A Message from the Director
It has been a busy start to the year! Here are a few highlights as we continue into 2025.
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Our February Update
Federal Changes
At the end of January, the federal Office of Management and Budget announced a temporary pause of federal grants and loan disbursements which immediately raised confusion. Next, we received word that the federal government rescinded the freeze on federal funding as of January 29. We remain laser focused on assessing impacts to our systems as a result of the shut off and maintaining services to children, families, and providers across the state. We will continue to monitor new directives and changes at the federal level. Currently there is no immediate change or reported disruption to programs or services and families should have no problem accessing services. Programs currently receiving funding from DELC can continue to draw down funds or will receive payments as usual.
The Department of Early Learning and Care remains committed to our values of Equity, Respect, Trust, Relationships, Safety, Continuous Improvement, and Integrity and continue to lead with these values throughout our work.
We know community members are eager for more information particularly around immigration as well. Many of the recent Executive Orders will likely continue to receive legal challenges. As we continue to monitor and assess the situation, we will continue to keep partners apprised of the rapidly changing landscape to the best of our ability. Please note that while we are working hard to be responsive, we are not set up to provide urgent rapid response or answers to complex legal questions. In the meantime, for questions around immigration enforcement or interpreting Oregon’s Sanctuary laws, legal organizations and the Oregon Department of Justice have the most current resources and supports. The Oregon Department of Justice (DOJ) has provided a Community Toolkit with additional information about Oregon’s status as a Sanctuary State, as well as a Sanctuary Promise Response Hotline dedicated to assisting victims, witnesses, and other reporters of bias crimes and bias incidents.
Legislative Session In the midst of everything at the federal level, a lot is happening here in Salem, Oregon. The Legislative Session kicked off on January 21st and DELC has been a pretty constant fixture in the building. With the establishment of two committees focused on early childhood – House Early Childhood & Human Services Committee and Senate Early Childhood & Behavioral Health Committee – we have been working hard to update the legislature all facets of Oregon’s early learning system. We are currently tracking over 60 bills so far, with more dropping each day. Bills are beginning to receive public hearings, and we’ll begin presenting in front of our budget committee – Joint Committee on Ways & Means Subcommittee on Education – in the coming weeks.
Growing Oregon Together & DEI Action Plan DELC recently completed a Quarterly Status Report on the implementation of our Growing Oregon Together strategic plan and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Action Plan. Here are some quick facts I wanted to highlight:
- Goal 1: All families have access to high-quality (culturally responsive, inclusive, developmentally appropriate) and affordable early learning and care that meets their needs.
81% of Goal 1 strategies are underway, with 86% of those making good progress. - Goal 2: DELC honors and recognizes the sovereignty of the nine federally recognized Tribal Nations within Oregon and ensures strong government-to-government relationships to benefit tribal communities.
90% of Goal 2 strategies are underway, with 100% of those making good progress. - Goal 3: All families with infants and toddlers are supported through early learning and care programs that recognize and meet their unique needs.
40% of Goal 3 strategies are underway, with 100% of those strategies making good progress. - Goal 4: The early learning and child care workforce is diverse, culturally responsive, highly qualified, and well compensated.
53% of Goal 4 strategies are underway, with 90% making good progress. - Goal 5: DELC deepens engagement, and increases community empowerment.
33% of Goal 5 strategies are underway, with 100% making good progress. - Goal 6: DELC develops and improves operational foundations to efficiently serve Oregonians.
81% of Goal 6 strategies are underway, with 85% making good progress and 4% of strategies marked complete.
Similarly, the DEI Action Plan work is making significant progress. All four Goals of the DEI Action Plan are underway, with 11% of the nine DEI Action Plan strategies complete, and 89% making good progress.
Check out our plans at the links above for more information on the work ahead.