Community Action Programs and Services
Community Action is the largest private nonprofit social service agency serving residents of Washington County, responding annually to more than 30,000 requests for assistance.
For 45 years, Community Action has been offering hope, help and change for families in poverty. Community Action programs promote the birth of healthy babies, reduce the potential for child abuse and neglect, increase children’s chances for success in school, and improve the quality and accessibility of child care.
Contact Information:
1001 SW Baseline Street,
Hillsboro, OR 97123
phone: 503.648.6646
5050 SW Griffith Drive,
Suite 203, Beaverton, OR 97005
phone: 503.615.0772
Programs and Services:
Oregon: Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R)
Community Action’s Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) program provides parents and families in both Washington & Columbia Counties with free child care referrals and resources. CCR&R supports providers with technical assistance, onsite literacy training, and business development. CCR&R also provides Oregon employers with resource and program development expertise, so they can help their employees with child care and other family needs.
Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) in Washington & Columbia Counties
Provides families with free child care referrals and resources; supports child care providers with training and registration information, technical assistance, and inclusion in our free referral database; provides expertise for Oregon employers on program development and information for their employees. Phone lines are answered Monday-Friday, 9am-3pm.
A Program of Community Action located in Washington County
1001 SW Baseline Street,
Hillsboro, OR 97123
971.223.6100, or 1.800.624.9516,
fax: 503.648.4175
email: ccrr@caowash.org
Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) Columbia County Office
Provides support for local child care providers via trainings, technical assistance, business development, and trainings on child care subsidy programs.
Oregon Employment Department
500 N. Highway 30,
Suite 320, Saint Helens, OR 97051
503.734.5877 or toll free at 1.800.624.9516
Monday: 8:00am – 12:00pm,
Thursday: 9:30am – 12:30pm & 1:30 – 4:30pm, and by appointment.
Oregon: Early Head Start & Head Start
Community Action Head Start works with parents and community partners to prepare children for educational success, and assists their families to achieve their goals. Community Action operates Head Start and Early Head Start programs for Washington County children who are 6 weeks to 5 years old. These programs prepare children for success in school, show parents how to be their children’s first teachers, and help families set and achieve family goals. Children who attend high-quality early childhood programs such as Head Start and Early Head Start begin school fully prepared to learn. A good early education makes a big difference. Head Start children learn, play, and eat meals together. They go on wonderful field trips, create portfolios of art and journal entries, and begin to develop literacy, math, and computer skills. Teachers build close relationships with children and parents, and together they monitor children’s development and help them reach individual goals.
- The Part-Day Part-Year Head Start program option serves children 3-5 years of age. It operates four days per week, three and one-half hours per day, from September through May. Children receive lunch and breakfast or snack. Teachers conduct two home visits and two parent-teacher conferences during the year. The classes operate in public schools throughout Washington County and include three classrooms in the Child Development Centers. Bus transportation is provided for most classes.
- Full-Day Full-Year Head Start and Early Head Start program options provide full-day services for working parents with children ages 6 weeks – 5 years who are eligible to receive Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) funds from the State of Oregon. The program operates from 7-5:30pm, five days a week, all year round. Children receive breakfast, lunch and snacks. Teachers conduct two home visits and two parent-teacher conferences during the year.
- Combination or Part-Day/Full-Year Early Head Start program option serves parents and children ages 6 weeks-36 months. Parents and children attend class together in a nurturing play environment twice a week. Classes are led by qualified and trained teachers who encourage parents to strengthen their parenting skills through observation, play, practice, and fun. Teachers conduct two home visits per month with each family.
- The Early Head Start Home Based program option serves children ages 6 weeks – 3 years in Beaverton and Hillsboro. Services include weekly home visits to families, socialization for children and their families two times per month, and parent training.
- Combination or Part-Day/Full-Year Early Head Start at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility. This program option serves eight children ages 0-3, their caregivers, and their incarcerated mothers in our Early Head Start classroom located at the Coffee Creek facility. Our qualified and trained teachers facilitate the interactions that help parents bond with their children, learn parenting skills, and prepare for parenting after they are released from prison.
Oregon: Energy Assistance
Community Action assists low-income households with their heating and electricity costs. The program operates year-round using federal, state, and private funding. Assistance availability depends on funding cycles, donations received, and type of requests. Funds are limited, so there may be times when immediate assistance is not available.
How is eligibility determined? Households are eligible when their total gross income is 60% or less than the Oregon statewide average median income as determined by the State of Oregon. See chart.
