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Press Release: Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care Releases First Strategic Plan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 25, 2024

Contact:
Kate Gonsalves, (503) 428-7292
delc.media@delc.oregon.gov

Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care Releases First Strategic Plan

Growing Oregon Together lays out a comprehensive five-year plan for early education and care

SALEM, ORE. –The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) released the 2024-2029 strategic plan along with its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Action Plan. Outlined in the plans are the agency mission, vision, and values that reflect the agency’s mandate, along with key goals and objectives to guide the work for the next five years.

The multi-year plans are designed to be both ambitious and achievable in the interest of fostering coordinated, culturally appropriate, and family-centered services that recognize and respect the strengths and needs of all children, families, and early learning and care professionals in Oregon.

“Today we released a bold vision for our young agency,” said DELC Director Alyssa Chatterjee. “I’m proud to share these plans, which I believe will be transformative and will serve as a roadmap to help guide programs, operations, and priorities over the next five years toward doing what we do best – strengthening Oregon’s early childhood system to change the trajectory of a child’s life while positively impacting caregivers, the early learning workforce, and our economy.”

The Growing Oregon Together plan drew upon community conversations and feedback from more than 700 partners, providers, and families in addition to input from more than 200 staff members. Guided by the plan, DELC aims to build upon the strong foundation established over the last year since the agency’s inception. Outlined in the plan are six key goal areas and affiliated objectives for the next five years:

Access

Tribal Sovereignty

Infants and Toddlers

Workforce

Relationships

Foundations

Woven throughout Growing Oregon Together and the DEI Action plan is an unwavering commitment to advance the agency values of equity, respect, trust, relationships, safety, continuous improvement and integrity with an emphasis on communities who have been historically underserved. Together the two plans outline high-level priorities, increase accountability, and will serve as a guidepost to ensure the agency is meeting the needs of care providers, families, and communities across Oregon.

“We’ve gone through tremendous change over the last year with standing up our new agency,” said Director Chatterjee. “Now, these guiding documents will help to deepen DELC’s commitments to the communities we serve while advancing our mission to foster coordinated culturally appropriate, and family-centered services that recognize and respect the strengths and needs of all children, families, and early learning and care professionals.”

DELC’s values are integrated throughout the programmatic goals, objectives, and cross-agency strategies which will be used to help monitor and communicate progress. The plans are living documents and may evolve based on community needs and available resources. As DELC moves forward with implementation the agency will report out on the progress made to develop and launch programs and policies that advance DELC’s vision to ensure all children, families, early care and education professionals, and communities are supported and empowered to thrive.

The full version of Growing Oregon Together and the DEI Action Plan are available on the DELC website.

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About the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care

The Department of Early Learning and Care’s mission is to foster coordinated, culturally appropriate, and family-centered services that recognize and respect the strengths and needs of all children, families, and early learning and care professionals. More information about DELC is available at Oregon.gov/DELC. You can also connect with DELC on Facebook or sign up for news alerts and updates.

Request for Applications: Regional Service Provider planning grant now available

crop woman typing on laptop — Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels.com

The Department of Early Learning and Care seeks applications from organizations interested in a planning grant to build capacity to become a Regional Service Provider (RSPs), OR to help identify potential RSPs in the region, with the goal of creating an equity-focused approach for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) under the Early Childhood Suspension and Expulsion Prevention Program (ECSEPP).

This opportunity is available until Friday, June 21, 2024, closing at 5 PM.

This application is open to the following regions:

Blue Mountain (Union, Morrow, and Umatilla Counties),
Frontier (Grant and Harney Counties),
South Central (Douglas, Klamath, and Lake Counties), and
South Coast (Coos and Curry Counties).

Interested and eligible organizations can apply for an anticipated one-year planning grant. At the end of the planning grant period, the Grantee may transition to an Implementation Grant upon meeting readiness criteria or may identify a different entity to become the Regional Service Provider Implementation Grantee. Please see the full Request for Applications to learn more about this opportunity.

To read the full list of requirements for Regional Service Providers and submit an application , please visit oregonbuys.gov. 

Informational webinar opportunity

Do you have questions about this opportunity? Please join us for this informational webinar to learn more!  

Date: Thursday, May 30, 2024

Time: 2 PM PST

Click here to register: May 30 ZOOM Meeting

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Questions? Contact Laura Sprehe, Laura.Sprehe@delc.oregon.gov  

Press Release: Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care Launches New Data Dashboard showing 96% Enrollment for the Preschool Promise Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 17, 2024

Contact:
Kate Gonsalves, (503) 428-7292
delc.media@delc.oregon.gov

Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care Launches New Data Dashboard showing 96% Enrollment for the Preschool Promise Program

The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) launched a new data dashboard demonstrating positive trends around the strong growth of Preschool Promise Program. The data shows thousands of families across the state are successfully accessing free, high quality preschool. Preschool Promise is a preschool program serving children ages 3-4, in a variety of early learning settings, in all 36 Oregon counties. The program is available to families who are living at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. For a family of four that amounts to a yearly annual income at or below $60,000.

