At DELC there are so many things to celebrate.  As we look forward to a new year we pause to look back on moments that inspired us:

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DELC’s Director welcomed a new baby!

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The Tribal Early Learning Plan and Fund was signed into law.

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First Licensed Outdoor Nature Based Preschool opened in Phoenix Oregon.

Photo credit: Yessie Joy Verbena/Blackberry Academy Outdoor School

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The Caring Communities Tour completed nine regional visits and learned from local communities regarding the vital work occurring. Thank you to Early Learning Hubs and Child Care Resource and Referrals Agencies for hosting us! We look forward to continuing more visits in the New Year.

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Thanks to strong partnership with the Oregon Infant Mental Health Association, Regional Service Providers, Child Care Resource & Referral agencies, and community advocates we launched Every Child Belongs in nine early access regions to provide supports to educators and reduce suspension and expulsions in early education settings.

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Responded to federal uncertainty, were the only state in the nation to assist partners with bridge funding supports to keep doors open, and stood up the DELC Incident Response Team.

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Worked with legislators and advocates to help move new policy forward during legislative session, analyzed more than 150 bills, provided impactful testimony on topics such as Micro-center pilots, Federal briefings, Insurance, and Preschool Promise, hosted federal partners and engaged over 200 community participants in 15 Rules Advisory Committees.

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Worked with the Governor’s office to highlight the transformative impact of Head Start on their 60th anniversary.

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Welcomed a new Early Learning Council Chair and continued progress on Raise Up Oregon 2.0.

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The recently released Child Care Desert Report showed major progress with 10 additional counties are no longer deserts for preschoolers.

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Worked with other agencies and partners to increase access to child care with innovative ideas such as colocation of early learning facilities within affordable housing developments.

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The second and third rounds of the Child Care Infrastructure Fund closed successfully with funding already going out the door from Business Oregon for infrastructure improvements including upgrades to outdoor spaces. In total, over three rounds of funding, roughly 2000 providers received technical assistance support from First Children’s Finance and Northwest Native Chamber.

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This year’s preschool graduations from Preschool Promise, Early Childhood Equity Fund and Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten were extra special – babies born during COVID are now heading off to kindergarten.

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The Child Care Licensing Division (CCLD) continued vital work to help ensure child health and safety. Some highlights included: handled over 18,000 Central Background Registry applications, 4,000 facility applications, and 30,000 calls, implemented new rulesets, piloted Micro-centers and much more.

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Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library books are currently available to all children under five in every zip code and county across Oregon.

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The Baby Promise bypass under the Employment Related Day Care program ensured eligible families were able to receive care for their infant or toddlers and helped the program continue to expand to more families. (As of the end of 2025, over 12,000 households are actively accessing subsidized child care through ERDC, which continues to be some of the highest number of families we’ve seen served.)

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Continued to make steady progress in building a strong and inclusive organizational culture. Fostered greater engagement, inclusion, and alignment with DELC’s core values through intentional efforts and trainings led by Human Resources in collaboration with the Social Equity Office.

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Continued to expand workforce resources including technical assistance and training modules. 150 Pyramid Model trainings were successfully held with educators to help better support children with their behavioral and emotional needs.

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With the help of families, child care providers, and professionals from across Oregon, as part of a robust community engagement strategy, to date over 2000 Oregonians have offered their time and experience in the Spark redesign process.

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Birth Through Five Literacy Plan Initiative launched statewide, with investments distributed to expand culturally responsive early literacy supports and Tribal language revitalization efforts.

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Major foundational work continues as part of the strategic plan priorities of Growing Oregon Together. (For example the first Research and Policy Agenda was created, IT released additional guidance on AI, and Tribal consultations are now underway.)

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DELC programs and broader community helped deliver assistance to hundreds of thousands of households with young children such as Baby Promise, Early Childhood Equity Fund, Employment Related Day Care, Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten, Healthy Families Oregon, Preschool Promise, Relief Nurseries, and additional support was provided by Early Learning Hubs and Child Care Resource and Referrals. Together, these efforts are helping to unify and strengthen early learning and education.

