April 2026 Department of Early Learning and Care Updates.
A Message from leadership
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This month’s update from Director Alyssa Chatterjee
Greetings! Legislative session has wrapped up, cherry blossoms are in bloom, and we’re already thinking about next biennium. Here are some things that are top of mind for me:
2026 Legislative Session
The Legislative Session concluded with a bang! DELC received an additional $67 million in Federal Fund limitation – basically, permission – to use more of our Child Care and Development Funds (CCDF) to help address the budget needs of the Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) program. This allows us to use more federal funds to close our projected budget gap for the program, if needed. We did receive a small reduction to our internal operating budget called Services and Supplies, or “S&S,” which pays for things like travel and trainings for DELC staff that should be absorbable for this biennium. Please keep an eye out for additional government affairs updates as we move into 2027 planning. We appreciate your partnership and support this past session!
Agency Request Budget
As I mentioned in my last Chats, when one session ends, another begins. While we are not quite halfway through the 2025-2027 biennium, DELC is already starting to plan for the 2027 legislative session that will set next biennium’s budget. As we’ve been hearing, we continue to head into a more constrained budget environment, which means you likely won’t see a lot of big-ticket budget requests coming from agencies unless we can find a way to pay for them. However, it’s important that we still engage our communities – including you all – in the development of our Agency Request Budget (ARB) so that we can more fully understand the needs of our system. Read on for more information about our ARB Prep Webinar on April 14th; your input is critical in these early stages of the process.
Recognizing the Early Years
I can’t sign off without mentioning that April is home to both the Week of the Young Child (April 11-17) and National Home Visiting Week (April 20-24)! This is the 55th anniversary of WOYC, and the second annual Home Visiting Week. I am excited to see the continued recognition of the importance of these early years alongside the critical workforces that support children and families across Oregon. Read on to learn more about this recognition and how you can celebrate alongside us at DELC.
Carey’s Corner: What Am I Reading
We are excited to see the news that the third and final installment of the Oregon Child Care Infrastructure Fund (CCIF) were awarded by Business Oregon this month, highlighted in this Oregon Capital Chronicle article. Since fall 2024, more than 180 child care infrastructure projects in every Oregon county and eight federally recognized tribal nations have received a portion of the $50 million fund. Funds awarded are designed to establish, expand, and improve child care facilities across Oregon. Across these three rounds of funding, almost 2,000 applications were submitted, requesting approximately $820 million. The strengths this fund is building, the demand it documented, along with two 2025 reports – First Children’s Finance’s Navigating the Early Years: Recommendations to Support Oregon Child Care Businesses in the Critical Years after Launch, and the Northwest Native Chamber’s Tribal Child Care Needs Assessment that included insights on the CCIF process – are efforts bringing insights to child care access and affordability issues facing our state.
On the national level, the National Children’s Facilities Network and the Reinvestment Fund released an analysis in 2022 describing findings from their mapping project of financial infrastructure that can support start-up funding to create new child care programs, working capital for business stabilization and maintenance, and growth capital for facility expansion and quality improvement. In addition, the Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF), a community development financial institution, ran a three-part blog series in Spring of 2025 showcasing innovative state strategies to fund early care and education (ECE) infrastructure and improve child care accessibility and affordability. Part 2 of the series highlights how California and Washington, D.C. leverage flexible capital to increase the supply and enhance the quality of child care. Their approaches are especially impactful for underbanked communities and undercapitalized ECE providers, where access to quality ECE services and capital is most limited.
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March 2026 Department of Early Learning and Care Updates.
A Message from leadership
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.
This month’s update from Director Alyssa Chatterjee
I can’t believe it’s already time for another Chatterjee Chats! February has totally flown by – never under-estimate a legislative short session.
Legislative Session
Most of my time has been spent talking to legislators about DELC spending and needed policy changes. While we enter more constrained budget environments, one thing that continues to be clear is the recognition that families need support in accessing child care and early learning across the state.
Governor’s Early Childhood Care and Learning System Roundtable
The Governor announced a new roundtable on Tuesday, February 24th that will focus on increasing access to child care and preschool services across the state. The Governor is a long-standing champion of early learning and previously named early learning as one of her three priorities for the 25-27 biennium. DELC is going to be a part of this roundtable, and our own Carey McCann and Dorothy Spence will be part of the staffing team. We are excited to work alongside the Governor’s Office as this ambitious and exciting work gets underway.
