This fall, our state will start on a path that should lead to more children’s mental health professionals in the workforce – and it’s an effort that can’t start soon enough. Oregon youth ranking was dead last in this year’s Mental Health America standings.
The Ballmer Institute for Children’s Behavioral Health will take over the campus of the now defunct Concordia University in Portland. Katie McLaughlin, a Harvard University professor and clinical psychologist has been hired by the University of Oregon to head the institute. And yes, the Ducks aren’t Beavers, but it’s a program that will eventually graduate 200 newly available mental health workers yearly.
But even before these folks graduate, state agencies and schools will benefit as the program’s students work their field hours throughout the state.
According to UO officials, the undergraduate program is the first of its kind. Graduates could serve in a variety of roles, like case management, or as behavioral health aides. However, they could also go on to graduate programs.
McLaughlin, in an interview with Oregon Public Broadcasting, said she believes the program could also offer advanced degrees in the future. Steve and Connie Ballmer of Ballmer Group Philanthropy donated more than $425 million to get this effort started. Steve Ballmer is a former Microsoft CEO.
Now, Let’s Make a Quick Refreshing Escape to the Coast…
Even for those that love the Mid-Valley’s summer heat, a nice brisk break accented with the sweet smell of ocean air can be an enlivening change of pace. And bonus, there’s plenty to do along our local shorelines that’s memory-making worthy for many a kiddo. Here’s some of our favorite places with kiddos on the coast.
Hatfield Marine Science Center: Exhibits include an augmented reality sandbox where kids can see the impacts of shifting sands, tanks focused on erosion and tsunamis, a research vessel simulator and a crustacean station. However, the majority of kids spend most of their time at the tidepool touch tanks because they actually get to pet some fish. Confession, adults also love the tidepool touch tanks. Tickets are $5 for visitors age 5 and up. Hours are Thursday through Monday from 10 am to 5 pm. Buy tickets before visiting, click here to purchase them.
Yaquina Bay Lighthouse: Not to be confused with the Yaquina HEAD Lighthouse to the north, this one is the one at the BAY. Built in 1871, it is believed to be the oldest structure in Newport. This lighthouse is an actual house, and the fixtures and furnishings easily lead to daydreams of prior inhabitants. Two flights of stairs lead to the command center. Tip: Lore has it there’s a ghost walking the halls of this abode, which isn’t on the website, but do ask one of the volunteer docents. Also, the ghost isn’t creepy, the place has a warm and inviting feel to it. Admission is free. Click here to learn more.
Yaquina Head Lighthouse, Natural Area: This one has a parking fee of $7 per car. Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area juts out significantly from the Oregon coast, making it a prime locale for this lighthouse that’s been serving ships since 1872. Also, there’s an interpretive center that features exhibits on seabirds and marine life as well as human history from the headland. You can see the wheelhouse of an historic ship, check out a recreated rocky island and its inhabitants, and witness a full scale replica of the lighthouse lantern. Click here for more info.
All Aboard: It’s a two hour cruise of Newport’s waters. Friendly naturalists and captains share fun marine stories ranging from Oregon’s largest fishing fleet to fascinating sea life. Depending on the time of year, they’ll help you look for gray whales, harbor porpoise, seals, sea lions, pelicans, bald eagles, and an abundance of marine birds to microscopic plankton. $35 for kids, and $60 for age 13 and up. Click here to learn more about Marine Discovery Tours.
Oregon Coast Aquarium: Journey from seafloor to shore, shake hands with a moon jelly, hug an urchin, and get splashed by a puffin. Tickets range from $15.95 to $25.95 – free for age 2 and under. Click here to learn more.
Ripley’s Believe it or Not: Eleven themed galleries of artifacts, art, animal oddities, pop-culture memorabilia, interactive games, and stories of people and places that are incredibly hard to believe but undeniably true. They invite visitors to come face-to-face and strike a pose with lifelike wax figures of favorite heroes, characters, and celebs. Ages 4 to 11 are $19.99, adults are $24.99. Click here to learn more.
