Office of Community Involvement team planning programming for 2026

Office of Community Involvement December 2025 Newsletter

About the Office of

Community Involvement (OCI):

The OCI was established in 1984 to support County-wide engagement through a multifaceted approach. OCI collaborates with departments and staff to strengthen program-based engagement. We advise on engagement policies and procedures and develop engagement trainings and resources for county staff and community members. We serve as a community portal to departmental engagement opportunities and directly support civic advisory committees to amplify public feedback in County engagement and budget resource allocation.

Through the county’s advisory bodies, community members are able to share feedback and provide recommendations for the improvement of services and programs. In addition, community members participate in the function, review, and improvement of Multnomah County's programs, policies, and services through a wide variety of volunteer and intern opportunities.

We welcome everyone who lives, works, plays, and worships in Multnomah County to participate in shaping our county policies, budgets, and programs. Continue reading to find opportunities to engage!

Check out the OCI Website for general information!

Attend the Multnomah Sanctuary Townhall

Monday, December 15, 2025

6:30 - 8:30pm 

Location: Virtual (RSVP Link)

Multnomah County has been a sanctuary county since 2016. On November 18, 2025, the Board of Commissioners received a briefing on the County’s sanctuary status, including details about what the City of Portland recently passed, and other local examples. The Board provided feedback to move forward with the approach, add a few items, and come back with a clearer set of actions in the form of a resolution, a budget modification to allocate funds, and an ordinance to codify certain provisions into County Code.

Join Commissioner Singleton and Chair Vega Pederson for a joint townhall to talk about Multnomah County’s effort to update its sanctuary policies and status. This event will be virtual, with staff presenting draft language and taking questions and comments from the public. The draft resolution and budget modification will be considered for board action on December 18th.

To maximize participation, public comments will be limited to 3 minutes per person. Additional time will be provided for those using an interpreter.

Sign up here!

Apply for the Food Service Advisory Committee

Are you or anyone you know involved in the food service industry? The Food Service Advisory Committee is actively recruiting! This group of food service and safety representatives makes recommendations to Environmental Health Services’ food safety program! It also provides a line of communication between the food service industry and public health.

This is a great opportunity for front of house, back of house, food carts, caterers, managers and business owners to advise the County on issues relevant to their work.

Learn more and share the opportunity!

Apply for Homeless Services Department Advisory Committees

The Homeless Services Department has five advisory committees and boards. These committees and boards gather community input to share with HSD leadership and the Board of County Commissioners. These advisory groups provide opportunities for community members to learn about the HSD’s work, bring a community perspective to our decision-making, and make recommendations on programs, services and policies. Our CABs are driven by these values: collaboration, equity, and inclusion.

HSD Advisory Committees and Boards include:

• Equity Advisory Committee: Provides guidance and recommendations to help address racial disparities in the HSD’s work on ending homelessness.
• Lived Experience Advisory Committee: Uplifts the voices of people who are or have been unhoused to ensure that the work of the Homeless Services Department centers their experiences.
• Continuum of Care (CoC) Board: Advises on and oversees the implementation of priorities and policies related to the Multnomah County Continuum of Care (CoC).
• Supportive Housing Services (SHS) Advisory Committee: Advises Multnomah County on adherence to the Metro SHS Measure and the County’s Local Implementation Plan and future regional plans.
• Community Budget Advisory Committee (CBAC): Reviews and makes recommendations on county departmental budgets and operations.

**The Office of Community Involvement coordinates the recruitment and application process for CBACs. You can find out more information at their website.

HSD is launching a new application process for the Equity Advisory Committee, Lived Experience Advisory Committee, the CoC Board and the SHS Advisory Committee. To begin applying, please complete this initial Advisory Interest Form.

Please visit the Advisory Committee and Board application webpage below for more information about the open application process.

Learn More Here!

Participate in the Climate Justice Plan Forums

You're invited to participate in the Climate Justice Plan Forums to help refine the draft strategies and metrics for the 12 universal goals of the DRAFT Multnomah County Climate Justice Plan (CJP).

Your participation is crucial in this phase. Building on the co-creation process, the goal of these forums is to strengthen the CJP by bringing together community partners, industry groups, and county staff. This collaboration will help us focus the county's specific commitments on actions with the highest impact on equity, justice, and carbon reduction. The result will be a plan that serves as both a government action plan and a community toolkit.

Forum Details

• When: Tuesdays and Thursdays (Check the link for specific dates/times) through mid-December
• Where: Available in-person at the Multnomah Building (501 SE Hawthorne Blvd) and virtually (Zoom details provided upon registration)

Learn more and register for forums here:

multco.us/info/climate-justice-plan-community-forum

Prepare to volunteer at extreme weather Disaster Resource Centers this winter

When dangerous winter weather hits, Multnomah County responds by opening Disaster Resource Centers (DRCs) to provide emergency shelter. Community volunteers, as well as county staff, support these DRCs and help save lives. Come learn more about these resource centers at upcoming trainings in December and January (register here).

Learn more here and fill out the Volunteer Interest Form!

Become a partner in the County's life-saving work!

 Multnomah County Emergency Management (MCEM) is looking for facilities to host Disaster Resource Centers (DRCs). These sites offer life-saving services to the most vulnerable members of our community during events such as heatwaves, wildfire smoke events, ice and snow, temporary evacuations, earthquakes and more. If your organization or one you know of is interested in partnering with Multnomah County to provide a space as a Disaster Resource Center, please fill out our interest form or submit a recommendation (multco.us/become-a-drc). Multnomah County fully staffs and supplies its DRCs during emergency activations.  

  If you have any questions, please contact MCEM at (503) 988-5952 or email at eoc.facilitiesunit@multco.us.

All County DRCs must be ADA-accessible.

Learn more here

Apply for the Preschool for All 2025-2026 School Year!

If you have not applied for the 2025-26 school year:

You can apply for a PFA seat here. We recommend you research preschool options, schedule site tours, and choose and rank your six preschool choices. Depending on your preschool choices and seat availability, you may receive a preschool placement or be placed on a waitlist. If you need assistance, you can request help from a Family Navigator during the application process.

Learn more here!

Review the new Strategic Plan

The Multnomah County Strategic Plan is now available! This plan connects the every day work of the county with long-term vision and goals.

Review the strategic plan here.

Contact Multnomah County Chair and your commissioner about this or any other topic over email and phone, by testifying at board meetings,

or by requesting a meeting.

Contact your elected officials

Community Involvement Committee members map out their connections to each district in the annual retreat held September 28, 2025

Get involved in 2026!

Volunteer opportunities are available across Multnomah County!

General Volunteer Opportunities: members of the public can always find a list of volunteer opportunities on the OCI website, under "Volunteer and Intern with Multnomah County."

Advisory Boards are also listed on the Advisory Groups page and you can learn more by visiting their specific sites.

Want support finding the right opportunity for you? Contact OCI at community.involvement@multco.us

Thank you for all you do to make our community a better place!