Our Children. Our Community. Growing Together.
Peninsula Children’s Center provides high-quality, affordable childcare and education as well as family support programs that contribute to the vitality of North and Northeast Portland.
A nonprofit organization certified by the Oregon Child Care Division, Peninsula’s programs serve 160 children ages 6-weeks to 12-years-old every year. Our early childhood education program is based in a community financed, state-of-the-art child care center, and our two before- and after-school and full-day summer programs operate in Sabin and Boise-Eliot Elementary Schools.
Our programs feature partnerships and special projects that enrich our care and benefit the children and families we serve. Our partner Morrison Child and Family Services provides two on-site Early Childhood Mental Health Specialists to lead free parenting classes throughout the year and work with children, parents and teachers as needed. Our Early Childhood Success Project sponsors an on-site Nurse Practitioner who provides medical screening and care for children and is a medical resource for parents and teachers.
Peninsula Children’s Center is committed to providing quality child care and education to families of all income levels. Peninsula addresses eligibility/affordability by offering competitive tuition rates, helping parents find and use subsidy programs (including tuition reimbursement from the Oregon Department of Human Services) and supporting them through the qualification process, and providing limited Internal Program Scholarships when other resources fail to help a family in poverty or in crisis. Peninsula’s fundraising efforts fill the gap between the true cost of our quality programs and the amount our families are able to pay.
History
The beginning, 1970: After a year of planning and fundraising, Peninsula Children’s Center (then known as St. Johns Day Care) opens a preschool program in a St. Johns church basement, with an initial enrollment of seven children. Enrollment grows to 20 by year-end.
Quality, affordable child care, 1971: Following through on their commitment to provide affordable child care, Peninsula’s founders implement the sliding-scale tuition structure, ensuring that families of all income levels have access to quality care.
Branching out, 1975: Peninsula starts before and after school programs at Peninsula and Boise-Eliot Elementary Schools.
Growing, 1978: The preschool program outgrows the church and, with grant support and loans, purchases and renovates a former convent in N. Portland’s Kenton neighborhood.
Still growing, 1988: Further renovation at the new site leads to new programs for infants and toddlers.
Expanding, 1990: With community demand for child care still strong, Peninsula buys and begins to renovate a 13,000 sq. ft. abandoned elementary school on N. Maryland Ave. in North Portland. Grants and low interest loans from more than 25 funders and lenders make it all possible.
Partnerships, 1992: Peninsula is awarded a contract from Multnomah County to operate a pilot project for N/NE Portland home-based child care providers, assisting providers through training and technical assistance, shared resources and small grants to improve their businesses. The project continues today.
State-of-the-art, 1999: Concluding the enterprise begun in 1990, the re-development of the exterior play-areas completes the renovation of Peninsula’s new home on N. Maryland Ave.
Milestones & opportunities, 2000: Along with celebrating 30 years of quality, affordable child care, Peninsula is presented with remarkable opportunities for growth and improvement: The Meyer Memorial Trust awards a $208,000, three-year capacity building grant and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation awards a $250,000 challenge grant.
Success, 2001: Thanks to overwhelming support from the community, Peninsula successfully meets the Gates Foundation’s challenge grant, retiring the mortgage on the building that is at the heart of our programs and services for children and families.
Expanding Services, 2006: Peninsula joins with Morrison Child & Family Services and Hearing & Speech Institute to launch the North Portland Children & Families Partnership. An array of services is now available to Peninsula’s children and families at no additional fee.