ABOUT THE COLLABORATIVE
The Concept
In 2019, a group of healthcare and education leaders began exploring collaborative approaches to better meet the needs of children and families.
The effort initially created a space where educators, payors, providers, and Coordinated Care Organizations (CCOs) could align priorities. Early work included improving dental care for children, aligning education priorities to CCO quality metrics, and supporting a public campaign recognizing educators during the pandemic.
As COVID-19 increased stress on families and sharpened attention on gaps in behavioral health support for Oregon’s children and families, the group shifted focus toward designing long-term, cross-sector solutions and formed a non-profit organization, the Oregon Health & Education Collaborative.
Building a Statewide Effort
At its core, The Collaborative was built on a simple idea: meaningful change happens when communities have shared ownership of the systems that serve them. By connecting people working on the ground with policymakers and partners across sectors, The Collaborative helped align efforts, elevate local solutions, and advance cross-sector approaches to support families and ensure every child in Oregon has a strong start in life.
In November 2022, the board hired an executive director, Chelsea King, to lead the organization through an active phase of convening and program development.
The Upstream Initiative and Design Pilots
The Collaborative’s flagship program was the Upstream Initiative: a community-driven effort to support families during pregnancy and a child’s first 1,000 days by strengthening local systems of care and connection.
The Upstream Initiative funded five design pilots across eight Oregon counties, bringing together cross-sector partners and families to co-create local “Child Success Models.” These models reflect community-driven solutions to improve access to care, strengthen relationships, and ensure families have the resources they need to thrive.
The Collaborative supported the Design Pilots through a Statewide Learning Collaborative so each region’s team could share lessons, barriers, insights, and best practices during the design process. The work of the Design Pilots informed an Oregon Child Success Blueprint: a statewide plan synthesizing shared themes and policy strategies rooted in local experience.
The Upstream Initiative brought together leaders across health care, education, and community-based organizations to improve outcomes for children and families across Oregon.
The Child Success Act: SB 1167
Building on the Upstream Initiative’s local work, The Collaborative and partners worked with Sen. Lisa Reynolds to introduce the Child Success Act (SB 1167). The legislation would have invested $12 million across seven design pilot communities, allowing them to implement elements of their regionally-specific Child Success Model.
In a year when very few discretionary funding requests were approved due to limited general fund resources, the Oregon Legislature adjourned for the 2025 session without bringing the Child Success Act forward for a vote, despite strong bipartisan support and robust engagement in seven design pilot regions across the state.
While the bill ultimately did not pass, The Collaborative made progress in shifting Oregon’s policy focus toward upstream investments in the first 1,000 days.
Board Leadership
The Collaborative was guided by a board made up of leaders across education, healthcare, public health, and community-based organizations.
Board members included:
Dr. Gustavo Balderas
Brent Barry
Dr. Maggie Bennington-Davis
Dr. Greg Blaschke
Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer
Dr. Reem Hasan
Eric Hunter
Former Governor John Kitzhaber (Board Chair)
Gustavo Morales
Lisa O’Connor
Kamesha Robinson
Kim Scott
Heidi Sipe
Kali Thorne Ladd
Jamie Vandergon
Marsha Williams