March 16, 2022 | Child Care Update

OREGON LEGISLATURE APPROVES
SIGNIFICANT CHILD CARE INVESTMENTS   

The 2022 Legislative Session came to close this month and there were many wins for early learning and child care. Notable legislation includes the following: 

Passed HB 4005: Early Care and Education Governance 

This legislation builds on HB 3073 (2021), which established the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC). HB 4005 delays the establishment of DELC to July 1, 2023. It also transfers the license-exempt child care background check process for subsidized care from the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) to the Office of Child Care in the ELD. Among several other provisions, HB 4005 increased Employment Related Day Care reimbursement rates for child care providers and allocated $26.6 million to fund those new rates for the remainder of this biennium.  

Released Funds for Program Expansion  

The legislature released $38 million, which was unscheduled until the Division could show community capacity for expansion of Preschool Promise, Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten and Healthy Families Oregon.  

Released Funds for Early Childhood Suspension and Expulsion Prevention 

The legislature released $5.2 million that was unscheduled until the Division could gather community input to fully develop the program and ensure there are adequate staff to provide program supports across Oregon for providers. 

Passed SB 1547: Recorded Programs Oversight 

Requires the staff and volunteers of recorded programs to enroll in the Central Background Registry, in accordance with recommendations from a 2020 Secretary of State audit on child care background checks. 

Passed HB 5202: Omnibus Budget

This bill included several pieces: 

  • Approved $6.8 million for  66 positions to continue the development of the Department of Early Learning and Care. 

Added investments for child care supply building and wage enhancements:  

  • $39.3 million for child care supply building grants to community based organizations (NeighborhoodImpact, Euvalcree, United We Heal and Seeding Justice) for startup costs, program expansion, training and professional learning.  
  • $21 million for Portland State University’s Oregon Center for Career Development in Child Care to award two annual $500 recruitment and retention payments to child care staff working in Oregon.  
  • Relief Nurseries received a $2 million investment from the legislature for increased wages.  
  • Health Families Oregon received a $2 million investment from the legislature for increased wages. 

SCHOOL-AGE RULEMAKING ADVISORY COMMITTEE: DEADLINE EXTENDED 

The deadline to submit an application to join the School-Age Rulemaking Advisory Committee has been extended to Friday, March 18, 2022. If you are connected to school-age child care programs or interested in providing this type of care, please consider applying to join this committee. This type of care is also known as out-of-school-time (OST) care and before- and afterschool care programs. Click here for more information and to apply.  

CALL FOR PARTICIPATION:
IECMHC RULEMAKING ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The Early Learning Division is seeking diverse voices to represent groups within Oregon’s Early Learning system. Please consider applying to join the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) Rulemaking Advisory Committee (RAC). A RAC is a group of community members who will help the Early Learning Division shape and implement rule language for the IECMHC system, including the Early Childhood Suspension and Expulsion Prevention Program. Members will advise on requirements for ECE programs around suspension and expulsion. Apply today and help build an anti-racist, equity-focused IECMHC system. 
 
Participants will be reimbursed for their time dedicated to this RAC and will positively impact Oregon’s children, families, early learning programs, and communities.  

Applications are due Friday, April 8, 2022.  

Click here for more information on how to apply.

OSU RECEIVES $14.4 MILLION FOR STATEWIDE CENTER TO SUPPORT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS  

Oregon State University will use a new $14.4 million grant from Oregon’s Early Learning Division to establish a statewide center focused on strengthening the early childhood education workforce in Oregon. 

The Early Learning Systems Initiative center will be housed within OSU’s Hallie E. Ford Center for Healthy Children and Families. Read all the details in OSU’s news release.  

MARCH IS DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AWARENESS MONTH

This March and throughout the year, consider your role in communities and how you can advocate for the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities (ID/DD).

What is your role as an educator and caregiver? What services and resources are you sharing with families in your community? How are you incorporating “disability” in conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion? How can Oregon’s early learning system support and empower families of children with disabilities?

The Oregon Early Childhood Inclusion Initiative and Pyramid Model Implementation grants are supporting communities to partner in new and innovative ways. For more information about the early learning system efforts to advance inclusion in early care and education, click here.

Other early learning system supports include: 

REMINDERS 

Coming soon – ELD will host another provider information session in May. More details will be shared soon.   


Save the date: Week of the Young Child is April 2 to 8
NAEYC’s 2022 Week of the Young Child® celebration is April 2 to 8. Visit NAEYC.org/woyc for ideas and resources to help you plan.

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