Employers recognized for family-friendly practices 

Jan. 2, 2024 –Douglas ESD’s Business Champions for Kids program proudly acknowledges 23 employers in Douglas County for achieving a local and national “Best Place” designation. Introduced locally in November 2022, the Best Place for Working Parents® initiative enables employers to determine how their organization fares on family friendly practices in comparison to businesses of similar size and industry. The process evaluates organizations based on 10 research-backed strategies that prove beneficial for both working parents and employers during a critical period in a child’s development.

Family-friendly practices that include childcare assistance, company culture surveys, and flexible work arrangements positively impact employee recruitment, retention, job satisfaction, work attendance and engagement. Plus, family-friendly working environments help families build safe, stable and nurturing relationships for young children.

The 2023 Best Place for Working Parents® recipients in Douglas County include Adapt Integrated Health Care, CHI Mercy Health – Mercy Medical Center, City of Roseburg, Consumer Safety Technology, Con-Vey LLC, Douglas County Government, Douglas ESD, Family Faith and Relationship Advocates (FARA), The Ford Family Foundation, Hunt Companies, Inc., i.e. Engineering, Incredible Family, Lone Rock Resources, March of Dimes, Oregon State University Extension Service, Roseburg – Dillard Complex, Roseburg – Riddle Engineered Wood, Roseburg – Riddle Plywood, Safe Families for Children, Thrive Umpqua, UCAN, Wicks Emmett, LLP and the YMCA of Douglas County.

“Congratulations to the Douglas County employers recognized this year for supporting working parents

during a crucial time in a child’s life. You are truly leading the way and proving that family-friendly is business friendly,” said Robin VanWinkle, Early Learning Program facilitator for Business Champions for Kids and Douglas County Childcare Coalition.

Business Champions for Kids also acknowledges and honors businesses and organizations contributing to early childhood development through time, funds, products, or services, enhancing our community as an ideal place to live and raise a family. Congratulations to the 2023 Biz4Kids Advocates, including Aviva Health, CCD Business Development Corporation, CHI Mercy Health – Mercy Medical Center, Douglas ESD & Jackson County Douglas ESD, First Interstate Bank, The Ford Family Foundation, i.e. Engineering, Roseburg Riddle Plywood, Southwestern Oregon Workforce Investment Board (SOWIB), UCAN Head Start/Early Head Start, Umpqua Dairy, Umpqua Economic Development Partnership, Umpqua Health Alliance and the YMCA of Douglas County.

Business Champions for Kids invites all organizations to join the family-friendly initiative at Biz4Kids.org. Biz4Kids reaches out to all employers to educate, engage, and provide resources that benefit working parents and provide businesses with a competitive advantage to attracting and retaining talent. Please visit www.biz4kids.org to learn more and to access the Best Place for Working Parents® assessment.