Category: Child Care Update

A resource for early learning programs and partners to track important updates.

Summer EBT is back! Helping children eat healthy during the summer for a strong start to next school year

The Summer EBT program provides grocery benefits to eligible families with children aged 6-18 during summer months.

Summer EBT is back for its second year of helping families buy groceries to keep kids healthy all summer. Most children receive Summer EBT automatically, but some families need to apply. Families with children who attend a school, or a Head Start program that offers free or reduced-price meals should check to see if they need to apply at sebt.oregon.gov.

Summer EBT is a grocery benefit program for school-aged children (ages 6 to 18) to help families buy food during the summer months when school meals are unavailable. Eligible families receive a one-time payment of $120 per child. Benefits are loaded onto Oregon EBT cards and expire 122 days after issuance.

Who’s Eligible?

Children are eligible if, during the 2024–25 school year, they:

  • Received SNAP, TANF, or Oregon Health Plan with income under 185% of the Federal Poverty Level.
  • Attended a school offering the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP) and qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
  • Were in foster care, or are enrolled in programs for migrant students, experiencing houselessness, in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, or attending a Head Start that participates in NSLP/SBP.

Who Needs to Apply?

  • Families already receiving SNAP, TANF or Oregon Health Plan benefits do not need to apply—they’ll be enrolled automatically.
  • Families who applied and were approved in 2024 will also receive benefits automatically in 2025.
  • Others must apply. Families can apply any time using a paper application. Paper applications are available in 10 languages at sebt.oregon.gov. Starting May 30, families can apply online in English or Spanish at sebt.oregon.gov.

Important dates

  • May 19, 2025: Oregon Summer EBT Call Center opens.
    • Call Center Number: 1-833-ORE-SEBT (1-833-673-7328)
    • The Call Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., PDT.
    • Call center agents will be able to assist customers in English and Spanish. For other language needs an interpreter service will be provided.
  • May 22, 2025: Families with children who are automatically eligible will get benefits on their Oregon EBT cards.
  • May 30, 2025: Online application period opens. Online and paper applications begin processing. Oregon EBT cards will be mailed to qualifying families.

Announcing the Early Learning Council’s newest member, Eric C. Hunter!

Eric C. Hunter brings over 25 years of health care leadership experience, serving on all Board committees and holding various executive roles.

Eric C. Hunter serves as a member on all seven of the Board of Directors’ committees. With more than 25 years of leadership experience in the health care field, Eric brings a deep knowledge of Medicaid policy, Medicare plan administration, commercial plans and the integration of physical and behavioral health care. Eric served most recently as Chief Operating Officer for Boston Medical Center Healthnet Plan. Previous roles include CEO for ValueOptions Behavioral Health in both Texas and Illinois, numerous roles with Schaller Anderson including CEO for Heartland Health Plan in Oklahoma. At Centene, he served as COO, Managed Health Services in Indiana, and served as COO of Total Carolina Care in South Carolina.

Register to attend the May Provider Information Session

Please register for the May Provider Information Session

Join us in May to learn about the below topics

  • ERDC Waitlist
  • Every Child Belongs
  • Agency and Program Updates

When?
Wednesday, May 21 | 6 – 7 p.m.
All provider types. (Interpretation available)

Zoom Registration:

Register Here!

This is a virtual event. Registration is required to attend via Zoom. You may submit questions in advance on the registration form. You may also participate on DELC’s Facebook page live stream at the same time. DELC staff will monitor the Facebook comment section for questions.

Note: Attendees utilizing interpretation services (Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Chinese, and ASL) should join the session via Zoom. For more information, please visit https://www.oregon.gov/delc/providers/pages/provider-info-sessions.aspx

May 2025 Community Newsletter

May 2025 Department of Early Learning and Care Updates.

A Message from the Director

I hope folks are taking care as we head into the Spring season – a time for change and growth. There is a lot going on that I am excited to share with you, so read on for the latest with the Department of Early Learning and Care.  

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 May Update

60th Anniversary of Head Start

This month marks 60 years of Head Start across the country! While the official anniversary is May 18th, it’s never too early to celebrate the incredible work this program does to serve children and families across Oregon. I feel lucky to be in a state that recognizes the important work of early childhood education, and has supported programs like Head Start through the creation of Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten, which launched in 1987. Head Start is more than an early learning program – it provides comprehensive services and supports to some of our most vulnerable children and families. Thank you, Head Start for, all that you do!

Provider Appreciation

This month also brings around Provider Appreciation Day! Celebrated on the Friday before Mother’s Day – May 9th, this year – this is a time for us to pause, recognize, and appreciate the incredible providers that make Oregon work! Stay tuned for some fun ways to celebrate and show the provider in your life how much you appreciate them.

Early Learning Council Membership

I am excited to share that the Early Learning Council welcomed its newest member at their Council meeting last week, Eric Hunter! Eric is the President and Chief Executive Officer of CareOregon. In this role he is able to bring in the health care perspective to the ELC, enhancing the Council’s expertise in the cross-sector work of Oregon’s early childhood system. Check out the special feature to learn more about Eric’s work and the work of the Early Learning Council!