Carey’s Corner: What Am I Reading
We recently rediscovered the interactive and learning space – ECHOES – the Early Childhood History, Organizing, Ethos, and Strategy Project. It tells the many histories of the ECE system and spotlights the untold stories of the women who taught and cared for young children. ECHOES explores the voices and visions of women of color, immigrant women, and working-class women by offering archival materials, stories, papers, audio and video clips, historical timelines, and contemporary material. An example of the history it describes is how Black women organized to expand child care, kindergarten and professional development as part of broader efforts to advance racial and gender justice at the turn of the century.
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February 2026 Department of Early Learning and Care Updates.
A Message from leadership
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.
This month’s update from Director Alyssa Chatterjee
Happy New Year! I have returned from maternity leave. I had an amazing four months with my new little family, and I could not have enjoyed that time without the support of my team. Jumping back into the Chatterjee Chats, you’ll still get to hear from Carey McCann throughout the year – especially as we get ready for the 2026 Legislative Short Session. Here are a few things that are top of mind for me as I am jumping back in:
Legislative Session
As we head into the six-week short session, DELC will be ready to triage and distribute any legislative bills that may impact the programs and services we provide. This is a fast and furious time, while we simultaneously begin preparing for the 2027 legislative session. Let the whirlwind begin!
Budget
On February 3, Cooper Brown and I will be giving a presentation to the Joint Ways & Means Subcommittee on Education (our budget committee) to review underspend from last biennium. In this context, underspend refers to the funds that were unspent by the end of the biennium. Some underspend is common amongst agencies, but as a new agency with one biennium officially under our belt, we are poised to make improvements to ensure we maximize the funding that goes out the door in service of our communities.
Immigration
Oregon continues to be a Sanctuary State, and Governor Kotek has made her commitment to that status clear. If you haven’t already, you can listen to her remarks from an immigration roundtable that she convened last weekend. As we continue to navigate the uncertainty and fear that we, and our communities, are experiencing, I am buoyed by the Governor’s commitments and our vision that all children, families, early care and education professionals, and communities are supported and empowered to thrive.
Oregon Early Learning Management System
I have to say, this project was a really exciting one to come back to. There has been so much progress since I left as the team hurtles towards a summer launch of the Oregon Early Learning Management System (Oregon ELMS)! I know how excited folks are to see what Oregon ELMS can do. Stay tuned for more information regarding rollout and trainings.
Carey’s Corner: What Am I Reading
With the New Year as a time when many reflect on the past year and set intentions for the upcoming year, I was looking back at what we’ve been reading and listening to in 2025. I would like to highlight Elliot Haspel’s book, Raising a Nation:10 Reasons Every American Has a Stake in Child Care For All. This book offers a combination of real-life stories, history, and policy analysis. It presents a case for the importance of child care. There is a 30-minute interview with Haspel by the Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children that can be watched here. And, New America offers an excerpt of the book on their website. He explores the “very human activity” that all early learning and care settings offer across our country in fostering the development of young children, supporting families to thrive by having meaningful choices, and contributing to our communities’ assets and well-being.
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January 2026 Department of Early Learning and Care Updates.
A Message from leadership
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.
This month’s update from Interim Director Carey McCann
Happy New Year! Before looking forward to the year ahead, please check out some of the highlights from 2025 that gave us inspiration. We are looking forward to Director Alyssa Chatterjee returning later this month!
On Friday, we sent out a special message to provide some clarity around federal funding related to child care and provider safety. If you missed that message please read it on our blog. We will continue monitoring these reports and will provide updates as they become available.
December Site Visits
In December, DELC staff attended two site visits to show legislators how state dollars are working for Oregon families.
On December 10, the Oregon Association of Relief Nurseries hosted a visit to Lifeworks NW Children’s Relief Nursery in Hillsboro with Senator Sollman and Representative Hai Pham’s chief of staff. Lifeworks staff Denise and Erin gave a tour of the facility and explained the host of services offered to families, from early learning and literacy, to peer support, transportation, respite, and assistance meeting essential needs. The visit really highlighted how each relief nursery in Oregon is designed to serve the unique needs of their community, and how life-changing these services can be for children and their families. We even got visit with some kiddos on the playground and meet the pet worms they unearthed from a nearby mud pile.
