Happy Holidays from the Department of Early Learning and Care.
CALL FOR PARTICIPATION: Micro-Center Pilot Program Rulemaking Advisory Committee (RAC)
During the 2023 legislative session, Senate Bill 1040 passed and requires The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) to create a Micro-Center Pilot Program. The Micro-Center Pilot Program will select and work with small capacity child care programs from across the state to identify their unique barriers to licensing. The pilot will support the development of a sustainable model for micro-centers to provide affordable, high quality early learning opportunities to communities in this state.
DELC will create Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs) to outline the pilot program application process, eligibility and selection criteria, and program guidelines. DELC will create a Rules Advisory Committee (RAC) to gather valuable feedback on the proposed rules and identify financial and equity impacts related to rule implementation.
DELC would like to invite members of the following groups to apply to participate in the RAC:
- Directors/representatives of certified centers from across the state, particularly those representing centers with a capacity of less than 30 children.
- Parents/family members of children in these types of programs
- Registered and Certified Family Home providers
- Union Representative
- Micro-center community advocates or subject matter experts
- Representatives from culturally specific organizations working with young children
- Early Learning Hub representatives
- Tribal nation representatives
- Child Care Resource and Referral representatives
Participants will be compensated for their time and insights. The application period opens December 18, 2023 and closes January 19, 2024. There will be one RAC Meeting held Tuesday, January 30th from 3:00pm-5:00pm.
To apply for the Mico-Center Pilot Rules Advisory Committee, go to Department of Early Learning and Care : Rule Making : About Us : State of Oregon
Apply now:
- Application in English
- Aplicación en e spañol
- 中文申请
- Приложение на русском языке
- Ứng dụng bằng tiếng Việt
For questions about participation, please contact Carol Petersen carol.a.petersen@delc.oregon.gov
Healthy Families Oregon (HFO) grant opportunity: Support families in Lincoln and Clackamas County!
Apply to provide services with a Healthy Families Oregon (HFO) home visiting grant opportunity.
The Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) and the Healthy Families Oregon program are happy to announce a grant opportunity for the Lincoln County region and the Clackamas County region. This grant will support HFO home visitor services in each of these counties.
What is HFO?
HFO is an evidence-based, voluntary Home Visiting program nationally accredited by Healthy Families America (HFA). The HFO program supports the economic prosperity of Oregon by preventing child abuse and neglect, promoting healthy child development, improving family self-sufficiency, and helping parents prepare their children for kindergarten.
Who can apply?
The following types of organizations are encouraged to apply:
- Multi-purpose, not-for-profit entities with a mission and goals compatible with the goals of HFO programs;
- Single-purpose, not-for-profit entities with expertise and experience in providing HFO related services;
- State or local government entities or special governmental bodies with expertise in these types of services that have a strong track record of working with human service partners in their communities; and
- Coordinated Care Organizations that have experience operating early childhood, parent support programs within their local communities.
Visit the grant opportunities linked below to learn more about the goals of this grant, HFO Home Visiting Services, and to apply!
Lincoln County grant: https://oregonbuys.gov/bso/external/bidDetail.sdo?docId=S-58800-00008687&external=true&parentUrl=close
Clackamas County grant: https://oregonbuys.gov/bso/external/bidDetail.sdo?docId=S-58800-00008760&external=true&parentUrl=close
Announcing the new Early Learning Council members
The Early Learning Council is charged with coordinating a unified and aligned system of early learning throughout Oregon to ensure that all children, no matter what their background or their community, enter school ready to learn and that all families are healthy, stable and attached. The council follows the work of the five year early learning system strategic plan, Raise Up Oregon.
Visit the DELC blog to learn more about the newest members to the Early Learning Council!
DELC Blog: Announcing new Early Learning Council (ELC) members! – News & Information (delcnews.org)
Announcing the Regional Service Providers intended awardees
We are excited to announce that the agencies listed below are the intended awardees to become Regional Service Providers.
Regional Service Providers will work closely with The Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) to:
- Build collaborative partnerships with regional providers;
- Develop and implement culturally responsive, equity-centered Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation;
- Respond to support requests from early learning and care providers; and
- Fulfill additional requirements in line with the goal of preventing and reducing disparities in the use of suspension and expulsion
You can learn more about Regional Service Providers by visiting the DELC website.
Reminder: Working Family Household and Dependent Care Credit (WFHDC)
Did you know Oregon offers a tax credit to help families pay for childcare while they are working, looking for work, or attending school? The Working Family Household and Dependent Care Credit (WFHDC) helps families with qualifying expenses—like paying for childcare at a licensed facility.
Qualified expenses must be paid by the family for care. Families must be able to prove that they paid qualified expenses to claim this credit. Proof of both the payment and a receipt from the childcare provider are required for each expense paid. Taxpayers who knowingly file a false claim for the WFHDC Credit and care providers or other individuals who knowingly assist in the filing of a false claim can be penalized.
For more information on income limits, qualifications, and instructions on how to claim the credit, see the Department of Revenue website. Help spread the word about this resource! If you’d like copies of a flyer to share this information with your clients, you can provide your address and the quantity you need to Jessica Wangler at DOR.
Reminder: Certified Child Care Center information video series
The Certified Child Care Center information video series will help Certified Child Care Center administrators and staff understand upcoming rule changes effective January 1, 2024.
You can visit DELC’s YouTube playlist Oregon Certified Child Care Center Rule Informational Series to use this resource!
Visit our YouTube page at: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAB5luO3GasbPTfdsBgxf6quAICtHpDBB&si=DGNsBTGzoABM5Sba