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This work represents only a small sampling of what we’ve done over the last year. We’ve got a great deal more work ahead to ensure families, children, and providers have what they need to thrive. This work isn’t possible without incredible partnerships especially during difficult times. Over the course of this last year we moved this work forward alongside countless community groups, families, advocates, agencies, legislators, the Nine Federally Recognized Tribes of Oregon, and partners. Thank you for all that you do in making advancements in the early childhood system and best wishes for continued success as we begin 2026!

Click below to view other Child Care Update articles

• Special Message from the Director about the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care turning 3 this month
• Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care marks three-year anniversary with a ‘Focus on 3’  
• New services available statewide for early learning providers to ensure children stay in care 
• July 2026 Community Newsletter
• Your Participation is Important in the 2026 Market Price & Supply Study

The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) is aware of recent reports about a possible federal spending freeze on child care funds nationwide. At this time, Oregon has not received any official notice of changes to federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) dollars that support Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) and related programs. 

Providers should please continue billing for ERDC and related programs as usual. DELC will monitor federal guidance and share updates promptly if anything changes. 

There have also been concerning news reports that some states have seen harassment and unsubstantiated fraud claims against child care providers.  At DELC, we aim to ensure that every child, family and provider feels safe, respected and supported. Oregon educators should never feel threatened while providing essential services for children and providing safe places for them to thrive and learn. If you receive harassing or threatening communications, contact local law enforcement immediately. If you experience or witness bias or hate incidents, you can report them to the Oregon Attorney General’s Bias Response Hotline at 1-844-924-BIAS (2427) or online at StandAgainstHate.Oregon.gov. The hotline offers trauma-informed support and interpreters in over 240 languages. 

Thank you for your continued support of Oregon children. Your work is important and valued. 

Carey McCann
Interim Early Learning System Director
Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care 

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Actualización sobre la financiación federal para el cuidado infantil y la seguridad de los proveedores

El Departamento de Aprendizaje y Cuidado Temprano (DELC) de Oregón está al tanto de los recientes informes sobre una posible pausa en el gasto federal de los fondos para el cuidado infantil en todo el país. Por el momento, Oregón no ha recibido ninguna notificación oficial sobre cambios en los fondos federales del Fondo para el Cuidado y Desarrollo Infantil (CCDF) que apoya el Cuidado Infantil Relacionado con el Empleo (ERDC) y otros programas relacionados.

Los proveedores deben seguir facturando por el ERDC y los programas relacionados como de costumbre. DELC supervisará las directrices federales y le comunicará cualquier novedad tan pronto como se produzca algún cambio.

También ha habido noticias preocupantes sobre acoso y denuncias de fraude sin base alguno en contra de proveedores del cuidado infantil en algunos estados. En DELC, nuestro objetivo es garantizar que todos los niños, familias y proveedores se sientan seguros, respetados y apoyados. Los educadores de Oregón nunca deben sentirse amenazados mientras prestan servicios esenciales a los niños y proporcionan lugares seguros para que prosperen en su aprendizaje. Si recibe comunicaciones de acoso o amenazas, póngase en contacto inmediatamente con las autoridades locales. Si experimenta o es testigo de incidentes de discriminación u odio, puede denunciarlos a la línea directa de respuesta a la discriminación de la Fiscalía General de Oregón, llamando al 1-844-924-BIAS (2427) o en línea en StandAgainstHate.Oregon.gov. La línea directa ofrece apoyo especializado en traumas con apoyo de intérpretes en más de 240 idiomas.

Gracias por su continuo apoyo con los niños de Oregón. Su trabajo es importante y valioso.

