As we wrap up January, we’re taking a moment to look back at some highlights we shared on our social media channels throughout the month. If you haven’t already, we invite you to follow us on social media!
As we wrap up January, we’re taking a moment to look back at some highlights we shared on our social media channels throughout the month. If you haven’t already, we invite you to follow us on social media! It’s one of the easiest ways to stay up to date on child care resources, early learning news, and opportunities to get involved.
Check out the latest edition of DELC’s Community Newsletter!
IN THIS ISSUE:
Message from our Interim Director
Office of Tribal Affairs announces updated Tribal webpage
Click the link below to explore the latest issue of DELC’s Community Newsletter and Child Care Update. Don’t miss out—subscribe today to have these updates delivered straight to your inbox twice a month! https://delcnews.org/child-care-update/
Today, we honor Dr. King’s legacy by continuing the work of building a more just and equitable future—starting with our youngest learners. Access to quality early learning and care lays the foundation for lifelong opportunity, equity, and belonging. #MLKDay#EarlyLearning#EquityInEducation
Repost from Oregon Department of Education:
Help Feed Kids This Summer: Schools and Community Organizations Needed to Offer Meals Through the Summer Food Service Program
Repost from United Way of the Columbia-Willamette: STEAM activities are a great way to create an accessible, supportive space where families play and learn together. Our Early Learning Washington County hub had a blast hosting 𝟯𝟭 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 and 𝟵𝟬+ 𝗸𝗶𝗱𝘀 for a day of hands-on STEAM learning!
A special thank you to our Parent Accountability Council members who provided individualized social and emotional learning support, ensuring sensory needs were met and transitions were smooth for our little explorers.
Shout-out to Hillsboro School District , IRCO Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization , Healthy Families, and Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care /Preschool Promise for helping us connect with our community for this event!
Repost from Oregon Department of Human Services:
We’ve seen some people are concerned about food benefits if the federal government enters another partial shutdown. We want you to know – your ODHS benefits, services and supports, including SNAP, will not be impacted in February 2026.
SNAP is currently funded through September 2026. February 2026 SNAP benefits will go out like normal in Oregon.
As we wrap up November, we’re taking a moment to look back at some highlights we shared on our social media channels throughout the month. If you haven’t already, we invite you to follow us on social media!
As we wrap up November, we’re taking a moment to look back at some highlights we shared on our social media channels throughout the month. If you haven’t already, we invite you to follow us on social media! It’s one of the easiest ways to stay up to date on child care resources, early learning news, and opportunities to get involved.
Established in 1990 and expanded in 2008 to recognize Alaska Native communities, this month invites us to deepen our awareness and show respect through learning and action.
And for early learning professionals: check out the Tribal Resources for Providers Guide (PTA-0951), https://www.oregon.gov/…/PTA-0951-Tribal-Resources-for… , developed by the Child Care Licensing Division and Office of Tribal Affairs. This resource supports culturally responsive care for American Indian and Alaska Native children and families — with classroom strategies, language tips, and more.
Reminder: The application portal for Business Oregon‘s Child Care Infrastructure Fund Program is currently open. It closes December 16, 2025, at 4:59 p.m. PST.
The Child Care Infrastructure Fund Program provides critical financial assistance for infrastructure activities that support child care facilities. Business Oregon is working with the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care, other state agencies, and private and non-profit entities to implement this grant and loan program.
Last week, the Caring Communities Tour kicked off in Eastern Oregon, where collaboration, community, and the power of relationships were front and center.
Our Executive Leadership Team and program experts spent time connecting with early learning professionals and community partners across the region, learning more about the incredible work happening to support children and families.
The team met with Malheur Education Service District, where they observed an ESD LEAP classroom, visited Ontario Early Learning Center and connected with local partners. Their journey continued with stops at Malheur County Child Development Center Head Start, Cuevas Child Care, Little Hands Child Care, Momma Lupe’s Preschool, Treasure Valley Children’s Relief Nursery, Eastern Oregon University Head Start, Baker Relief Nursery, Wallowa Cougar Cubs, Joseph Collaborative Preschool Promise, and Enterprise Collaborative Preschool Promise with Wallowa County ESD.
A heartfelt thank-you to Eastern Oregon Early Learning and Care and all our community partners for the warm welcome and inspiring conversations.
#CaringCommunity#DELC
November SNAP benefits are here in Oregon! The federal government remains shut down, but ODHS was able to issue full November SNAP benefits with federal approval. We know how important these benefits are, so we worked quickly to begin issuing benefits last night. Everyone should have full November SNAP benefits on their EBT cards this morning, Nov. 7, 2025 – even if you normally receive SNAP later in the month.
