REGISTER FOR ELD’S JULY PROVIDER INFORMATION SESSIONS
Join us for a session on July 13 or 14:
- Check in on COVID-19
- Learn about the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) Mission, Vision, and Values Engagement
- Review agency and program updates
Wednesday, July 13 | 6 – 7 p.m.
All provider types (Interpretation available in Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Chinese, and ASL)
Zoom Link: https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_NtyFidbEQEOM8BsNqSAYZA
Thursday, July 14 | 6 – 7 p.m.
Spanish language. (All provider types)
Zoom Link: https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_qyrfO3IQTX-S83SsOTFdcQ
This is a virtual event. Registration is required to attend via Zoom. You may submit questions in advance on the registration form. You may also participate on ELD’s Facebook page live stream at the same time. ELD staff will monitor the Facebook comment section for questions.
Note: Attendees using interpretation services (Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Chinese, and ASL) should join the session via Zoom.
EARLY LEARNING COUNCIL APPROVES NEW SCHOOL-AGED RULES
On Wednesday, June 29, the Oregon Early Learning Council approved new rules that apply to licensed programs only serving school-age children.
These rules were intentionally designed for school-age only programs to remove requirements that are duplicative or unnecessary in public school settings, and create an easier path to licensure. The rules were written in clear, plain language and align with national best practices.
What does this mean for your program?
If you are licensed, the rule effective date is Jan. 1, 2023. The Early Learning Division (ELD) will use this time to train licensing staff, create technical assistance tools, and make changes to our database. This will also give programs time to review the rules, identify changes, and attend an optional information session.
For recorded school-age programs, you are not subject to licensing rules and regulations. However, the rule change may see more programs choosing to become licensed. Licensing provides a foundation of health and safety for children in your care and increases access to funding opportunities such as child care subsidies, food cost reimbursement, and grants available to licensed programs.
You can find the rules below or with the other rules on the ELD’s Child Care Rules page. Providers can email questions to ProviderContact@ode.oregon.gov.
- Rules for Certified School-Age Child Care Centers
English
PRESCHOOL PROMISE APPLICATIONS DUE BY THE EXTENDED DEADLINE AUGUST 4 AT 11:59 P.M.
Applications are open for the publicly funded program serving children who are at least three years of age but not older than five years of age, as determined by the date used to determine kindergarten eligibility. Only new applicants or current Preschool Promise providers interested in adding slots need to apply.
Learn more about becoming a Preschool Promise provider by visiting oregonearlylearning.com/preschool-promise or by viewing the “Preschool Promise Webinar” recordings below.
Preschool Promise Webinar, English: https://youtu.be/iFbG8H7IrbQ
Preschool Promise Webinar, Spanish: https://youtu.be/P_UjhEQrYI8
COVID-19 RISK LEVELS “HIGH” FOR 24 OREGON COUNTIES
As of Thursday, June 30, a total of 24 Oregon counties are in “high” transmission under the CDC’s COVID-19 community levels. The counties are: Baker, Clackamas, Clatsop, Crook, Deschutes, Douglas, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Lincoln, Malheur, Morrow, Multnomah, Sherman, Tillamook, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, and Washington.
This signals a need for increased prevention strategies in child care. For these counties, we recommend the following:
- Implement universal indoor masking. All individuals (aged 2 and older) should wear a well-fitting face –covering indoors regardless of vaccination status. Face coverings are effective at preventing the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases.
- Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines. Information about vaccinations can be found at https://getvaccinated.oregon.gov.
- Be aware of COVID-19 symptoms, and individuals should be excluded if symptoms develop. If symptomatic, it is recommended they get tested for COVID-19.
- A child or staff member, regardless of vaccination status, should stay at home if they have primary symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, chills, shortness of breath, new cough, or new loss of taste or smell), or go home if symptoms develop while at a child care facility, and get tested.
Programs are required to report COVID-19 cases to their Local Public Health Authority.
Review our COVID-19 Requirements and Recommendations: https://oregonearlylearning.com/COVID-19-Resources/For-Providers
JOIN OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY ON JULY 8 FOR “COVID-19 VACCINES FOR CHILDREN UNDER 5” Q&A
Children 6 months and older are now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. Join Oregon Health Authority and OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital on Friday, July 8 at noon for a Facebook Live Q&A. This is an opportunity to get your vaccine questions answered by experts Dr. Dean Sidelinger, state health officer and state epidemiologist, and Dr. Eliza Hayes Bakken, assistant professor of pediatrics at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Clinic. Share this event with families and colleagues in your community.
To attend this event, visit http://fb.me/e/2x0YgOtLo.
IMPROVING AIR QUALITY IN CHILD CARE
With wildfire season under way in Oregon and COVID-19 risks ever-present, King County and Seattle’s public health agency put together an article with tips for child care and early learning programs to improve indoor air quality.
The article refers to three basic steps to improve air quality:
- Routinely maintaining heating, cooling, and ventilation (HVAC) systems, and ensuring they are performing at the highest ventilation and filtration the system allows
- Using portable HEPA air cleaners
- Opening windows if possible
You can find short video examples for child care settings in the article. Providers can also find technical assistance resources on the CDC website and Environmental Protection Agency website.