone.

​Two of UCP Oregon’s teams (UCP Connections and UCP Mentors), and UCP’s Director of Brokerage Services, Sarah Noack, would like to share the links below. These links celebrate thoughtful, action-oriented ways to acknowledge the traditions and people who are the original stewards of the land we all live and work on.​

• You can identify the people indigenous to the land you are visiting (or live on) here.
• This video is a call-to-action for acknowledging traditional Native lands at the opening of all public gatherings. 
• This is an 8-minute video: Chinook Justice: A Pacific Northwest Tribe's Fight for Recognition.
• This 55-minute podcast is extremely helpful: All My Relations Podcast Episode: ThanksTaking or ThanksGiving.
• The Haudenosaunee (known as the Iroquois Confederacy in French or as Six Nations in English) begin every gathering by offering greetings and thanks to all the elements of life that sustain us: https://earthtotables.org/essays/the-thanksgiving-address/

Dear UCP Oregon Community,
 
We are thrilled to announce that UCP Oregon’s 2023 Toy Giveaway is back! After an increase in volunteer interest, we are able to hold the event this year.
 
The event will be held on December 21 and 22, 2023 at the UCP Office, from 10am-4pm.

• We are counting on everyone to come together, sign up for volunteer opportunities, and celebrate what we will accomplish as a collective. Stay tuned for volunteer sign-up opportunities.
• If your family wants to choose toy(s), you must RSVP for a time slot. Learn more (and RSPV) here.

 
Thank you for your continued support and commitment to creating a brighter future for all.
 
Warm regards,
 
Ann Coffey,
Executive Director
UCP Oregon

Dear UCP Oregon Community,

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the cancellation of UCP’s 2023 Family Support Toy Giveaway. Unforeseen challenges have compelled us to make this difficult decision.
​
This decision was not made lightly, and we understand the disappointment it will bring to the Family Support community, especially during the holiday season.

We look forward to holding the Toy Giveaway again in December of 2024. In the meantime, please reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns.

We are grateful for your understanding and patience.


Sincerely,

Ann Coffey,
Executive Director
UCP Oregon

Did you know that November is Native American Heritage Month?
 
UCP Oregon is headquartered in Portland, Oregon (in Multnomah County). This region encompasses the traditional lands of the Multnomah, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Tualatin Kalapuya, Wasco, Molalla, Tumwater, Cowlitz and Watlala bands of the Chinook, and others.
​
In November, and always, UCP Oregon celebrates the rich and diverse contributions, cultures, and histories of the Native peoples of North America. We acknowledge the challenges Native people have faced in the past and today. And we amplify Native voices. 
 
If you’d like to learn from and participate in the 2023 Native American Heritage Month, here are some ideas:​

• ​Support Native-owned businesses in the Portland area.
• Attend the “Indigenous Marketplace” on Black Friday weekend (November 24-26, 2023).
• Participate in Multnomah County Library’s roster of related events.

​Did you know that November is "National Family Caregivers" Month (NFCM)?

NFCM is a time to honor America's family caregivers, raise awareness about caregiving issues, and (hopefully!) increase support nationwide for caregivers.

Family caregivers often struggle with feeling invisible or alone. And yet, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, family caregivers are the primary source of support for people with disabilities.
 
That’s why, this November—and always!—UCP Oregon is incredibly thankful for the family caregivers in our community. We see you, and we appreciate you.

From Ann Coffey, UCP Oregon’s Executive Director
 
Last weekend (November 3-4, 2023), UCP Oregon held our 19th Family Support Conference.
 
The conference theme was “Reunited,” and that’s exactly what happened—dozens of people (parents, families, caregivers, professionals, and vendors) gathered together. They learned. They connected. They brainstormed and problem solved. They shared their joys and successes.
 
Katherine Ball, UCP’s Family Support Director, coordinated the entire event. As Katherine shared in the conference program, “Now it’s time to sit back, relax, and let the magic of being ‘Reunited’ happen! This is your chance to visit old friends and make some new, too. You’ll be able to meaningfully discuss the issues we face every day with folks who understand.”
 
Our Keynote Speaker was Lauren Lowery, a trauma-informed life coach. Lauren assists families of children experiencing disabilities and medical issues to “get out of survival mode and start living a life that is better than they imagined.”
 
The conference included two days of workshops, on topics such as:

• Entitled to What? How Organizations and Communities Benefit from Inclusion
• Radical Wellness for Caregivers
• Hiring Staff: How to Find, Hire, and Retain Great Caregivers
• Ableism
• Complex Access & Communication: An Approach for Emerging Communicators
• IEP’s
• Life Planning
• And so many other topics!

 
There was a teen/young adult panel; a parent panel; a sibling panel; and moderated sessions for moms and dads.
 
Although it’s said that “many hands make light work,” the following people deserve a huge shout out for their dedication and ongoing effort:

• Katherine Ball, UCP Oregon’s Family Support Director & the Fearless Leader for this event.
• The members of the Family Support Task Force.
• The volunteers, speakers, vendors, families, and attendees.
• And numerous others who had their hand in the event’s success. There are just too many to list. THANK YOU TO ALL!