Dear Community,
We want to begin by sending you a warm greeting and acknowledging, with deep care, that many families across our communities may be feeling worry, stress, or uncertainty due to recent immigration-related concerns. We understand that the news and current events can create fear and anxiety for families of all immigration statuses related to community safety as well as worry and care for their friends, family members, neighbors, and fellow community members. These moments can feel especially heavy for parents and caregivers who are doing their best to stay strong for their children while navigating questions of safety, confusion, fear, and the unknown.
We also recognize that the emotional weight of these times affects all of us—those working directly with families and those supporting from behind the scenes. We want to remind you that you are not alone. As professionals serving families who may also be holding these same feelings, we want to remind you that your feelings are valid, too, and you do not have to carry them alone. We are here with you, and you are part of a community that cares and wants to support you.
Staying connected, leaning on one another, and sharing what we know as well as trusted resources helps strengthen our entire community. We know this work can be emotionally demanding, and we deeply appreciate your dedication, compassion, and resilience.
Within this network, we invite each of us—parenting educators, coordinators, directors, and partners—to come together and support one another as we guide and uplift parents and caregivers, helping them feel more confident, capable, and supported as they strive to be the parents they want to be.
To help our community stay informed and supported, we are sharing a set of trusted resources available in English and Spanish, including a list of children’s books on deportation and detainment:
Oregon Sanctuary Laws and Early Learning Resources (DELC)
Early Childhood Immigration Toolkit (StartEarly)
Información del Gobierno de Estados Unidos a su alcance (USA.gov en español)
Online Detainee Locator System (English/Spanish; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
Children’s books on Deportations and Detainments
I wish you knew / Ojalá supieras by Jackie Azua Kramer
Until someone listens/Hasta que alguien me escuche by Estela Juarez
Something happened to my dad / Algo le pasó a mi papá by Vivianne Aponte Rivera & Ann Hazzard Algo
Mama’s nightingale: A story of immigration and separation by Edwidge Danticat
Hear my voice/ Escucha mi voz compiled by Warren Binford for Project Amplify
This is just a starting list—an initial effort that we invite you to help us grow. We are actively working to build a more comprehensive collection of tools and information to better support you and the families we serve. If you would like to share resources, offer suggestions, or contribute in any way, please feel free to email one of us or opec@oregonstate.edu and we will add your resources to our growing list.
Please remember that we are all in this together. We see the strength and resilience within our OPEC community, and we are deeply grateful for the ways you continue supporting one another—sharing information, checking in on families, and creating spaces where people feel heard and understood. Your care, patience, and presence all make a difference. Every contribution—whether sharing a resource, offering guidance, or supporting a family—can make a meaningful difference. There is no small act when it comes to helping families feel safe, supported, and cared for.
With appreciation, solidarity, and care,
The OSU-OPEC Team
Learn more about the Oregon Parenting Education Collaborative and read our blog!
