Welcome to PRO
Provider Resource Organization

An Oregon Based Association of
Family Child Care Providers

We are a statewide non-profit information and support organization of family child care providers in the state of Oregon. As such, we are open to all child care providers statewide. (Associate memberships are also available for non-providers and organizations that support our mission. Click Join from the menu for more information.)

Our goal is to encourage child care professionalism by providing and/or promoting provider training for quality child care, good business practices, and risk reduction by actively cooperating with other public and private organizations to increase the resources, opportunities, and stature of family child care in Oregon.

"One morning in 1984 a Portland area family child care provider named Michele Tennesen, greeted at her door a child and parent-whom she did expect-and a bag of dirty laundry-which she certainly did not expect. She asked herself why this parent thought that she did "nothing all day long" and could or even should fold her laundry. Michele took a courageous look at herself. She looked at the image that she portrayed to her parents. She made some changes to her personal and professional image and to her child care home. This was the turning point that led to the founding of Provider Resource Organization.

Michele was shocked at the insensitivity of parents and others to the important work of child care. She was also very concerned about the needs of child care providers who worked long days in relative isolation and often without much support.

From the very beginning, providers and related professions have shown there is a strong need for a family child care professional organization. Some of PRO's earliest activities revolved around providing support for providers during IRS audits; responding to a liability insurance crisis; and helping to develop the business and professional skills of providers. PRO has worked with many agencies, such as Adult and Family Services, Child Care Division, Department of Education, Health Division, Resource and Referral Network, local Resource and Referral agencies, the Oregon Family child Care Network, other family child care provider associations, and state and national organizations, and local businesses."

(*Note: This was excerpted from the PRO new member handbook*)