Before shopping, check your EBT card balance to make sure their benefits have been issued. There are several ways to check your balance:
– Call ebtEDGE customer service toll-free at 888-997-4447
ODHS does not recommend any other EBT management websites or apps.
While the release of SNAP benefits is not a scam – we want everyone to remain aware of potential scammers who could be trying to take advantage of the confusion in this situation. Do not click any suspicious links in emails, texts or social media posts, and only trust ODHS for information about Oregon benefits. You can find tips to protect yourself from electronic theft here: https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/benefits/Pages/protect.aspx
The South-Central Early Learning Hub – for info on Klamath and Lake Counties is ensuring families across Douglas, Klamath, and Lake counties don’t go hungry. Their new bilingual food resource guides connect families with local food pantries and community kitchens. Read more on Kobi5 News
Did you know November is National Family Literacy Month? It’s the perfect time to make reading a fun family tradition!
Here are a few ideas to celebrate:
⦁ Read aloud at bedtime
⦁ Take turns picking books
⦁ Explore your local library for new favorites
⦁ Listen to audiobooks together on car rides or quiet afternoons
⦁ Let your kids read to you — it builds confidence and makes story time special!
Make reading a family adventure this month! #FamilyLiteracyMonth
DELC and ODE are seeking proposals to update Oregon’s Early Learning and Kindergarten Guidelines (ELKG). This is a great opportunity for experts in early learning and K-3 systems to help shape inclusive, research-aligned guidance for educators.
Today, on Native American Heritage Day, we honor the histories, cultures, and contributions of Native American and Indigenous communities. We recognize the deep roots of Tribal Nations across Oregon and remain committed to listening, learning, and partnering in support of Native children, families, and educators.
For early educators, this is also an opportunity to begin meaningful conversations in the classroom. Our Tribal Resources for Early Learning Providers offers guidance on how to center Tribal Nation awareness and share accurate, respectful information with young children. To download a copy of the Tribal Resources for Providers visit: https://www.oregon.gov/…/PTA-0951-Tribal-Resources-for…
As we wrap up September, we’re taking a moment to look back at some highlights we shared on our social media channels throughout the month. If you haven’t already, we invite you to follow us on social media!
As we wrap up October, we’re taking a moment to look back at some highlights we shared on our social media channels throughout the month. If you haven’t already, we invite you to follow us on social media! It’s one of the easiest ways to stay up to date on child care resources, early learning news, and opportunities to get involved.
Did you know? In 1982, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed October as National Head Start Awareness Month to honor the program’s impact.
Every October, we celebrate the children, educators, families, and communities who are part of our Head Start family. Since its founding in 1965, Head Start has provided high-quality education, health care, and family support to more than 40 million children and their families nationwide.
This month, we invite you to be a part of #HeadStartAwareness by sharing a story, memory, or experience you’ve had with Head Start. go.nhsa.org/HSAM
Thank you to the Oregon Association for the Education of Young Children (ORAEYC) for inviting the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) to speak at the Early Childhood Summit!
It was a wonderful event celebrating collaboration, innovation, and the incredible work happening across Oregon’s early learning community.
Exciting news from the Government to Government Summit!
Governor Tina Kotek met with leaders from Oregon’s nine federally recognized tribes and signed House Bill 2815 — directing DELC to work in partnership with Tribal Nations to develop a statewide early learning and care plan for Native American and Alaska Native children ages 0–8.
We’re honored to support this important collaboration for Tribal sovereignty and early childhood success.
Earlier this month, Governor Tina Kotek issued a statewide proclamation recognizing the vital role Head Start plays in supporting children, families, and communities.
To celebrate, DELC and the Oregon Head Start Association visited a Lane County preschool classroom to witness firsthand how Head Start is helping Oregon’s youngest learners grow and thrive.
In this special video, Charleen Strauch and Heather Edge from Head Start of Lane County share how—for over 60 years—Head Start has been a place of opportunity, belonging, and support for families across our state.
Repost from Oregon Department of Human Services:
The federal government shutdown is affecting funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). If the shutdown continues into November, SNAP benefits for November will not be issued until federal funding starts again.
You can still use any SNAP benefits already on your EBT card. SNAP funds do not expire right away. Your current balance will stay available during this time.
When federal operations resume, ODHS will issue November benefits as quickly as possible. The timing will depend on national systems that process benefits for many states, which may cause some delays.
We know this is stressful for many people who rely on SNAP. We are watching the situation closely and will share updates as soon as we have them.
This week, our CCR Baby Promise team- joined by the Department of Early Learning and Care Baby Promise Data Crew and Baby Promise program manager- met up in Salem with teams from Central, Multnomah, and South Coast regions for some cross-region collaboration!
