WSSPC Awards in Excellence 1999

Award Recipients

Awarded Category: Outreach to Business/Government

Program Name: Daycare and Head Start Retrofit

Administering Agency:   Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries and SAFECO Insurance

Contact Person: Angie Karel

Address:  800 NE Oregon St., #28, Suite 965, Portland OR 97232

Telephone Number: 503-731-4100

Fax Number: 503-731-4066

1.	How long has this program been operational?
	One year.
2.	What are the major purposes of this program? What problem(s) or issue(s) was it designed to address?
	1.  Work with daycare and Head Start to provide inexpensive retrofit activities reducing the risk of earthquake hazards for young children. 2.  Work in partnership with government and others to educate communities through media.
3.	Describe the specific activities and operations of the program.
	SAFECO Insurance Company, DOGAMI, Fred Meyer, Peake Sun Systems, and CAT - Head Start worked together. Volunteers and donated materials made it possible to retrofit the Tillamook Early Childhood Education Center which houses two non-profits: Tillamook Bay Childcare Center and Tillamook’s Head Start Program.
4.	Does this program take a new and creative approach or method? If yes, please describe.
	Yes. This is a new public to private partnership originally conceived by Boston’s Institute for Business and Home Safety(IBHS). Initiated in Oregon by DOGAMI, it not only demonstrates the affordable and available use of donated materials, but it also begins community awareness of preventable earthquake hazards.
5.	What were the program’s start-up costs and source(s) of funding?
	$ 8,000 Budget Source: SAFECO, DOGAMI, Fred Meyer Inc. Peake Sun Systems
	What are the program’s annual operational costs and source(s) of funding?
	$ 8,000 Source: Same as above
6.	How many employees (full-time equivalent) work(ed) with this program?
	.1 FTE
	This was primarily a volunteer Endowment Committee activity.
7.	To the best of your knowledge, did this program originate n your state?
	No.
	This was the first project of this kind in Oregon and the third in the nation.
	Are you aware of similar programs in other states?
	Yes
8.	Has the program been fully implemented?
	Yes
9.	Is there evidence that the program has been effective in achieving its stated purpose(s)? Briefly summarize evaluations (pro and con) of how well the program has addressed the defined problem(s) or issue(s).
	The project has been effective in educating the staff and families who use the facility and reduced the risk of injuries to the young children who participate in activities there. More higher cost items/activities could have made a longer term impact.
10.	How has the program changed since its inception? What limitations or obstacles might other states expect to encounter if they attempt to adopt this program?
	There has been some redesign of media with projects. Some states may encounter gaps between private and public organizations and this may require substantial personal commitment to risk mitigation.
11.	Additional comments:
	On-going educational materials should be provided to facilities like the Tillamook Early Childhood Education Center to reinforce the safety benefits of prevention measures. Angie did a great job with this project.