April 3, 2025 3:30 a.m.

Business Champions for Kids, in partnership with the Douglas Education Service District and the Douglas County Childcare Coalition, will host the second annual Family-Friendly Employer Summit.

The event will take place on Thursday May 1st from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Aviva Health’s conference space on Northeast Kenneth Ford Drive, just north of Roseburg.

An ESD release said this year’s theme is, “Barrier Busters – Advancing Family-Friendly Workplaces”. It will focus on strategies that help employers support working parents while achieving measurable returns. The summit will feature childcare success stories, as well as policies and initiatives that enhance workplace culture, employee retention and overall well-being.

Featured speakers will include SigmaPro CEO Vivian Allen and National Director of Best Place for Working Parents Sadie Funk.  Allen will offer insights on overcoming barriers to onsite childcare. Funk will delve into family-friendly workplace practices that extend beyond childcare. Business leaders will provide panel discussions, while participants will have the opportunity to interact in breakout sessions with childcare providers and explore the new Oregon Employer’s Child Care Toolkit.

Sponsors of the summit include Aviva Health, The Ford Family Foundation, CHI Mercy Medical Center, CHI Mercy Foundation, Umpqua Dairy, Southwestern Oregon Workforce Development Board and SHRM Douglas County.

The cost to attend is $50 per person. Morning refreshments and lunch are included. For individual and group registrations, go to: https://bit.ly/employerSummit25

For more information on the event, contact: Robin.VanWinkle@douglasesd.k12.or.us