On December 15, we visited El Trenecito/The Little Train Family Child Care Center in Beaverton, along with Senator Sollman, Representative Ruiz, Early Learning Council Chair Liz Farrar Campbell, and Council member Ruby Ramirez. Owners Sandra and Miguel were consummate hosts, providing fresh pastries, cookies, and coffee for the group. They demonstrated the unique experience offered by family child care providers serving families from infancy to kindergarten, and shared many of the financial challenges and regularity barriers facing child care providers. El Trenecito was also a Child Care Infrastructure Fund recipient, so the visit included a tour of the beautiful new outdoor play area and structure now offering children a dry place to play during rainy days, and shade from the sun in the summer.
Preschool Development Grant Update
In late November, the federal government announced an opportunity for states to apply for a 12-month Preschool Development Grant focused on early childhood system-building, with seven working days and a Thanksgiving holiday to accommodate, Oregon submitted a proposal on Monday, December 1st, and after several uncertain weeks, DELC received an award for approximately $7.3 million in federal funding. This competitive award is intended to enhance and align existing early childhood education (ECE) infrastructure, with a specific focus on unifying fragmented systems, continuing to develop a shared, comprehensive vision for early childhood education, and maximizing parental choice as families navigate the ECE landscape.
More information will be coming soon early in the year!
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December 2025 Department of Early Learning and Care Updates.
A Message from leadership
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.
This month’s update from Interim Director Carey McCann
It is hard to believe that December is upon us, with the end of the year quickly approaching. I have a few things to share in this edition of the Community Newsletter. DELC will be sharing 2025 highlights of programs and impact closer to the first of the year. Please be on the lookout!
Visiting Casita Azul
A couple of weeks ago I had to the chance to join Senator Sollman and Wendy Gibson in a site visit at Casita Azul, a new center in Hillsboro offering Spanish immersion early learning and care. It was wonderful to see how a program is leveraging private pay, Preschool Promise, and ERDC to offer services to families in their community. We were joined by their community partners from the Washington County Early Learning Hub and Community Action’s Child Care Resource & Referral and Head Start leaders for a discussion that explored the opportunities and challenges from the local, county and state perspectives. We appreciated the robust conversation and wonderful hosts.
What Am I Reading
At least monthly, I look forward to receiving an update from the RAPID Survey Project, featuring the voices of families and child care providers since April 2020. The Survey Project seeks to understand and elevate the experiences and challenges facing families and to provide timely, actionable insights that inform policies and programs. You can explore their publications – the most recent ones in November included: Hunger is Increasing Among those Who Provide Care to Young Children, and Five Years of Parent Voices.
Visiting with Head Start of Lane County
Last week, DELC staff joined the executive leadership of Head Start of Lane County, along with other local and state-level leaders, including Senator Merkley, Mayor Knudson of Eugene, and Mayor VanGordon of Springfield. This visit was an opportunity for roundtable discussions on the positive impact of Head Start in communities. It also allowed for open sharing of the challenges the program has faced. We are grateful to all who visited with us and shared the important stories of impact.
Caring Communities update
In February of 2025, DELC leadership and teams began visiting sites across Oregon as a part of the Caring Communities Tour. We would like to thank the communities below for sharing space and time this year. We appreciate our partners and their teams who coordinated visits and educational opportunities, answering our questions, and joyfully shared stories of adversity and success so DELC teams could learn more about the work that is happening in each community.
This year we have visited the following regions:
Yamhill
Eastern
Blue Mountain
Linn, Benton, Lincoln
Clackamas
Harney, Grant
Southern
Lane
We look forward to visiting more communities next year.
Legislative Days
Recently, given the forecasted decrease in state revenue for the current biennium (2025-2027), the legislature was very focused during the November Legislative Committee Days, on hearing from agencies about 2.5% and 5% reduction scenarios they were required to prepare in the event that future revenue forecasts continue to show a deficit as we enter the February 2026 legislative session.
On Tuesday, November 18, DELC leadership presented to the Ways and Means Joint Education Subcommittee. (For those interested in checking it out, DELC’s presentation starts at 1:54:00.) Committee members expressed how difficult these conversations around possible reductions are. At this time, no reduction decisions have been made by the legislature, but we will continue to work with the Legislative Fiscal Office and legislators to respond to questions and requests.
Aside from budget presentations, DELC was also invited to give two other presentations to the Senate Early Childhood and Behavioral Health Committee. Child Care Licensing Director Alicia Gardiner provided an update on the Micro-Center Pilot Project. The committee shared continued interest in looking at ways to support more centralized childcare options, including by addressing local zoning and investing more in ECE programming around the state. Following the Micro-Center presentation was a presentation on Child Care Liability Insurance, a topic that is still being researched here in Oregon and by national groups.