Carey McCann
Directora interina del Sistema de Aprendizaje Temprano
Departamento de Aprendizaje y Cuidado Temprano de Oregón (DELC) Updated January 2, 2026

Click below to view other Child Care Update articles

• Special Message from the Director about the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care turning 3 this month
• Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care marks three-year anniversary with a ‘Focus on 3’  
• New services available statewide for early learning providers to ensure children stay in care 
• July 2026 Community Newsletter
• Your Participation is Important in the 2026 Market Price & Supply Study

You may have seen the recent media coverage regarding a parent being detained by federal immigration officials during a child drop off for preschool here in Oregon.  Governor Tina Kotek responded to the incident with remarks on social media. We know this incident has understandably created fear or concern among child care providers and the community; children and families should be able to feel safe and supported when they come to their early childhood programs.  

Oregon sanctuary laws mean that state-level resources cannot be used to enforce federal immigration law. They ensure that everyone in our state can live, work, go to school, and access government services without fear of discrimination or unnecessary inquiries into their personal background. These laws also guarantee that public agencies, including DELC, focus on what matters most: supporting children, families, and providers.   

As a reminder, DELC has implemented an internal Incident Response Team (IRT), and we are continuing to monitor and track issues related to federal changes as they arise. DELC has created this page as a source of information for the public regarding ongoing federal developments. There you’ll find the Guide to Creating “Safe Space” Policies for Early Childhood Programs. We have also shared Sanctuary Promise resources available in English and Spanish, which provides the names of several organizations that provide immigration supports.  

At DELC, we believe it’s important for every child, family, and provider to feel safe, respected, and supported. Thank you for your continued dedication to our mission, vision, and values – your work is more important than ever. Together, we can continue to make Oregon a place where every child and family can thrive.  

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 Child Care Update articles

• Special Message from the Director about the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care turning 3 this month
• Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care marks three-year anniversary with a ‘Focus on 3’  
• New services available statewide for early learning providers to ensure children stay in care 
• July 2026 Community Newsletter
• Your Participation is Important in the 2026 Market Price & Supply Study

At the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC), we aim to do everything in our power to ensure that every child, family, and provider feels safe, respected, and supported. Our state has a long-standing commitment to protecting the dignity and rights of everyone, regardless of their background, and our state’s sanctuary laws reflect these values. Helping to create and foster welcoming communities is woven into the fabric of our state’s current and past practices. Nearly 40 years ago, Oregon became the nation’s first sanctuary state and Governor Tina Kotek has vowed to continue to uphold our state’s sanctuary laws.  

At DELC our mission, vision, and values reflect this inclusive approach and are central to what we do. DELC’s seven core values include: Equity, Respect, Trust, Relationships, Safety, Continuous Improvement, and Integrity. These values help anchor the agency during uncertain times and are reflected in all of our agency practices and actions.  

Today, DELC leadership reiterate our unwavering commitment to proactively ensuring the Sanctuary laws are adhered to. As we prepare for more potential changes in the enforcement of federal immigration policies, we know community members are eager for resources and information.  

DELC has not made any policy changes in response to the current federal Executive Orders and we will continue to review any potential impacts to our agency, clients, and staff. As we continue to monitor and assess the situation, we will work to keep partners appraised of the rapidly changing landscape to the best of our ability. We understand the ongoing uncertainties and current climate can contribute to fear, hardships, and concern. 

Please note that while we are working hard to be responsive and provide information relevant to Oregon, we are not able to provide legal advice or to provide urgent rapid response. Below we have provided answers to common questions and resources to the appropriate channels. DELC employees are receiving information about the Oregon immigration laws and what to do as a state employee if they are approached by immigration enforcement. Oregon law does not allow DELC staff to share data or information for reporting individuals to immigration authorities based on known or suspected citizenship or immigration status. For questions around immigration enforcement or interpreting Oregon’s Sanctuary laws, please visit the Oregon Department of Justice for the most current resources and supports.  

Going forward, we continue to celebrate, appreciate, and recognize the sizeable contributions and unique heritage of immigrant communities across Oregon. Immigrant communities play a positive role in every corner of the state including significant contributions in the early learning workforce. We affirm our unwavering support for all students, families, and providers regardless of where they come from and will continue to work to ensure all early learning environments are inclusive, safe, and remain welcoming. As reflected in our core values, we believe that all children, families, and providers have a right to safety and to be respected. 