We connected, shared common challenges, and worked together on ways to better support our teachers, programs, and the families we serve.
Grateful for teamwork, fresh ideas, and the big impact we can make together!
As we wrap up September, we’re taking a moment to look back at some highlights we shared on our social media channels throughout the month. If you haven’t already, we invite you to follow us on social media!
As we wrap up September, we’re taking a moment to look back at some highlights we shared on our social media channels throughout the month. If you haven’t already, we invite you to follow us on social media! It’s one of the easiest ways to stay up to date on child care resources, early learning news, and opportunities to get involved.
A no-cost childcare program that serves Central Oregon, including Bend and Redmond, is accepting applications for families with children ages six weeks to three years old.
NeighborImpact is a nonprofit organization that provides resources to Central Oregonians. One such resource is Baby Promise, which offers childcare through licensed providers for a full year. In addition to providing childcare, the program also supplies essentials like diapers, wipes, and formula at no-cost to parents.
A decade of full-day kindergarten has transformed the start of school for Oregon’s youngest learners. With nearly every child now accessing a full day of learning, the foundation for success keeps getting stronger.
Round Three of the Child Care Infrastructure Fund Program opens September 17, 2025.
This program provides critical financial support to expand and strengthen child care facilities across Oregon. Learn more about how this grant and loan program can help build capacity in your community: https://biznews.oregon.gov/…/l-0007/showPreparedMessage…
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in Early Learning
This Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate the cultures, languages, and traditions that enrich early learning communities across Oregon. From bilingual storytimes to family traditions shared in the classroom, we honor the many ways Hispanic and Latino families help young children learn, grow, and thrive.
Celebrando el Mes de la Herencia Hispana en Aprendizaje Temprano
Este Mes de la Herencia Hispana, celebramos las culturas, idiomas y tradiciones que enriquecen las comunidades de aprendizaje temprano a través de Oregón. Desde cuentos bilingües hasta tradiciones familiares compartidas en el aula, honramos las muchas maneras en que las familias hispanas y latinas ayudan a los niños pequeños a aprender, crecer y prosperar.
We are now licensing outdoor, nature-based child care programs—one of only a few states to do so. The first, Blackberry Academy Outdoor Preschool in Phoenix, is already welcoming preschoolers to learn and play in nature’s classroom. Read more here
August 2025 Department of Early Learning and Care Updates.
A Message from the Director
Do you want to receive this update in your email? Sign up for our Community Newsletter and Child Care Updates twice monthly send by subscribing here.
Our August Update
Another month has come to a close and summer continues to speed by! I wanted to share some reflections with you all as we head into our last month of summer.
Celebrating 1 Year of Growing Oregon Together!
It was really moving to see the progress report of the one-year anniversary of our strategic plan. I’m in awe of how much we’ve collectively accomplished over the last year in making steady progress towards all six goals. The highlights on the data dashboard illustrate the many ways in which our work is smart, measurable, achievable relevant and time bound. (SMART). This work involves all teams across the agency, and it was impressive to see that we are strongly on track and meeting our goals. In case you missed it, you can read the updates on our website: https://delcnews.org/2025/07/15/growing-oregon-together-celebrating-one-year-of-progress/
Caring Communities Tours
As I prepare to take maternity leave, I have so appreciated the chance to visit several of our Early Learning Hub regions to see the incredible work happening to support children, families, and child care providers in our communities. Please check out our latest visit to Lane County and all the incredible work happening there. Thank you to all of the hosts that have put these incredible sessions together – I am excited that our team is on track to visit all 16 Hub regions by the end of the year!
Taking Care in Times of Uncertainty
While we continue to navigate federal changes, I want to acknowledge the personal toll these policies are taking on our children, families, and communities. At DELC, we believe it’s important for every child, family, and provider to feel safe, respected, and supported. For more information regarding Oregon’s Sanctuary Promise laws and how it is implemented within state agencies, please visit https://www.doj.state.or.us/oregon-department-of-justice/civil-rights/sanctuary-promise/
For suspected violations of Oregon’s Sanctuary Promise laws, the Oregon Department of Justice has a “Sanctuary Promise Hotline” where anyone can report, receive support, or be connected to resources.
Click below to view other Community Newsletter articles
Informational videos about the new Family Child Care Rule Revisions are available on the DELC YouTube channel and on the DELC website on our Rules page to help you understand and navigate the new rules and the impacts to your programs.
August 1, 2025
Informational videos about the new Family Child Care Rule Revisions are available on the DELC YouTube channel and on the DELC website on our Rules page to help you understand and navigate the new rules and the impacts to your programs.
As always, if you have additional questions, please reach out to your licensing specialist!