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November 2025 Department of Early Learning and Care Updates.
A Message from leadership
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.
This month’s update from Interim Director Carey McCann
It’s hard to believe that Fall is almost over! For many young children and educators that means a new program year is well underway, and some of our littlest learners are experiencing early learning and care for the first time. October was also Head Start Awareness Month, when we honor the work Head Start has been doing to create opportunity for children and families across the nation.
Remembering Representative Hoa Nguyen
I wanted to start my message by remembering with honor and great respect the late Representative Hoa Nguyen. On October 9, the State of Oregon lost a passionate and fierce advocate for children and families in our state. Rep Nguyen was a champion for DELC and early learners; she chaired the Early Childhood and Human Services Committee and the Child Care Caucus. This Fall DELC co-organized with the Child Care Caucus a tour of childcare facilities around the state. I was in Bend on a Baby Promise site tour with Rep Nguyen’s Caucus Co-Chair, Representative Jules Walters, the morning of October 9. Rep Walters led a moment of silence, and also wrote this touching tribute to her late colleague and friend: Remembering Hoa Nguyen. OPB has also written an article in remembrance: Oregon state Rep. Hòa Nguyễn dies at 41 – OPB.
What I am Listening to this Month:
Check out the podcast Early Link by Oregon’s own Children’s Institute that is highlighting national, regional, and local voices working in the field of early care and education. In the most recent episode, Kali Thorne Ladd interviews Isabelle Hau, author of Love to Learn, an exploration of how early relationships shape the architecture of the brain and the foundation for lifelong learning. I was struck by their discussion about what it takes to fuel curiosity, resilience, and growth. Hau shares that this book is for educators, parents, grandparents, and changemakers who believe the future begins with how we care for our youngest learners.
Out and About
September and October were busy months!
In addition to the Bend Baby Promise site visit I mentioned above, I joined a group of almost 30 legislators, staff, advocates and system partners at a tour of the Gladstone Center for Children and Families, which hosts Head Start/Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten and Preschool Promise classrooms, as well as a Relief Nursery in the same complex. It was wonderful to witness how state and local investments in early learning care are making a difference in community.
September 29 – October 1st the Oregon Legislature convened for interim legislative committee days. During Legislative Days, committees hold informational hearings on topics that may lead to future legislation, hear updates on bill implementation, listen to reports from state agencies and Task Forces, and keep current on emerging issues affecting Oregonians.
Changes at the federal level were top of mind for legislators during committee days. On Monday, September 29, DELC’s Early Learning Programs Director, Dorothy Spence, and I presented to the House Early Childhood Human Services Committee alongside Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) staff at a hearing on the impacts of HR 1 – the massive tax bill passed by Congress in July. ODHS spoke about how HR 1 will impact those who participate in Oregon’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program. We spoke about the impacts of federal changes on Oregon families and the early childhood education workforce, challenges experienced by local Head Start programs, and future actions we will be watching closely. Click here to view the agenda and watch a recording of the presentation.
On Wednesday, October 1st, newly-appointed Early Learning Council (ELC) Chair Liz Farrar Campbell presented to the Senate Interim Committee on Early Childhood and Behavioral Health. Chair Farrar Campbell introduced the committee to the ELC and its current priorities. To view the presentation, click here. Many thanks to Early Learning Council Administrator Gaby Hernandez, who developed the presentation and represented DELC at the committee hearing.
Speaking of the Early Learning Council, on October 20-22 I attended the Council’s annual retreat in Salem. The retreat brought together council members, community partners, parents, home visitors and regional leaders from Early Learning Hubs and CCR&Rs to share their efforts in child care. The Council also hosted a reception with legislators, community leaders, advocates, and champions – an inspiring evening that reaffirmed collective dedication in the work we all do for Oregon’s youngest children and their families. The final day of the retreat consisted of updates from DELC and our agency partners in Raise Up Oregon – the Oregon Health Authority, the Departments of Education and Human Services, along with the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, sharing their early childhood focus for the upcoming year. Johnna Timmes, Governor Tina Kotek’s Education Advisor, concluded the retreat by joining the Council to discuss the importance of maintaining a strong focus on young children and families across the state.
Update Regarding Federal Government Shutdown
As the federal government shutdown continues, our update is similar to what we shared last month. DELC continues to not anticipate immediate disruptions to services and operations. At this time, programs remain operational, and we have not had problems drawing down federal funds in October. We will continue to monitor the situation.
