***This is page is currently under construction.***

Reports

Oakland Starting Smart and Strong and our partners are researching, developing, and testing solutions that support parents, caregivers, and educators as they prepare children for a lifetime of learning.

We support a research justice framework that centers community voice and leadership in data collection and analysis and recognizes community members as experts who own knowledge and information about their communities.
 
This page lists resources and research we’ve funded, as well as other great sources of information and tools that help us all nurture the next generation.

• Systems Change
• Early Childhood Education
• Family, Friend and Neighbor Care

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Improving Oakland's Early Childhood System

• 2022 Year in Review: Highlights of Oakland Starting Smart and Strong collaborative's work in 2022. Author(s): Oakland Starting Smart and Strong, January 2023
• Early Childhood Education Matters in Oakland: An Informational Guide for Elected Officials and Candidates. Author(s): Oakland Starting Smart and Strong, 2022
• Early Childhood Education Matters in Oakland: Candidate responses to the Oakland Starting Smart and Strong questionnaire. Author(s): Oakland Starting Smart and Strong, 2022
• City of Oakland Budget Ask - Support Oakland Family Child Care Providers: Request of the City of Oakland to invest in Family Child Care providers to help stabilize the child care workforce in the22-23 Midcycle Budget. Author(s): Oakland Starting Smart and Strong Family Child Care Policy Program, 2022
• 2021 Year in Review: Highlights of the Oakland Starting Smart and Strong collaborative's work in 2021. Author(s): Oakland Starting Smart and Strong, December 2021
• Impact of 2021-22 Early Childhood Budget Proposals - At a Glance: Summary of the impact of the 2021-22 budget proposals. Author(s): Oakland Starting Smart and Strong, 2021
• 2021 State Budget Letter: Letter to representatives about the possible impact of current 2021-22 budget proposals on Oakland families. Author(s): Oakland Starting Smart and Strong, March 2021
• 2020-21 Policy & Advocacy ​Agenda: The Oakland Starting Smart and Strong Policy agenda outlines policy and systems change efforts that will result in better support for Oakland children and families. Author(s): Oakland Starting Smart and Strong, 2020. 
• 2020 OSSS Data Placemat: Assessment of the impact of Oakland Starting Smart and Strong's initiatives and systems change efforts. Author(s): Engage R+D, March 2020
• 2020 Year in Review: Highlights of the OSSS collaborative's work in 2020 to meet the needs of community in a time of crisis while making gains reaching our long-term goals. Author: Oakland Starting Smart and Strong, December 2020

Early Childhood Education

• Ten Promising Practices in Early Learning for Boys of Color: Summary of key promising practices that support boys of color and their families during the early years. Author(s): Veronica Anderson and Julie Nicholson; Oakland Starting Smart and Strong Boys of Color Workgroup, September 2020

• Resilient Oakland Communities and Kids (ROCK) trauma informed project: Evaluation Report: An evaluation report of the 2019-20 ROCK trauma informed series. Author(s): Julie Nicholson and Keith Welch; Oakland Starting Smart and Strong Resilient Oakland Communities and Kids Collaborative, 2019-2020
• Resilient Oakland Communities and Kids (ROCK) trauma informed project: Evaluation Summary: A summary of the 2019-20 ROCK trauma informed professional development series evaluation report. Author(s): Julie Nicholson and Keith Welch; Oakland Starting Smart and Strong Resilient Oakland Communities and Kids Collaborative, 2019-2020
• Promising Practices Portfolio: Strategies for Supporting Boys of Color and their Families for Improved Early Years Outcomes: A report highlighting programs and practices in Oakland that support boys of color and their families during the early years. Author(s): Alison Feldman, AFR Consulting; Oakland Starting Smart and Strong Boys of Color Workgroup, September 2019
• Preschool Experience Study Map and Dashboard: A report of the preschool experience of OUSD Kindergartener/Transitional Kindergarteners by income, ethnicity, and school. Author(s): Oakland Unified School District (OUSD), 2018-2019
• Ten Promising Practices in Early Learning for Boys of Color: Ten fundamental actions that move toward a more equitable educational system for all children, focusing on boys of color in the early years. Author(s): Urban Strategies Council, July 2019
• Resilient Oakland Communities and Kids trigger tool: Tool used as part of the ROCK trauma informed professional development series to help teachers and staff identify triggers in their teaching practice. Author(s): Oakland Starting Smart and Strong Resilient Oakland Communities and Kids Collaborative, 2017/2019
• Early Development Index: Oakland: The Early Development Instrument (EDI) allows communities like Oakland to explore, from a neighborhood level, children’s strengths, and the challenges they face both pre-kindergarten and once they enter school. Author(s): UCLA’s Center for Healthier Children, Families & Communities, 2017/2019
• Call to Action: Recommendations for Common, Equity-Focused Health and Education Indicators for Young Children in Oakland: Call to action for systems and community partners to incorporate early years indicators to track measures of health and educational success of Oakland residents. Author(s): Urban Strategies Council/Oakland Starting Smart and Strong (funded by the David & Lucille Packard Foundation), February 2018​
• Analysis of Early Years Health and Education Outcomes and Indicators with a Focus on Boys of Color: Identification and analysis of key indicators which can predict important outcomes for boys of color. Author(s): Urban Strategies Council and Oakland Starting Smart and Strong (funded by the David & Lucille Packard Foundation), April 2017
• Analysis of Early Years Health and Education Outcomes and Indicators with a Focus on Boys of Color Presentation: Presentation of an analysis by Urban Strategies Council of key health and education outcomes of boys of color in Oakland to help ground OSSS in an equity framework. Author(s): Urban Strategies Council and Oakland Starting Smart and Strong (funded by the David & Lucille Packard Foundation), March 2017​
• Oakland Starting Strong Kids Data Dashboard: Demographic data and assessment overview for students participating in the Starting Strong Kids Program and program implementation data. Author(s): Engage R+D (funded by the David & Lucille Packard Foundation), 2016-2017​

​Family, Friend, and Neighbor Care: Supporting Informal Caregivers

• 0-5 Oakland Family Resource Center Network Model:  Background and overview of the 0-5 Oakland Family Resource Center Network model. Author(s): Laurel Kloomok, Oakland 0-5 FRC Network; Oakland Starting Smart and Strong, January 2018
• Parent Engagement Study: Informal Care in East Oakland: Report on a parent-led research project focused on families accessing informal care in East Oakland by Parent Voices Oakland. Author(s): Parent Voices Oakland, May 2017
• Landscape Analysis and Mapping of Oakland's Program and Services Supporting Informal Caregivers: An analysis and mapping of programs supporting parents of young children and informal caregivers in Oakland. Author(s): Glen Price Group and Oakland Starting Smart and Strong (funded by the David & Lucille Packard Foundation), January 2016