June 9, 2021 | Child Care Update

IMPORTANT UPDATE ON FACE COVERINGS AND PHYSICAL DISTANCING  

Following the latest guidance from Oregon Health Authority, the Early Learning Division (ELD) updated the requirements and recommendations for face coverings and physical distancing when indoors and outdoors. This includes:   

  • When outdoors, face coverings and physical distancing are NOT required for anyone (staff, children, caregivers, visitors, volunteers, etc.).  
  • Adults (both vaccinated and unvaccinated) are required to wear face coverings during indoor drop-off and pick-up. When outdoors, ELD recommends that adults maintain six feet of physical distance during drop-off and pick-up if not wearing a face covering.   
  • ELD recommends that unvaccinated staff and staff at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness wear face coverings when outdoors if routinely in close contact with children or other adults.  

Click here for full details on the latest updates and to download the full “Health and Safety Guidelines for Child Care and Early Education Operating During COVID-19.”

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

ELD regularly updates the frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the “For Providers” webpage. Below is a summary of new or updated FAQs.

*NEW* For Version 2.0 of the Health and Safety Guidelines, do parents and family members entering the building for drop-off and pick-up need to be screened for temperature , asked the three questions as well, and then recorded?

No. If parents and family members are only there for drop-off and pick-up, a health check is not required. This interaction should be as brief as possible. If the parent and family member is in the facility for any other reason, then a health check must be performed and recorded. 

*NEW* How do Version 2.0 amendments affect Registered Family (RF) and Certified Family (CF) homes? Are parents and family members allowed to come into the home for drop-off and pick-up?

If drop-off and pick-up can occur in an area of the home where child care is not occurring, then yes, parents can enter the home. 

*NEW*Can programs combine stable groups of infants and toddlers for a full day if the attendance for both classrooms is low? If not, what is the definition of “the beginning and the end of the day”?

Yes. The combined groups must be the same daily. 

*NEW* Can a program consider a group of preschool and older toddlers as one stable group? For this example, the preschool class only has 10 children.

Since the current ELD guidelines only allow for groups of infants and toddlers to be combined, an exception request needs to be submitted for consideration. Please contact your Licensing Specialist for exception process.

*NEW* Are kindergarten and pre-kindergarten graduations allowed?

Yes, these types of activities are allowed, but must follow the precautions in requirement 4.8. 

REMINDERS

  • On June 8, ELD started a 21-day pause in accepting Emergency Background Checks (EBC) for individuals not enrolled in the Central Background Registry (CBR). ELD expects to return to the standard background check process, as required by Oregon law, on June 29, 2021. Visit https://oregonearlylearning.com/providers-educators/providers-educatorscbr/ for more information and the requirements for enrolling in the CBR. In the event the current COVID-19 state of emergency declaration is extended beyond June 28, 2021, ELD will revisit this policy and notify providers and the public. 
  • On June 8, ELD started a 21-day pause in accepting applications for programs who are not licensed or recorded to operate Emergency Child Care (ECC). ELD expects to return to the agency’s standard licensing process, as required by Oregon law, on June 29, 2021. Visit https://oregonearlylearning.com/COVID-19-Resources/Emergency-Child-Care for more information. In the event the current COVID-19 state of emergency declaration is extended beyond June 28, 2021, ELD will revisit this policy and notify providers and the public.
  • Thank you to all who attended the Health and Safety Guidelines Version 2.0 Webinars on May 26, May 27, and June 5. Click here to download webinar recordings.  
  • Click here for an important recall notice, “Fisher Price Recalls 4-in-1 Rock ‘n Glide Soothers” from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!

In June and throughout the year, celebrate the LGBTQ+ movement and people in your community! Take moments to listen, learn, and advocate for inclusivity and equality for ALL Oregonians. Click below for resources on how to support children, families, and staff.  

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