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Education

Assistance League of Bend

Welcome to Assistance League of Bend. We are an all-volunteer nonprofit organization committed to making positive changes within our community for those who may need a helping hand. Assistance League leverages its resources to improve the quality of life for adults as well as children in need. The strength of our volunteers is our success. Last year, 141 dedicated members volunteered over 13,000 hours touching the lives of more than 3,000 individuals through our philanthropic programs. Whether we are shopping with a child for clothes, visiting a resident in a nursing home, delivering a hand-sewn or knit hat to a cancer patient, awarding a student for perfect attendance or hosting an annual breakfast for foster families, Assistance League of Bend is Caring and Commitment in Action.

Family Access Network

FAN is committed to building a healthy community by alleviating the suffering of children in need. FAN advocates are located in all public schools in Deschutes County and serve families living in poverty with children ages 0-18. Advocates work hand in hand with families to connect them to food, shelter, clothing, heating, school supplies, health services, or whatever the need. Advocates are knowledgeable about community resources available, as well as state and federal programs and in constant contact with local providers. FAN advocates help families connect to and navigate the often confusing social service system. FAN’s goal is to clear road blocks so that children are able to attend school ready to learn. FAN advocates support our most needy families, removing barriers and paving the way for a child’s success.

Family Resource Center of Central Oregon

Parenting is among the hardest job with the fewest instructions. Family Resource Center of Central Oregon (FRC) has been providing parenting education to all families for more than 22 years. FRC strengthens and supports family relationships by serving as the Central Oregon HUB for parenting education, and information and resources through Central Oregon 2-1-1. FRC offers low cost or no cost classes with no eligibility requirements, limited waiting lists, free childcare and family dinners. FRC programs give families the confidence and tools to support both their children and themselves. Parenting isn’t easy that’s why we’re here.

Family Resource Center of Central Oregon

We provide parenting education to enhance the health, happiness and success of children. Evidence shows that effective parenting skills significantly improves the cognitive and social development of children and enhances school readiness, graduation rates and the quality of family relationships. Good parenting skills also reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect, drug and alcohol abuse and juvenile delinquency. We employ a proven, preventative approach that pays dividends for generations. We provide a wide variety of low and no cost parenting education classes and workshops for parents of children of all ages. Our classes are open to anyone who wants to improve at one of the most important and challenging jobs in the world...because kids don’t come with instructions. Free childcare and family meals are provided.

Heart of Oregon Corps

We operate job-skills training programs that are a mainstay in the region’s youth employment landscape and help address the needs of disconnected young adults (age 16-27) across Central Oregon. Our six core programs include: (1) YouthBuild; (2) AmeriCorps; (3) Central Oregon Youth Conservation Corps; (4) Stewardship; (5) Clean Energy Service Corps, and (6) Heart of Oregon Corps Thrift Store in Madras. Participants earn wages or stipends, acquire essential job skills and employment experience, attain educational goals, engage with their community, and reach financial independence. Corpsmembers complete projects that benefit local communities and stimulate local economies. In the past five years, we have paid more than $4.5 million in stipends and wages. Program participants have completed over 300,000 hours of service to the community while completing high school or its equivalency and earning nearly $607,636 in post-secondary AmeriCorps Education Scholarships. Over the past 12 years, HOC has served more than 2,000 young people, with an estimated 81% exiting the program into full-time education or stable employment

Sparrow Clubs of Central Oregon

All youth deserve acceptance and compassion in a school environment, the need to know their lives matter, and that they have the power to impact the lives of others in a positive way. The Sparrow Clubs program provides youth, including those with disabilities, opportunities to discover their value through participation in service-learning. Many young people struggle with feelings of isolation, loneliness, low self-esteem, and lack of purpose. By focusing on community service, the Sparrow program enables everyone to make a difference, regardless of popularity, economic situation, athleticism, intelligence, etc. This program is unique in that it brings segments of youth together that would not normally associate with each other. It unites youth in purpose as they work to accomplish a common goal – the welfare of a child in medical need. The child becomes the inspiration for students to be involved. Community service takes on an entirely different meaning when students are introduced to an actual family, know their story, and understand their hardships. They want to contribute their time doing community service in order to benefit their Sparrow family, instead of feeling that their service hours are required and something they have to do in order to meet school requirements.The Sparrow Clubs program provides opportunities for youth to learn that they have the power to make significant change in their communities. Youth begin to understand the needs of the community in which they live. They are exposed to problems larger than themselves, and they learn to be part of the solution. Students learn lessons in conscience, compassion, courage, and character as they serve others in need. The ultimate goal of Sparrow Clubs is to impact youth culture by imprinting compassion, generosity, and integrity on the hearts of kids in schools. Sparrow Clubs believes that compassion can overcome anger, that generosity can overcome selfishness, and that integrity can overcome apathy. The Sparrow Clubs program compels and motivates kids of all ages to look beyond themselves for the sake of serving others in need – not only the family of a child in medical need, but others throughout our communities. Serving others leads to change at a heart level. Families with children in medical need face significant emotional turmoil, as well as financial hardships. Although health insurance coverage is now available to more individuals, ancillary costs such as travel expenses for specialized care, ongoing therapies, annual co-pays and deductibles are out-of-pocket expenses for families. In most cases, parents caring for a critically ill child lose time from work – some have to leave their jobs – resulting in a reduction of income and inability to pay for ancillary costs, let alone day to day living expenses. Sparrow families no longer feel as isolated during the struggles with their child’s medical issues when they are embraced by an entire school student body. Their child becomes an inspiration and a catalyst for change in the hearts of youth. Sparrow Clubs also offers financial support to families with children in medical need by partnering them with schools involved in the Sparrow Club program. Communities benefit from thousands of hours of community service performed by youth on behalf of their “Sparrow” family. Other non-profits also benefit as youth often volunteer for non-profits while performing community service.

United Way of Deschutes County

The United Way of Deschutes County is separately incorporated and independently governed by a local board of community leaders and volunteers. Established in 1953, we help build stronger individuals, families and communities by connecting caring people to improve lives. During our nearly 60 years of service to the community, our campaigns have resulted in the investment of more than $25M in agency programs…the business community has been a large part of our success…with employees contributing approximately 50%, corporations 20% and individual donors 30%. The United Way of Deschutes County remains focused on our community’s most urgent human social service needs and is committed to producing results that matter, changing lives. We provide financial and educational support to 26 partner agencies sustaining over 30 health and human service programs throughout Deschutes County. United Way’s four Community Impact priorities help focus our efforts within the community to produce greater impact. The priority areas have been set, based on community needs, by a diverse group of people who are dedicated to making a difference in people’s lives. Basic Needs: Feeding the hungry and housing the homeless, increasing self-sufficiency and finding access to jobs, housing and treatment. Great Start: Promoting healthy development and identifying delays in children. Youth on Track: Teaching youth the skills they need to make smart choices and become responsible, caring members of our community. Safe from Violence and Abuse: Keeping families safe, protecting our most vulnerable citizens, reducing isolation and providing resources for victims. We invite you to join the movement and LIVE UNITED!

Volunteer Connect

Volunteer Connect is the volunteer center for Central Oregon, including Bend, Redmond, Sisters, La Pine, Prineville, and Madras.