Together, we can continue to make Oregon a place where every child and family can thrive. 

What Do Oregon’s Sanctuary Laws Mean for You? 
Oregon sanctuary laws ensure that everyone in our state can live, work, go to school, and access government services without fear of discrimination or unnecessary inquiries into their personal background. These laws also guarantee that public agencies, including DELC, focus on what matters most: supporting children, families, and providers. 

For child care providers and families, this means: 
Health and Safety First: DELC’s role is to regulate for health and safety standards in child care settings. Routine visits, inspections, and licensing processes are designed only to ensure safe and healthy environments for children. 

Equal Access: Everyone in Oregon can participate in programs and services, including child care, without fear of their personal information being shared or misused. 

Community Support: DELC is here to support child care providers and families with resources, training, and guidance to help children thrive. 

What Should You Expect? 
You can trust that DELC will continue to prioritize the health, safety, and well-being of Oregon’s children. Routine inspections and visits from our team are not impacted by any recent changes and are solely focused on helping child care providers meet safety standards. 

No Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) staff member – including licensing specialists visiting child care facilities to monitor health and safety requirements – is authorized to share the immigration status of a child care provider or family participating in DELC programs without a warrant, subpoena, or order explicitly signed by a judge. 

Our mission is to create a system where every child has access to high-quality early learning and care opportunities, and we believe that starts with fostering trust and partnership in our communities. 

We’re Here for You 
Thank you for your dedication to our children and communities. Together, we can continue to make Oregon a place where every child and family can thrive. 

For more information regarding Oregon’s Sanctuary Promise Act and how it is implemented within state agencies, please visit https://www.doj.state.or.us/oregon-department-of-justice/civil-rights/sanctuary-promise/ or contact DELC directly by e-mailing early.learning@delc.oregon.gov. 

Additional resources for early learning programs and families: 

Oregon Department of Justice Resources 

• Oregon Department of Justice (DOJ), Civil Rights Unit (CRU) Sanctuary Promise Community Toolkit: Community Toolkit – Oregon Department of Justice 

• Oregon’s Sanctuary Promise Hotline: Call 1-844-924-STAY (7829) (any language), 1-844-6-AMPARO (1-844-626-7276) (Spanish), or report online any time and in any language at SanctuaryPromise.Oregon.gov or PromesaSantuario.Oregon.gov (Spanish language website)  

Partner and Community Organization Resources 

• ACLU of Oregon’s Know Your Rights: Immigrants’ Rights: https://www.aclu-or.org/en/know-your-rights-immigrants-rights 

• Children Thrive Action Network’s Toolkit: Protecting Immigrant Families Facing Deportation: https://childrenthriveaction.org/2025/01/protecting-immigrant-families-toolkit/ 

• Latino Network Immigration Resources: Recursos de Inmigracion en Oregon — Latino Network 

Partner and Community Organization Resources – Early Childhood 

• The Center for Law and Social Policy’s Guide to Creating ‘Safe Space’ Policies for Early Childhood Programs: https://www.clasp.org/publications/report/brief/guide-creating-safe-space-policies-early-childhood-programs/ 

• Immigrant Legal Resource Center’s Preparing for Possible Immigration Enforcement: Guidance for Childcare Providers: https://www.ilrc.org/resources/preparing-possible-immigration-enforcement-guidance-childcare-providers 

For the latest updates to these resources or questions related to these materials please contact the agencies that have authored them. We appreciate your continued dedication to supporting all of Oregon’s children and families.  