For contracts that receive federal funding, we are working in close coordination with the Governor’s office to continually assess and mitigate any potential impacts. Grantees can reach out to their grant administrator or DELC contact with questions or concerns. We recognize that the ongoing federal uncertainty can be distressing. We are here to help navigate this situation and as always — we recognize and appreciate your work.
Tribal Heritage Month
In this month of November, we proudly join in celebrating Native American Heritage Month, a time to recognize and uplift the enduring cultures, histories, and contributions of Tribal Nations. As a part of that celebration, we want to highlight the historical milestone of Oregon’s Tribal Early Learning Plan.
On October 8, the 2025 Tribal-State Government to Government Summit was held at Ko-Kwel Casino Resort in Coos Bay co-hosted by the Coquille Indian Tribe. During a morning bill signing ceremony “From Words to Actions” Governor Kotek recognized legislative advancements in early learning. HB 2815, the Tribal Early Learning Plan puts Tribal sovereignty and self-determination at the forefront. Ensuring that the nine federally recognized Tribes within Oregon’s borders hold the ability to focus on initiatives most relevant for their Nations, the creation of a Tribal Early Learning Fund allows Tribes flexible funding access for early learning resources and strengthens Oregon’s government-to-government relationships.
You can read more about the 2025 Tribal-State Government to Government Summit in the blog posts below.
Supporting Oregon’s immigrant families, workforce and children
Recent events, including the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and demonstrations in Portland, are affecting Oregonians in different ways. We have also heard heightened concerns from providers about ICE presence near Oregon childcare facilities in recent weeks. All families should feel safe in their communities, and while we at DELC can do to prevent this from happening, I wanted to reiterate DELC’s commitment to upholding our responsibilities under Oregon sanctuary laws.
Oregon is a Sanctuary State and Governor Tina Kotek has made it clear that these laws have been on the books since the 1980s and exist because the state believes that immigrants are integral to the culture and success of Oregon. State law prohibits state and local government agencies, including law enforcement, from using public resources to enforce federal immigration laws without a signed judicial warrant. This means that everyone in Oregon should be able to live, work, attend school, report crimes and access public services without fear of being reported to ICE by state or local officials. If you believe these laws are being violated, please report it to the Sanctuary Promise Violations Hotline at 1-844-924-STAY (1-844-924-7829). Operators are standing by 9am to 5pm, Monday – Friday with interpreters in over 240 languages. The Oregon Department of Justice offers an online Justice Sanctuary Promise Guidance webpage with helpful resources for employees and communities, including: Community Toolkit, Information for Public Schools, and Outreach Materials and Media. In addition to these resources, DELC has also shared the following two resources with our programs and partners geared for providers in September:
We are also monitoring the federal government shutdown closely. November SNAP food benefits are delayed due to the federal shutdown. Benefits will be issued after funding resumes. We know this is difficult for families who rely on food assistance programs.
If families have any unused SNAP funds on their EBT cards from previous months, those funds will rollover and can be used by families after November 1, 2025. The shutdown means that November’s allocation will not be added.
OHA also continues to monitor federal legislative developments and their impacts on WIC funding as the government shutdown continues. At this time, the federal government provided funding for Oregon’s WIC program to continue into November. This includes services such as enrollment, breastfeeding support and connection to community services. WIC offices are open. However, funding for the food benefit (EBT) is only through November 15.
Free and reduced price school meals will still be available. The shutdown is not currently impacting the National School Lunch Program.
During the month of November, we will use our social media and blog posts to update any changes around food access. In the meantime, please see these community resources from ODHS if you are looking for resources near you:
Here’s what you can do:
Check your EBT balance. Any unused SNAP benefits will stay available after Nov. 1, 2025
If SNAP benefits are delayed, ODHS will announce it through the media and our websites. We will not send a letter. For fast updates, sign up for a ONE Online account or download the Oregon ONE Mobile app.
October 2025 Department of Early Learning and Care Updates.
A Message from leadership
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.
This month’s update from Interim Director Carey McCann
Update Regarding Federal Government Shutdown
Many of you likely noticed this morning’s news headlines this morning regarding a federal government shutdown. We have been planning for this potential scenario and are not anticipating immediate disruptions to DELC’s services and operations.
At this time, programs remain operational, and we don’t currently anticipate having problems drawing down funds in October and reimbursements should move forward uninterrupted.
