Every Child Belongs is now available statewide, giving child care providers across Oregon access to publicly funded support that helps create nurturing and inclusive early learning environments. These services also support providers as Oregon’s new law prohibiting suspension and expulsion in early learning settings takes effect on July 1, 2026.
“What I loved most is I felt empowered to do better and wasn’t put down for how I was doing things only encouraged that I could help make a difference.” -Oregon Child Care Provider
What is Every Child Belongs?
Every Child Belongs is a new service designed to support educators to help keep young children in care. When you reach out, you will be connected with trained specialists in your region who will work alongside you to understand what’s happening and identify supports that fit the situation.
Whether you are navigating challenging behaviors, looking for strategies to support inclusion, building a trauma-informed environment, or feeling unsure about next steps for a child in your care, Every Child Belongs can help connect you with support early — before challenges become more stressful.
“This experience has reminded my staff and me of the many resources available to us and introduced a wide range of strategies beyond the ideas and techniques we regularly share with one another.” – Oregon Child Care Provider
What kind of support is available?
- Infant and early childhood mental health consultation
- Technical assistance for early learning practices
- Consultation to build behavioral support strategies for young children
- Inclusion strategies
- Family engagement tools
- Professional development and other helpful resources
When should you reach out?
- A child’s behavior feels challenging
- You are unsure how to meet a child’s needs
- You want support for your early learning environment
- You would like help before things escalate
- You are overwhelmed and that is making it difficult to care for children
- Your program or community experienced a traumatic event and needs support processing it
Reaching out early, while challenges are still small, can make a difference in keeping them from getting bigger.
Resources and services provided through Every Child Belongs are intended to help programs build skills, access resources, and respond effectively when challenges arise.
How To Get Support
- Visit everychildbelongs.org
- Select Request Support in your preferred language
- Complete a short form describing what you’re experiencing
- Submit your request
A regional Every Child Belongs specialist will follow up, typically within 1–2 business days.
Together, you will discuss your situation and identify possible supports and next steps. Support is individualized based on your needs and setting.
Why this matters
When educators have support that is accessible and responsive, it helps create more stable, inclusive environments for children. Both children and educators benefit from responsive support.
“[Every Child Belongs] has provided valuable tools and ideas that help us continue moving forward when navigating challenging behaviors and big emotions, all while staying aligned with best practices.” – Oregon Child Care Provider
Visit everychildbelongs.org to learn more or request support.
Click below to view other Child Care Update articles
- July 2026 Community Newsletter
- Your Participation is Important in the 2026 Market Price & Supply Study
- Every Child Belongs is Now Available Statewide
- Spark: Evolving to Serve You Better
- The Department of Early Learning and Care is seeking applicants for the Closures and Inactive Status Rulemaking Committee (RAC)