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Leyes de Santuario de Oregón y Recursos de Aprendizaje Temprano 

En el Departamento de Aprendizaje y Cuidado Temprano (DELC), hacemos todo lo posible para garantizar que cada niño, familia y proveedor se sienta seguro, respetado y apoyado. Nuestro estado tiene un largo compromiso con la protección de la dignidad y los derechos de todas las personas, sin importar su origen, y las leyes de santuario de nuestro estado reflejan estos valores. La creación y promoción de comunidades abiertas están entretejidos en las prácticas actuales y pasadas de nuestro Estado. Hace casi 40 años, Oregón se convirtió en el primer estado santuario de la nación, y la Gobernadora Tina Kotek ha prometido seguir defendiendo nuestras leyes de santuario. 

En DELC, nuestra misión, visión y valores reflejan este enfoque inclusivo y son fundamentales en todo lo que hacemos. Los siete valores fundamentales de DELC incluyen: Equidad, Respeto, Confianza, Relaciones, Seguridad, Mejoramiento Constante e Integridad. Estos valores nos guían en tiempos inciertos y se reflejan en todas nuestras prácticas y acciones.  

Hoy, el liderazgo de DELC reitera nuestro compromiso constante de garantizar que se cumplan las leyes de santuario. A medida que nos preparamos para posibles cambios en la aplicación de las políticas de inmigración federal, sabemos que los miembros de la comunidad buscan información y recursos.  

DELC no ha realizado cambios en su póliza en respuesta a actuales Órdenes Ejecutivas federales, y continuaremos evaluando cualquier posible impacto en nuestra agencia, nuestros clientes y nuestro personal. Mientras monitoreamos y evaluamos la situación, trabajaremos para mantener informados a nuestros socios sobre los constantes cambios de la mejor manera posible. Entendemos que la incertidumbre actual puede generar temor, dificultades y preocupación.  

Tenga en cuenta, aunque trabajamos duro para responder a las necesidades y proporcionar información relevante para Oregón, no podemos ofrecer asesoramiento legal ni una respuesta inmediata ante emergencias. A continuación, hemos incluido respuestas a preguntas frecuentes y recursos disponibles. Los empleados del DELC están recibiendo información sobre las leyes de inmigración de Oregón y qué hacer como empleado del Estado si se les acerca la policía de inmigración. La ley de Oregón no permite que el personal de DELC comparta datos o información para reportar a personas a las autoridades de inmigración basándose en su ciudadanía o estatus migratorio, ya sea conocido o sospechado. Para preguntas sobre la aplicación de leyes de inmigración o la interpretación de las leyes de santuario de Oregón, visite el Departamento de Justicia de Oregón para obtener los recursos y apoyos más actualizados.  

Seguiremos celebrando, apreciando y reconociendo las importantes contribuciones y la herencia única de las comunidades inmigrantes en Oregón. Estas comunidades desempeñan modelos positivos en cada rincón del estado, incluyendo contribuciones significativas en el sector del aprendizaje temprano. Afirmamos nuestro apoyo incondicional a todos los estudiantes, familias y proveedores, sin importar su país de origen, y continuaremos trabajando para garantizar que todos los centros de enseñanza temprano sean inclusivos, seguros y seguir siendo bienvenidos. Tal como se refleja en nuestros valores fundamentales, creemos que todos los niños, familias y proveedores tienen derecho a la seguridad y al respeto.  

Juntos, podemos continuar haciendo de Oregón un lugar donde cada niño y familia pueda prosperar. 

¿Qué significan las leyes de santuario de Oregón para usted?  
Las leyes de santuario de Oregón garantizan que todas las personas en nuestro estado puedan vivir, trabajar, estudiar y acceder a servicios gubernamentales sin temor a la discriminación ni a investigaciones innecesarias sobre su información personal. Estas leyes también aseguran que las agencias públicas, incluyendo DELC, se enfoquen en lo más importante: apoyar a los niños, las familias y los proveedores.  

Para los proveedores de cuidado infantil y las familias, esto significa: 

Salud y seguridad primero: El función de DELC es regular los estándares de salud y seguridad en los centros de cuidado infantil. Las visitas de rutina, inspecciones y procesos de licencia están diseñados exclusivamente para garantizar centros seguros y saludables para los niños. 

