Listening to Families, Improving Preschool for All: Meet the Team That Won Multnomah County’s 2025 DEI Award
This spring, three members of the Preschool & Early Learning Division team – Mario Olivares, Laura Rodriguez, and Xia Zhang – were honored with Multnomah County’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Award. The award recognizes their work on a powerful research project that asked one important question:
Why do some families decline Preschool for All placement offers, and what can we learn from them?
The Decline Study wasn’t just about collecting data. It was about listening deeply, especially to families who have often been left out of early learning systems. The study focused on three groups that were overrepresented among families who declined:
- Black and African American families
- Families with children who have developmental delays or disabilities
- Families with incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level
A rigorous and inclusive process
To understand these families’ decisions, the team combined survey data with one-on-one interviews, making sure to elevate the voices of those most impacted. Out of 361 total families who declined, they reached out to 100 and conducted in-depth interviews with 54 families.
The team worked responsively and with care: recruiting through customized emails and follow-up texts, asking clear and respectful questions, and approaching each family as an expert in their own experience.
“We know that this kind of study, by design, often focuses on what didn’t work,” shared Xia Zhang, a Research and Evaluation Analyst, Sr., who led the study. “But families also expressed real appreciation for Preschool for All. Many were incredibly thoughtful about what they needed, and hopeful about what this program could become.”
What families told us
The study surfaced six main reasons why families declined their placement offers. Some had to do with timing, like hearing back from other programs first or needing a more flexible schedule. Others pointed to deeper challenges, like transportation access or safety concerns.
Here are just a few key takeaways:
- Program fit and timing: Some families chose other programs because their older children were already enrolled there, or because they received placement info earlier than from PFA. Others wanted part-time or gradual-start options, especially for three-year-olds.
- Inclusion needs: Families of children with disabilities shared the need for specific supports, like sensory rooms, teachers with specialized experience, or space to share details about their child’s needs in the application.
- Transportation barriers: Families mentioned unreliable transit, safety concerns on public transportation, and the lack of a car as major hurdles to getting to preschool.
- Desire for language immersion: A small but meaningful number of families hoped for programs where their children could learn their heritage language, deepening connection with elders and community.
- Information gaps: Families shared that they needed more info – earlier and in clearer formats – about program options, schedules, inclusion supports, and what to expect after applying.
Still, many families praised the application process and the respectful way they were treated. One caregiver shared:
“Our experience overall has been phenomenal and our kiddo is super happy. It’s put our family in a better place – I thank you guys!”
Another family said:
“I really appreciate you following up. I hope PFA continues to grow and expand. We voted for it. I love the idea of people taking advantage of it.”
Turning feedback into action
Mario, Laura, and Xia emphasized that their role wasn’t to speak for families, but to amplify what they heard and help turn those insights into real changes. Already, their findings are helping shape program improvements. These changes include email confirmations both when families start the application and when the application is submitted, as well as updated messaging to families to better explain the application process, including what to expect before, during, and after submitting an application.
Their work is part of a broader effort within the Preschool & Early Learning Division to build a system that is inclusive, accountable, and community-driven.
“We’re learning as we go,” said Laura Rodriguez. “This study is just one piece of a larger conversation. But we hope it sparks reflection, collaboration, and action.”
Equity in action
The Decline Study is a powerful example of what it means to embed equity in research – not just by asking the right questions, but by asking them in the right way. Mario, Laura, and Xia didn’t just collect data. They honored stories, created space for truth, and treated each family with respect and care.
Their work reminds us that equity is not just a value, it’s a practice. And we’re proud to see their commitment recognized at the county level.
Congratulations again to Mario, Laura, and Xia for this well-deserved DEI Award. And thank you to every family who shared their experience to help us improve Preschool for All. Your voices are making a difference!