You can access the Registered Family Rule Revision Video Series here:
This month the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Head Start and EHS Head Start hosted an in-person summer gathering for families and children. The event showcased valuable local resources such as housing and homelessness services, ODHS connections, and a gleaner’s program where families can pick produce and receive a percentage for free to take home.
August 1, 2025
This month the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Head Start and EHS Head Start hosted an in-person summer gathering for families and children. The event showcased valuable local resources such as housing and homelessness services, ODHS connections, and a gleaner’s program where families can pick produce and receive a percentage for free to take home. The gleaner’s program was a special favorite booth as they handed out fresh delicious cherries to each family!
DELC staffer, Christina Cortez-Bannick, had a wonderful time connecting with members of the community and enjoying the laughter of children as they played together, ate hamburgers and hot dogs, and parents found time to connect.
“It was a beautiful event, and I appreciated the opportunity to visit, as a head start kid, with my fellow head start families.”
In February we launched the Caring Communities Tour, a two-year long journey visiting early learning and care partners and leaders across Oregon. In collaboration with Early Learning Hubs and Child Care Resource and Referrals, DELC leadership will visit each region to connect with and learn from local leaders, Tribes, providers, families about the unique needs, experiences, and approaches to early care and education across the state.
Updated September 2, 2025
In February we launched the Caring Communities Tour, a two-year long journey visiting early learning and care partners and leaders across Oregon. In collaboration with Early Learning Hubs and Child Care Resource and Referrals, DELC leadership will visit each region to connect with and learn from local leaders, Tribes, providers, families about the unique needs, experiences, and approaches to early care and education across the state.
We have learned from and connected with each region by observing joyful classrooms and listening to providers express their commitment to early education. New ideas have been sparked from learning about creative approaches to complex problems. Since February, we have visited the following regions,
Linn, Benton, Lincoln
Clackamas
Harney, Grant
Southern
Lane
To every single person who helped plan and coordinate each of these visits, thank you. Your investment of time and energy has made these visits an opportunity to learn and connect, to build and strengthen relationships. It is inspiring to be in collaboration with you in this child and family centered work.
During each visit we heard about the challenges posed by the local economy, workforce shortages, geographic landscape, and natural resource limitations bring. Additionally , we were inspired by the creative, community-driven solutions emerging across regions to solve and thrive despite these challenges- strategically braiding funding to improve programming, repurposing a grocery store into early learning spaces, including grand-parents and neighbors into children’s care, providing alternative transportation options, offering business accelerator program for registered family providers, increasing pedestrian safety in collaboration with local transportation districts, strengthening collaborations with supportive backbone agencies, and initiating partnerships with local employment organizations for workforce shortages.
After each visit, we are taking time to reflect on our observations and what was shared with us. We are celebrating your work and thinking ahead to improve our policies, programs, and continue addressing system-level challenges. Moving forward, because we believe we can always do better, we will also strengthen our follow-up response to questions raised during visits by regional partners.
We look forward to the late summer and fall visits and continuing to provide mid-year updates about the Caring Communities Tour. Thank you for collaborating with us to ensure all children, families, early care and education professionals and communities are supported and empowered to thrive.
We look forward to visiting Yamhill before end of summer, and wrapping up the first year of CCT with visits to Eastern and Blue Mountain regions. We continue to coordinate with Hubs and CCR&R’s for 2026, but our tentative schedule as of now includes Washington and Northwest regions for Spring 2026, and Four Rivers and South Coast for fall 2026. While some dates may change due to scheduling availability, host logistics, and weather conditions, we aim to wrap up the tour and visit all regions by Fall 2026. Thank you for collaborating with us to ensure all children, families, early care and education professionals and communities are supported and empowered to thrive.
211 has a resource page available for summer needs like cooling centers and tips for staying cool. You can visit this page, click on your county, and find local resources based on your needs.
211 has a resource page available for summer needs like cooling centers and tips for staying cool. You can visit this page, click on your county, and find local resources based on your needs.
Even though 211 core operating hours have changed, hours for special programs have not. The child care team is still available for calls, text, and email Monday through Friday, 7am-11pm, and weekends 8am-8pm to help with finding the resources you need.
Even though 211 core operating hours have changed, hours for special programs have not. Our child care team is still available for calls, text, and email Monday through Friday, 7am-11pm, and weekends 8am-8pm.
211info child care specialists help families navigate quality care options, and offer guidance on Employment Related Day Care (ERDC).
Contact the 211info child care team for help today! Call 211, text the keyword “children” or “niños” to 898211, or email children@211info.org. Want to search yourself? Go to findchildcareoregon.org.
This month, we invite you to be a part of #HeadStartAwareness by sharing a story, memory, or experience you’ve had with Head Start. 