For contracts that receive federal funding, we are working in close coordination with the Governor’s office to continually assess and mitigate any potential impacts if the shutdown is prolonged. If the shutdown continues into November, the DELC leadership team will be monitoring the situation and will continue to provide timely updates as information becomes available. Grantees can reach out to their grant administrator or DELC contact with additional questions or concerns.
While we are unlikely to see any immediate impact to early learning programs and supports, we recognize that the ongoing federal uncertainty can be distressing. We are here to help navigate this situation and as always — we recognize and appreciate your work.
She’s here! I’m thrilled to share that Alyssa and family welcomed baby Maya (My-Uh) in September. All are doing well and back at home settling into new routines. Alyssa passed on appreciation for all of the supportive messages, kind words, and well wishes from staff and partners.
Hunt Institute
I had the opportunity to attend the Hunt Insitute conference recently alongside other early learning partners. We heard from leaders from across the country as they shared innovative ideas for increasing access to preschool and child care, along with the importance of the early years on a child’s long-term development. One of the new presentations was by the Prenatal to Age 3 Policy Impact Center – check out their roadmap on Oregon about how we are doing on the what they have identified as the 12 most effective evidence-based investments states can make to foster opportunities for infants and toddlers.
Head Start Awareness Month
This month is Head Start Awareness Month! Head Start has been serving children and families across the country since 1965. Recognizing the tremendous impact of this two-generation program, Oregon created the Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten program (Oregon Prekindergarten at the time) to extend the federal Head Start model with state funds. Now, thousands of families are benefiting from these services across the state. You can learn more about Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten/Head Start on our website: https://www.oregon.gov/delc/programs/Pages/head-start-opk.aspx.
Outdoor Nature Based Programs – Celebrating the First Certified Outdoor Program
I am excited to share that with the first Outdoor Nature Based Program has gained certification as of this summer. You may know that DELC, with the support of partners and community, has been working to define rules and regulations surrounding the rules for certification of outdoor programs.
In 2023, House Bill 2717 added outdoor child care program to the definition of “child care facility” opening the way for the DELC to develop a path for outdoor programs to become licensed. The process for developing Oregon’s Certified Outdoor Nature-Based child care rules included consulting with current programs in Oregon, using Washington’s ONB rules as a guide, conducting site visits in Washington and Oregon, and gathering feedback from an advisory committee of advocates and professionals knowledgeable in this type of care. Throughout the process DELC has remained focused on foundational health and safety standards.
Thank you to the outdoor programs who provided feedback and guidance to help us create strong foundational standards for certification.
Federal CCDF Site Visit
As many of you know, DELC receives federal funding through the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF). Every three years, federal staff conduct an on-site monitoring visit to ensure our practices align with our CCDF State Plan. This year’s visit took place September 9–11, 2025.
Our federal partners reviewed documents, interviewed staff, and observed how we implement policies across licensing, training, and eligibility processes—including collaboration with ODHS on ERDC subsidy determinations. A heartfelt thank you to all who supported this successful visit, including the:
Child Care Licensing Division (CCLD) Tualatin Field Office
CCLD Salem Field Office
Grants Management
Internal Audits
Policy & Government Affairs
Direct Pay Unit
Child Care Assistance Program
Child Care & Development Fund Office
CCLD Director’s Office
Operations Director’s Office
Early Childhood Policy and Strategy Office
Enforcement Office
Your expertise and collaboration were key in representing Oregon’s child care system to our federal partners. Thank you!
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September 2025 Department of Early Learning and Care Updates.
A Message from leadership
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 September Update
My name is Carey McCann, DELC’s Policy & Strategy Director and I’ll be serving as interim Director over the next few months while Alyssa is on leave. (As Alyssa shared previously, she will be out of the office on maternity leave through the end of the year). On behalf of the Director’s office, I am excited to share updates from DELC over the next few months.
Deputy Director of Operations, Cooper Brown, and Deputy Director of Programs, Joel Metlen will also be providing additional coverage and leadership. You can learn more about the entire DELC Executive Team under “about us” on the DELC website.
Alyssa wanted to share her thanks as she transitions away for a little while to enjoy her new stage in life:
“I feel incredibly fortunate to not just live in Oregon, but work for DELC. The support I have received as I prepare to take maternity leave has been amazing, and I am lucky to live in a state that will allow me to spend these precious moments with my new family of three.”
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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.
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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:
