Shaping the Future
Share your voice on child care in Union County, OR
What this is
In 2025, Union County and the Rural Engagement and Vitality Center (REV) called on local parents, guardians, and caregivers to share their experiences with early childhood care in a new countywide survey. The goal: to help shape local and regional efforts to strengthen child care options.
Sessions were held in July and August 2025 for families, guardians, and childcare providers to share the experiences they have had/are having in finding and providing care to children ages 0-5.
Building on information heard at those sessions, a survey to better understand the challenges of finding and providing childcare in Union County is now available for you to complete.
Union County Child Care Study Released
In 2025, we asked families and child care providers in Union County to share their experiences with child care. A year later, we’re sharing what we heard.
One of the clearest findings: 70% of surveyed parents said child care had caused them to miss an educational or professional opportunity. Among households earning $50,000 to $100,000, more than half said they had left or declined a job because of child care issues.
The study combines those experiences with community-level data to provide a better understanding of child care in Union County, including the challenges families and providers are facing.
The approach
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Gift Card
Survey participants had the opportunity to enter a drawing to win one of five $75 gift cards to Union County businesses. Winning respondents were notified in November 2025.
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Confidential
Participation in the survey was voluntary, responses are kept confidential, and no personal information will be linked to survey results. Data will be securely stored and deleted within three years.
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Background
This project is funded by the National Association of Counties (NACo) through the Rural Leaders for Economic Mobility (RLEM) initiative—a national program supporting county leaders in pursuing effective, evidence-based strategies to help individuals and families move out of poverty. Union County is one of only 10 rural counties in the nation selected for the program.
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Outcomes
Participants will help shape local and regional efforts to strengthen child care options, and their input will also inform a broader early childhood research project across Eastern Oregon. Read the study including the results of the survey.
Follow what’s happening
If child care is not something you deal with now, but you are interested in hearing more about this project and how it develops, please leave your contact information.