The Pacific Maritime Heritage Center: Kiddos may see this as an add-on instead of a destination, and there are some costs. Located in Newport, this museum’s exhibits and programming are dedicated to telling the stories of those who share a desire to live and work where sea meets land, and along its rivers and estuaries. Exhibits include Our Beautiful & Wild Oregon: Fisheries 150 Years of Innovation, and Rescued, Recovered and Lost: Oregon Shipwrecks. $10 for adults, $5 for ages 13 to 17, free for children 12 and under. Click here to learn more.
North Lincoln County Historical Museum: The kiddos won’t see this as a destination, but they may like it as an add-on, and it’s free for all ages. Located in Lincoln City, they offer rotating exhibits in-person and as videos. Right now they have a Sears & Roebuck exhibit focused on items from the late 1800s to 1930, and Feathered Friends. Click here for more info.
Oregon Sea Lion Caves: Touted as America’s largest naturally formed basalt rock sea cave, you enter a 12 story high cavern that’s as wide as a football field – and that’s just for starters, there’s even a grotto like in Capri. Of course, the cave is awesome, but so is the outside. This being summer, the sea lions are breeding, and have their young on the rock ledges just outside the cave, and there’s plenty of paths, and lots of views. Adults are $18, children ages 5 to 12 are $12, children age 4 and under are free. Click here to learn more.
Tips: If you’re hitting the Sea Lion Caves, it’s also worth taking 30 or 40 minutes at Devil’s Churn and about the same amount of time at the Heceta Head Lighthouse, which is especially sweet at sunset. Both of these offer short and easy walks, with awesome places to just sit and watch the ocean being itself. At dinner time, you can drive into Florence for a meal at Mo’s, but if that spendy novelty has worn off, the town also has an Abby’s Pizza. Also in Florence, the locals often eat at Chen’s, a place with generous portions and reasonable-ish prices, which counts if your lot includes teens too.
And, here’s some classes you may want to check out…
Class for Expectant Siblings: Activities and video that will help explain to siblings-to-be what their new baby will look like, how to hold and talk to baby, what baby eats, how to be a helper, new feelings, and how to make becoming a sibling fun. Each sibling will receive an activity folder and a new sibling certificate. Participants will have the opportunity to tour the labor and delivery unit at the end of class.
The target audience is families with children ages 3 to 7 who are expecting a new baby.
This class is on Sunday, July 30, from 1 to 2:30 pm at the Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center. Cost: Free. Registration required. Register online or call Pollywog at 541-917-4884. For questions about the class, contact Mary Jackson at 541-768-6908.
Weekend Childbirth Class: This weekend childbirth education class is designed to prepare you to walk into your birth and new parent experience confidently. This class will help you view birth as a normal, healthy event and to help you build that confidence in your own body and its capability to birth. All the information is evidence-based and includes recommendations from major health organizations such as CDC, ACOG, and WHO.
Classes are at the Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, Saturday and Sunday, Noon to 4 pm, August 5 and 6. A virtual option is also available. $110 per pregnant person (partner included). If you have Oregon Health Plan insurance (IHN or Pacific Source), your plan will cover this class at no cost to you. Click here for more information and registration.
Free CPR Classes: Santiam CPR is offering free single session trainings for parents and teens. Attendees who pass the class can get themselves a certification for children and infant CPR, AED use, and choking emergencies. The certificate is good for two years. We suggest signing up early, there’s classes in August and September. For full info and the schedule, click here. But, to register, you’ll need to click here.
Cyber Safety Class: ABC house is offering a brand new hot off the presses Digital Safety curriculum for children, youth, and adults.
They remind, and we take their point, that every time a child uses a smartphone, tablet, computer, or even logs on to a game, the door is open to a virtual world populated by cyberbullies, hackers, and even predators. So the question is, what can you do to keep your children and the children in your community safe? According to ABC House, it all starts with involvement and education.
This new two hour training is free of charge, and it’s designed to empower participants to take the lead in internet safety topics including:
- Predators
- Sexting
- Cyberbullying
- Plagiarism
- Privacy
- Computer security
- Identity theft
- Gaming
- Social networking
- Sex trafficking
The next class is offered on Zoom on Thursday, July 27, at 1 pm. Click here to register.
Do you have a story for The Advocate? Email editor@corvallisadvocate.com