Legislative Session

This session continues to move quickly, with many bills awaiting a public hearing in their respective Ways & Means Subcommittee. Once the May 14th revenue forecast is released, we anticipate things moving quickly, including DELC’s budget bill, SB 5514. We also anticipate two additional DELC bills passing out of Ways and Means: HB 2811, which formalizes the Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Oregon Program in statute to ensure children can get access to high-quality, age-appropriate books across Oregon. Also in committee is HB 2815, the Tribal Early Learning Plan and Fund, centering the Tribal sovereignty and self-determination to support language and culture revitalization, professional development, to meet Tribal early learning and child care goals. We’re excited that our technical fix bill to algin licensing statute among provider types, HB 2814, passed the House unanimously and is currently in the Senate; the bill received a public hearing in the Senate Early Childhood and Behavioral Health Committee and we’re waiting for the bill to be voted out of committee and on the full Senate floor. Lots going on and more to come!

Caring Communities Tour

This year, we’re kicking off a Caring Communities Tours so that DELC leadership can hear from communities on the ground about what’s working, what’s not, and where DELC can make adjustments to our policies and practices to benefit more children, families, and providers. It’s also a wonderful time to see some of our programs in action and hear from the providers caring for Oregon kids every day. This tour kicked off this Spring and will continue through the end of the year. Thank you to the Early Leaning Hubs and Child Care Resource & Referral agencies around the state for helping us put these incredible visits together. We’ll continue to spotlight these visits throughout the rest of the year in our DELC Newsletter. 

    Click below to view other Community Newsletter articles

    DELC celebrates the first inaugural National Home Visiting Week on April 21 through April 25!

    National Home Visiting Week from April 21-25 celebrates home visitors’ role in enhancing maternal and child health. DELC highlights various programs that connect families to support and resources throughout Oregon.

    Updated on April 11, 2025

    The first-ever National Home Visiting Week takes place April 21-25, an observance to celebrate and recognize home visitors and the positive impact they make on maternal and child health outcomes.  

    Here at DELC, we celebrate and honor Home Visitors who play an important role in supporting a healthy and thriving community! 

    We have multiple programs with Home Visiting services included within the service model:   

    • Healthy Families Oregon (HFO) 
    • Relief Nurseries 
    • Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten (OPK) 
    • Early Head Start 

    What are home visitors and what do they do for Oregon’s communities? 

    Home visiting connects pregnant and parenting families of young children to trained family support professionals who provide customized coaching and guidance through pregnancy and the early stages of a child’s development. Using a variety of evidence based models, home visiting supports healthy birth outcomes, increases family self sufficiency, and helps children enter school fully prepared to succeed. 

    Home visiting and DELC 

    DELC partners with various state and local agencies, as well as community organizations, to coordinate home visiting services across the state.  Here is an overview of how DELC supports home visiting across Oregon. 

    Regional and Local Partners:  

    • Early Learning Hubs: Hubs have a role in connecting and coordinating early learning services, including home visiting programs.  
    • Center for Coordinating Oregon Home Visiting Systems (CCOHVS): CCOHVS serves as a program-neutral backbone for supporting state and regional coordination of prenatal and early childhood home visiting services. Their work provides increased capacity to support regional and state early childhood leaders. 
    • Home Visiting Collaborative: DELC staff, other state agency’s staff, and representatives from home visiting programs meet regularly to share successes and challenges at the local, regional, and state level.   

    Partnerships with other state agencies 

    The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and DELC meet regularly to coordinate home visiting programs, ensuring that families receive comprehensive health and developmental support. DELC also partners with the Department of Human Services (DHS) to leverage resources and to coordinate support services.  

    Click below to view other Child Care Update articles

    New Family Child Care Rules Informational Webinar Registration Now Open!

    In December 2024, Oregon’s Early Learning Council approved new family child care rules effective July 1, 2025. Upcoming webinars will provide guidance and support for providers adapting to these changes.

    Updated on April 11, 2025

    In December 2024, the Oregon Early Learning Council approved new rules for registered and certified family child care homes. Many of Oregon’s family child care providers, community advocates, and families shared insight and feedback to create these rules. Thank you to all who helped!

    To review a copy of the new rules, visit DELC’s Rules page.

    What does this mean for your program?

    These rules will replace the current rules on July 1, 2025. The Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) Child Care Licensing Division (CCLD) is committed to supporting programs with learning the new rules. This support will include recorded online videos and information sessions available in the late spring of 2025.

    Registration is open now for our Certified Family Child Care Provider informational webinar taking place May 13th from 6:00pm-7:30pm. Interpretation will be available for those who request language services during registration.

    Registration is open now for our Registered Family Child Care Provider informational webinar taking place May 15th from 6:00pm-7:30pm. Interpretation will be available for those who request language services during registration.

    If you cannot attend the webinar, but still have questions, visit www.oregon.gov/delc, call DELC Customer Service at 1-800-556-6616, or reach out to your Licensing Specialist. DELC’s Child Care Licensing Division is here to support you, your staff, and your program.

