Shaping the Future: Share your voice on child care in Union County

To help strengthen support for working families, Union County and the Rural Engagement and Vitality Center (REV) are conducting a countywide survey on early childhood care. The survey will gather input from local parents, guardians, and caregivers to better understand the accessibility, affordability, and overall impact of child care in Union County.

The survey—open now through Friday, October 17, 2025—is designed for Union County residents who are 18 or older and who regularly care for at least one child ages 0–5 living in their household. 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. Complete the survey or, 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 here.

This project is supported through the Rural Leaders for Economic Mobility initiative described below.

A PROJECT LED THROUGH THE REV

Rural Leaders for Economic Mobility

Map of Inaugural Rural Leaders for Economic Mobility Counties

The inaugural RLEM counties are:  

  • Audrain County, MO

  • Curry County, NM

  • Hertford County, NC

  • Holmes County, MS

  • Jim Wells County, TX  

  • Presidio County, TX

  • San Juan County, UT  

  • Telfair County, GA  

  • Union County, OR  

  • Venango County, PA

ABOUT

Moving individuals and families out of poverty is the goal of a program Union County was selected to be a part of. The county is one of only 10 rural counties in the nation to be part of the initiative called Rural Leaders for Economic Mobility. 

RLEM consists of teams of county elected officials and non-elected county leaders who have limited technical and staffing resources but who are deeply committed to building stronger and more resilient economies in their communities. RLEM was created by the National Association of Counties (NACo) and began in 2024.

Team participants engage in virtual and in-person learning opportunities, receive technical assistance for program implementation, and funding provided to help local governments make decisions based on data and proven strategies. 

Based on NACo’s signature peer learning model, team members explore economic mobility strategies and support one another in customizing and implementing strategies in their home jurisdictions. 

FOCUS ON CHILD CARE

Through data gained through a survey of families and child care providers open August 15 - October 17, 2025, REV and Union County aim to take the information to shape local and regional efforts to strengthen child care options. Input from the survey will also inform a broader early childhood research project across Eastern Oregon.

UNION COUNTY

Union County, in Northeastern Oregon, has a population of more than 26,000 people. As of the 2020 census, the population was 26,196. Much of the county is within the Grande Ronde Valley, surrounded by the Blue Mountains and Wallowa Mountains. unioncountyor.gov

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES

The National Association of Counties consists of nearly 40,000 county elected officials and 3.6 million county employees. Founded in 1935, NACo unites county officials to advocate for county government priorities in federal policymaking; promote exemplary county policies and practices; nurture leadership skills and expand knowledge networks; optimize county and taxpayer resources and cost savings; and enrich the public’s understanding of county government.