Igualdad de acceso: Todas las personas en Oregón pueden participar en programas y servicios, incluido el cuidado infantil, sin temor a que su información personal sea compartida o mal utilizada. 

Apoyo comunitario: DELC está aquí para apoyar a los proveedores de cuidado infantil y a las familias con recursos, capacitación y orientación para ayudar a los niños a prosperar. 

¿Qué puede esperar?  
Puede confiar en que DELC continuará priorizando la salud, seguridad y bienestar de los niños de Oregón. Las inspecciones y visitas de rutina de nuestro equipo no se verán afectadas por cambios recientes y tienen el único propósito de ayudar a los proveedores de cuidado infantil a cumplir con los estándares de seguridad. 

Ningún miembro del personal del Departamento de Aprendizaje Temprano y Cuidado (DELC), incluidos los especialistas en licencias que visitan instalaciones de cuidado infantil para monitorear requisitos de salud y seguridad, está autorizado para compartir el estado migratorio de un proveedor de cuidado infantil o de una familia que participe en los programas de DELC sin una orden judicial firmada explícitamente por un juez. 

Nuestra misión es crear un sistema en el que cada niño tenga acceso a oportunidades de aprendizaje temprano y cuidado de alta calidad, y creemos que esto comienza con promover la confianza y la colaboración en nuestras comunidades. 

Estamos aquí para usted 
Gracias por su dedicación a nuestros niños y comunidades. Juntos, podemos seguir haciendo de Oregón un lugar donde cada niño y familia pueda prosperar. 

Para más información sobre la Ley de la Promesa del Santuario de Oregón y su implementación en agencias estatales, visite:https://www.doj.state.or.us/oregon-department-of-justice/civil-rights/sanctuary-promise/ O contacte directamente a DELC enviando un correo electrónico a early.learning@delc.oregon.gov. 

Recursos adicionales para programas de aprendizaje temprano y familias:  

Recursos del Departamento de Justicia de Oregón 

• Departamento de Justicia de Oregón (DOJ), Unidad de Derechos Civiles (CRU) herramientas comunitarias de la Promesa del Santuario: Herramientas Comunitarias – Departamento de Justicia de Oregón 

• Línea Directa de la Promesa del Santuario de Oregón: 
  1-844-924-STAY (7829) (cualquier idioma) 
  1-844-6-AMPARO (1-844-626-7276) (español) 
  Reporte en línea: SanctuaryPromise.Oregon.gov  
  Página en español: PromesaSantuario.Oregon.gov  

Organizaciones asociadas y comunitarias 

• ACLU de Oregón Conozca sus derechos: Derechos de los inmigrantes: https://www.aclu-or.org/en/know-your-rights-immigrants-rights  

• Children Thrive Action Network – Protegiendo a familias inmigrantes: https://childrenthriveaction.org/2025/01/protecting-immigrant-families-toolkit/  

• Latino Network – Recursos de inmigración en Oregón: Recursos de Inmigracion en Oregon — Latino Network  

Recursos de Organizaciones Comunitarias y Socios – Edad Temprana  

• The Center for Law and Social Policy’s Guía para crear espacios seguros en programas de infancia: https://www.clasp.org/publications/report/brief/guide-creating-safe-space-policies-early-childhood-programs/ 

• Immigrant Legal Resource Center – Preparación ante la aplicación de inmigración: https://www.ilrc.org/resources/preparing-possible-immigration-enforcement-guidance-childcare-providers 

Si desea obtener las últimas versiones actualizadas de estos recursos o preguntas relacionadas, póngase en contacto con los organismos que los han autorizado. Apreciamos su constante dedicación a apoyar a todos los niños y familias de Oregón. 

Click below to view other Child Care Update articles

• Special Message from the Director about the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care turning 3 this month
• Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care marks three-year anniversary with a ‘Focus on 3’  
• New services available statewide for early learning providers to ensure children stay in care 
• July 2026 Community Newsletter
• Your Participation is Important in the 2026 Market Price & Supply Study