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    Calling all Early Care and Education professionals! 2025 Statewide Provider Survey is here.

    A link to participate in the survey will be emailed to all ECE providers in Oregon. Please keep an eye out for an invitation to participate!

    Updated on May 2, 2025

    The 2025 Statewide Provider Survey is here! This survey is an opportunity for Early Care and Education (ECE) providers to share their experiences supporting families with young children and participating in the Early Childhood System in Oregon. The Provider Survey helps DELC hear directly from ECE providers about what they need to be successful in their important work with young children and families. Providers who participate will receive a $25 gift card as appreciation for their time.

    A link to participate in the survey will be emailed to all ECE providers in Oregon. Please keep an eye out for an invitation to participate!

    Deadline Extended!
    The provider survey deadline has changed to May 31st. Be sure to share your voice before then!

    The survey will take about 30 minutes. Eligible providers who complete the survey will receive a $25 gift card as appreciation for their time and be entered into an additional drawing for one of several $100 gift cards. 

    Providers can contact Denise Ford with ODI if they did not receive an invitation to participate and believe that they should have (contact information below).

    Questions?
    Email: denisef@oslc.org
    Call or text: 916-205-6851

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    Submit your photos for May’s Provider Appreciation Day! 

    Provider Appreciation Day is coming up on May 9! We want to spotlight you, our amazing childcare providers! DELC invites child care providers to submit photos of themselves (no children pictured) for a special social media shoutout. Be sure to include the photo release form and get it to us by May 5!

    Updated on April 1, 2025

    Provider Appreciation Day is approaching on May 9, the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) would like to have the opportunity to highlight you and your staff on our social media and blog.    

    Provider Appreciation Day is an annual celebration on the Friday before Mother’s Day that recognizes the work of childcare providers, teachers, and other educators of young children. If you would consider sending in a photo of yourself, your staff, or the whole team (no children pictured), we would love to celebrate this important day with you and honor your time and efforts in this way.   

    Please be sure to fill out the attached photo release form and include signatures from each adult in the photo.   

    Please do not include children! While we would love to highlight your work directly with kiddos, we know it can be difficult to manage photo releases with families, and we do not want to burden you by asking you to make that happen.     

    Any photo submitted by 4 pm on May 5 will be included in the DELC celebration posts as long as photo releases are provided. Thank you for your consideration.    

    Photo Release Form – DELCDownload

    You can submit your photo by emailing the DELC Communications Team at DELC.Communications@DELC.oregon.gov. Feel free to let us know the name of your center or program in the subject line of your email.    

    Thank you for all that you do for Oregon’s littlest learners.    

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    April 2025 Community Newsletter

    April 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 April Update

    Federal Landing Page

    Over the last couple of months, DELC has been focused on developing internal processes to track and analyze federal changes and their potential impact on the services we offer across the agency. With our internal structures in place, we are now able to make this information available on our external website for our partners and the public to easily access. While we still are not the best sources for up-to-the-minute information, we hope this landing page can provide some dedicated support and information as we continue to work through this process.

    Legislative Session

    We have now passed one of the first big milestones in the legislative session, with bills required to be posted for a Work Session (when the policy committee decides whether to move a bill forward) by Friday, 3/21 or they are considered “dead.” The next big milestone is right around the corner – all bills must have had their Work Session by April 9th. A big focus for the team right now is responding to Fiscal Impact Statement requests, where we analyze what it would cost DELC (if anything) to implement a bill should it become law. So for now, we’ll be answering a lot of questions and providing information to partners and the legislature as they keep working towards these deadlines.

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      2024 DELC Customer Satisfaction Survey Annual Report

      DELC’s first customer satisfaction survey in August 2024 received 296 responses, revealing 70% rated services good or excellent, highlighting strengths in helpfulness, expertise, and areas for improvement in communication.

      Updated on April 1, 2025

      DELC’s Annual Customer Satisfaction Survey Report contains the results of DELC’s first ever customer satisfaction survey.

      Quality customer service is an essential element of achieving DELC’s mission and vision. It helps us understand if we’re accomplishing our Growing Oregon Together Strategic Plan goal to “Develop and improve operational foundations to efficiently serve Oregonians.” It also supports understanding of our DEI Plan goals to “build capacity of social equity principles throughout all of DELC positions,” “strengthen relationships internally at DELC and externally with all communities,” and “improve quality and access to services and programs while tracking measurable goals.”

      The survey was conducted in August of 2024 and DELC received 296 usable responses. In terms of overall quality of services, 70% of survey respondents indicated this was good or excellent. Analysis of survey responses suggest DELC’s strengths were helpfulness, knowledge and expertise, and courtesy and respect. Analysis also suggests opportunities for growth were availability of information, timeliness, listening to needs, clear communication, and knowing who to reach out to.

      Click below to find the Executive Summary and access the full report.

      Customer%20Satisfaction%20Annual%20Report%20Executive%20Summary_EN[1]Download

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