 Are you a member of UCP Family Support Department? Have you been eagerly awaiting our next OMSI Play Lab?
We're excited to announce our next Play Lab date:
The theme is "Be a Naturalist." Participants will be able to explore the natural world and the clues that animals leave behind. Participants will meet insects and practice skills like categorization and observations Each Play Lab includes an hour-long, hands-on, family-centered STEM program, followed by unstructured play time at OMSI. Every participating family will receive a free year-long family membership to OMSI! NOTES:
 Have you registered to attend UCP Oregon's 2023 Family Support Conference?
If so, you'll be excited to learn more about our Keynote Speaker, Lauren Lowery. Lauren started her own journey as a special needs mom over 6 years ago when her son was diagnosed with Aicardi-Goutieres Syndrome. Fast forward a few years, Lauren is now an International Coaching Federation certified and trauma-informed life coach, here to help families of children experiencing disabilities and medical issues get out of survival mode and start living a life that is even better than they imagined. She is also the host of the "Overcome the Overwhelm for Special Needs Moms" podcast. Drawing from her personal experiences as a special needs mom herself, Lauren brings a unique understanding and empathy to her coaching practice, creating a safe and supportive space for her clients while also helping them make significant, lasting changes. Lauren specializes in helping parents navigate the challenges of raising children with disabilities while juggling their own well-being. With a focus on burnout and stress management, she equips her clients with the tools and strategies needed to break free from survival mode and thrive in their roles as caregivers. As an International Coaching Federation (ICF) certified professional, Lauren's coaching approach is rooted in evidence-based techniques and a deep commitment to her clients' growth and fulfillment. Through her guidance, parents discover that they may not be able to control or change their circumstances, but they can choose how they respond and show up to them. Based in Oklahoma, Lauren finds inspiration from her close-knit family, which includes her two children, husband, and a menagerie of horses and cattle. She believes that by supporting mothers of children with special needs, she can create a positive ripple effect that extends far beyond individual families, fostering a community of resilience and hope.  We're excited to announce that registration is open for UCP Oregon’s 19th Family Support Conference!
It will be held November 3-4, 2023 in Wilsonville, Oregon. The Family Support Conference has been bringing our community together since 1995. It's designed for:
Our 2023 theme is "REUNITED." Worried about costs? Your County Caseworker or Personal Agent may be able to pay for your Conference registration. UCP is also able to offer a limited number of scholarships, as well as a limited number of spots in our childcare room. Find out more--and register to attend--on the event page link below. We can't wait to see you! Wow! What a fun weekend! Last weekend, several of the dads from UCP Oregon's Family Support Department attended our first ever “For Dads Only” Cabin Weekend! This was a chance for UCP dads to have a weekend away to relax and regroup. They played disc golf, did a 2.5 mile hike, went for mountain bike rides, and sat by a campfire. UCP supplied tons of snacks and beverages. There were a couple of wasp stings. Ouch! But they survived and connected, and, to quote one dad, “It was honestly perfect for me! The park was GREAT! Thank you so much for making things like this happen for us! It’s something we would not have planned for ourselves. And thanks for the drinks and snacks!” They spent two night at the beautiful L.L. Stub Stewart State Park. A gigantic thank you to the "Explore Cabins and Yurts program" at Oregon State Parks for gifting the cabin stays! And another giant thank you to Katherine Ball, UCP's Family Support Director, for organizing the trip!  We’d like to share some great “behind-the-scenes” news.
UCP applied for—and received—funds via the federal government’s Employee Retention Credit (ERC). After we received the funds, we asked all of our departments to create a “wish list” of wants and needs. Below are some of the items from those wishlists that we’ll be funding in the coming months:
We’d like to thank Esther Large (UCP’s Finance Director) and John Hancock (a long-term member of UCP’s Board of Directors), for their work related to the ERC funds! We’d also like to thank the entire UCP Board of Directors for their ongoing commitment to supporting UCP’s workforce and our delivery of quality services. This is so cool! Last weekend, several UCP Oregon families were able to spend a weekend at an amazing campground in Yakima, Washington—for free! Camp Prime Time is a nonprofit, and it focuses on children who experience disabilities or who are seriously ill. UCP campers had their choice of activities, including an accessible pontoon boat ride, a ride on an antique wagon, accessible horseback riding, and an accessible bonfire with a marshmallow roast. There was even a wheelchair-accessible treehouse! A gigantic thank you to Katherine Lee Ball, Director of UCP Oregon’s Family Support Department, for applying for UCP to attend and organizing the whole trip! And thanks to a UCP Family Support member, Stephanie, for sharing many of these awesome photos!  Eeek! We're falling a bit behind!
Please remember to keep voting for UCP Oregon every day until July 5th, in Advantis Credit Union's completion to win a $10,000 grant. If we win the grant, we'll be able to give 50 families from UCP's Family Support Department a night of respite at a hotel of their choice. One night away can make a huge difference in the lives of parents who are raising kids with disabilities, many who are caregivers 24/7. PS: Gigantic thanks to the awesome local Advantis Credit Union for offering this grant!  We are excited to announce that UCP Oregon’s Family Support Department is hosting its first “For Dads Only” Cabin Weekend!
This is a chance for UCP dads to connect with other UCP dads, and have a weekend away to relax and regroup. You’ll be able to have conversations with other dads who “get it.” The dads will be staying two night at the beautiful L.L. Stub Stewart State Park. The park is 34 miles west of Portland, and features hiking trails, two disc golf courses, mountain bike trails, and more. UCP has been gifted two nights of stays in five different cabins. There could be room for up to fifteen UCP dads to stay the night! PS: A gigantic thank you to the "Explore Cabins and Yurts program" at Oregon State Parks for gifting the cabin stays!  Thanks to everyone who starting voting for UCP in the Advantis Credit Union competition to win a $10,000 grant!
As of this moment, we're in second place, which would qualify us for a grant! But we have to keep voting daily through July 5th. To help you remember, we created a fun Printable Voting Tracker.
PS: If UCP wins, we'll be able to give overnight hotel stays to 50 families in our Family Support Department who are raising kids with disabilitites. Some of these parents are "on duty" 24/7, so an overnight break can change lives. 
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UCP Oregon
305 NE 102nd Avenue, Suite 100 Portland, OR 97220 Phone: 503-777-4166 Fax: 503-771-8048 |