How Much Help Will I Receive?
Assistance payment amounts are based on total household income, the number of people in the house, type of fuel they use, and whether or not they live in subsidized housing. This is usually a one-time payment for the year. Under extreme circumstances however, some households may qualify for additional assistance. If someone is not eligible, we will help them work with their fuel vendor or refer them to other available services.
How Do I Apply?
After an initial pre-screening by phone or e-mail, if it appears likely that you are eligible for assistance after an initial pre-screening, you will be given an appointment for intake. At the intake interview you must bring: names, dates of birth, social security numbers, proof of income for all adults living in the household, and current heating bill with account number or proof of purchase of fuel. Some outreach services are available for home-bound seniors and people with disabilities. Translation services are available for non-English-speaking people.
Oregon: Housing and Homeless Services
Family Shelter:
- Families may live in the Community Action Hillsboro Family Shelter for up to five weeks. During their stay, staff help residents make a plan for housing and other needs in order to obtain long-term self-reliance and stability.
- Our family shelter is the lead partner in the three shelter network in Washington County. The other family shelters in the network are Good Neighbor Center in Tigard, and Family Bridge in Hillsboro. Families in need of emergency shelter may call one number to place their name on the central wait list for all three shelters » 503.640.3263. The wait for shelter is usually 2-3 weeks.
- Single homeless persons in Washington County may call Open Door Counseling Center which is a day shelter where clients can obtain food, do laundry and take showers.
- Please call 503.648.6646 for information about rent assistance.
- For information on shelters in other counties, call 211 info at 503.222.5555.
Oregon: Weatherization Program
Helping families in need stay safe and warm.
Community Action provides cost-free weatherization services to income-qualified residents (homeowners and renters) of Washington County. The goal of the weatherization program is to provide services that help families lower their utility bills and stay warmer, safer and more comfortable.
Baseload/self-help Weatherization
During a home visit by our energy educator/auditor, you will receive energy-saving tips, free efficient lighting and other materials. Your refrigerator will also be evaluated for possible replacement with a free Energy Star model.
Services for Renters, Homeowners, Landlords
- Management companies, owners of rental property, individual homeowners and renters may call for weatherization services.
- Once you request weatherization services, a qualified staff member will contact you to discuss energy-saving techniques and weatherization needs. You will receive postcards from Community Action updating you on the status of your request.
- If you live in multi-family housing, Community Action staff will work with the property owner to determine if the entire complex is eligible for refrigerator replacement and weatherization.
Oregon: Opening Doors – Pregnancy and Parenting Support
Opening Doors is a free and voluntary program that connects low-income pregnant women with services to help them have healthy babies. Many women have barriers to obtaining early prenatal care such as lack of money, insurance, or partner/family support. Many are unsure where to get care, whether or not they can get insurance, and are unfamiliar with the managed care system.
Opening Doors helps pregnant women with:
- Expedited enrollment in the Oregon Health Plan
- Connecting with a Prenatal Care Provider
- Communicating with their chosen Prenatal Care Provider
- Preparing for childbirth and motherhood
- Referrals to WIC and other needed services
- Education and support with breastfeeding and infant nutrition
- Having someone to listen and talk with
- Long term parenting skills education for first-time parents
The trained staff educate women on the importance of continued prenatal care throughout their pregnancy. They provide resources, support and parenting skills education during their pregnancy and after the birth.
Oregon MothersCare
Opening Doors is the Oregon MothersCare site for Washington County. We help pregnant women obtain prenatal services early in their pregnancy. Community Action assists with, and expedites their Oregon Health Plan applications, including CAWEM. We also help women locate a prenatal care provider and make their first appointment.
Oregon Healthy Kids
Oregon Healthy Kids is an expanded state health coverage program which offers no-cost and low-cost coverage for all uninsured Oregon children and teens up to their 19th birthday. Community Action’s Opening Doors program provides information about the Oregon Healthy Kids services and assists families in completing their applications.
Support at Home
Opening Doors provides limited home visiting support for pregnant women who are dealing with multiple risk factors that may reduce their chances at having a successful pregnancy and healthy baby. Women are visited monthly and provided resources and education to ensure a healthy outcome for both mother and baby.
Healthy Start
Opening Doors provides services for the Washington County Healthy Start ~ Healthy Families program. Parenting is a skill, and this voluntary program provides long term home visting support that helps first-time parents get off to a great start. Our trained staff work with new parents in their homes for the first three years of their child’s life.
503.517.3198
openingdoors@caowash.org
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