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Frontier Hub

The mission of the Frontier Hub is to create a coordinated system of community based services, prenatal through kindergarten, to achieve early learning outcomes that result in a high rate of kindergarten readiness.

Frontier Early Learning Hub’s Strategic Plan
Frontier Early Learning Hub’s RFA
Frontier Early Learning Hub Supplemental Narrative
Frontier Early Learning Hub Operational Plan

Frontier Hub Agendas

Board Minutes

Frontier Early Learning System Governance Board Roster

Contact

Patti Wright
Frontier Hub Director
Phone: 542-542-5555
Email: wrightp@harneyesd.k12.or.us

Laci Wheeler
PSP Coordinated Enrollment/ HUB Coordinated Assistant
Phone: 541-620-4427
Email: wheelerl@harneyesd.k12.or.us

The next advisory board meeting will be on xx, xxx at 12:00
at Silvies Valley Ranch.

Meetings are open to the public.

Vision

All Frontier Hub children, birth through age six, will have access to quality early care and education programs that meet the needs of families. All Frontier Hub parents of young children will succeed in their role as their child’s first teacher. All Frontier Hub children, birth through age six, will receive the necessary health, mental health, child care, early education, parent support, and resources to ensure they arrive at school with healthy minds and healthy bodies. All Frontier Hub early care and education providers will be appropriately trained in promoting and understanding school readiness; and the Frontier Hub will have an infrastructure that promotes, sufficiently funds, and holds accountable its school readiness efforts.

Coverage Area

The Frontier HUB will coordinate the management of early learning efforts throughout Harney and Grant counties. The Burns Paiute Tribe has also joined wit Grant/Harney for inclusion as part of the geographic and service community. The region, which covers over 15% of Oregon’s geography and is one of the most isolated, most economically challenged regions in the state of Oregon is unique. Few people live in the region and due to geographic distances, many families are isolated. Poverty is wide spread across the region and high rates of unemployment suggest this will continue for the foreseeable future:

  • According to the US Census Data
    • Poverty Rate for Harney County is 15.2%
    • Poverty Rate for Grant County is 15.3%
    • Both of which are higher than the national average of 12.4%
  • 28.9% of children ages 0-5 reside in the Frontier Early Learning HUB
  • 21.2% of children ages 0-6 living in poverty (<100% FPL)
  • 41% of children ages 0-5 have access to a childcare slot
  • The Frontier HUB has 68 Preschool Promise slots

The region is home to 751 children ages 0 through 5. The percent of children ages 0-18 living in a food insecure household is 22%. An estimated percent of income eligible children 0-5 enrolled in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is 98%. As part of their frontier culture, many at risk rural families work to stay under the radar instead of accessing services that they qualify for. The percentage of children age 0 through 6 in this region who fall into this population has increased relative to the overall population numbers during the ongoing, sustained economic challenges the region is facing. Without successful interventions involving parents, educators, and caregivers, many of these children, by Kindergarten, fall behind other children in their social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development.

The Frontier Early Learning HUB is dedicated to creating and implementing successful interventions for the children and families of the region. Through Kindergarten Transition meetings, events, and supported home visits. The whole family is supported in the Kindergarten Transition process. The backpack project established in the year 2025, was an innovative and creative solution to the financial burden for families entering Kindergarten. The Frontier Early Learning HUB purchased backpacks, school supplies, gym shoes, and snacks that supported Kindergarten families to enter the traditional school setting with a hug of community support. These events and supports provide interventions that meet all families of the region, and is just a small snap shot of the work the Frontier Early Learning HUB is implementing!

 

 

All data was recovered from the US Census, Early Learning Map of Oregon (ELMO), Local data collected by the Frontier Early Learning HUB

Target Population

The Frontier Hub has identified two target populations for early learning investment in Harney and Grant Counties:

  • Children of socioeconomic disadvantage.
  • Children who live with multiple serious risk factors that could impact school readiness, including: children with special needs, families and children involved with multiple state agencies, parents with less than a high school education and children who are homeless or move more than once a year.