“Preschool Promise is helping to ensure that families with young children have preschool options that align with the learning environment they know will work best for their child and their family,” said DELC Director Alyssa Chatterjee. “I’m pleased to see the strength of the program reflected in the data. These aren’t just statistics, each data point on the graph represents families positively impacted by the Preschool Promise program.”

“Here in Medford, many families would be unable to attend our program without Preschool Promise funding,” said Sunny Spicer, Executive Director at Oregon Center for Creative Learning. “For many families, receiving that funding is the turning point to stability. Each day, I see the transformational impact that access to preschool provides to families. It’s the key to find employment, the pathway to housing, or the doorway to the services they have been seeking.” 

Previously, the Preschool Promise program faced challenges with utilization during the pandemic when a child care provider workforce shortage created significant enrollment challenges for public preschool programs. Today, with the launch of DELC’s in-house procurement office, the data shows strong improvements and a positive trajectory in expanding the number of grantees and the number of preschool slots filled statewide.

The success of the program would not be possible without Early Learning Hubs that enroll children with grantees. This “mixed delivery model” spans across more than 300 sites in a variety of settings. Schools are one of the main delivery options of the program. This model reflects the unique needs of families looking for an appropriate preschool program including the need for extended hours, sibling considerations, culturally responsive care, or a preference for home based setting.

“Every family should have the access to free, culturally responsive preschool programs that meet their family’s needs,” said Dayna Jung, Preschool Promise Manager. “Preschool Promise engages parents as partners in their child’s learning and development. I’m thrilled to see the data reflect how impactful this program is. This dashboard increases transparency and allows the public to spot trends and see how we are working to establish inclusive, welcoming environments for all families.”

The interactive Preschool Promise data dashboard helps to illustrate the broad need for child care across the state with maps that include county based information. Additional dashboards for other high quality DELC programs including Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten are in development. To see the current dashboards, please visit the DELC website: Department of Early Learning and Care : Data and Research Homepage : Data : State of Oregon 

In addition to the data dashboard, the agency also recently announced a new opportunity for providers interested in Preschool Promise. A Request for Applications (RFA) for the Preschool Promise program went live this week for the 2024-2025 program year. The agency welcomes applications from interested entities across the state to reallocate a total of 358 slots. Additionally, DELC is offering eligible applicants the opportunity to be placed in the Preschool Promise applicant waitlist pool for all 16 Early Learning Hubs to be considered when future slots become available. Materials must be received by 5:00pm on June 17, 2024. To read more about the opportunity, or to learn more about Preschool Promise eligibility and enrollment please visit the Preschool Promise page on the DELC website.

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About the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care

Celebrating Child Care Provider Appreciation Day on May 10, 2024

The Department of Early Learning and Care and the State of Oregon recognize today as Child Care Provider Appreciation Day.

Governor Tina Kotek issued a statewide proclamation officially designating May 10, 2024, as Child Care Provider Appreciation Day. The Day is celebrated annually across the country on the Friday before Mother’s Day to say “thank you” to the educators and care professionals who positively shape the lives of young children.

To the invaluable child care workforce of Oregon, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering efforts and dedication. Your role as a critical resource for families and our littlest learners is truly commendable, helping them to grow and thrive.

Below, you will see the faces of some of Oregon’s child care providers. Be sure to thank a provider today in celebration of Child Care Provider Appreciation Day!

DELC Announces 2024 Ambassador of Public Service Awardees

Every year the State of Oregon celebrates Public Service Recognition Week (May 5-11) by taking the opportunity to thank public employees for their service, make visible their important work and deepen connections between state agencies and the communities they serve.

As part of this celebration, state agencies award employees the Ambassador of Public Service Award and are allowed to nominate employees for statewide recognition. Based on DELC’s size, we are allowed to select up to three employees to be considered for this honor.

For this year’s Public Service Recognition Week, DAS chose the theme of Operational Excellence. Whether their customers are external or internal, these nominated employees embrace the principles of:

respect for every individual,
continuous improvement,
and empowering others.

These principles help us create a culture of excellence within Oregon state government. We want to acknowledge and celebrate the DELC staff members who demonstrate an unconditional commitment to giving the highest level of service to every person. Public service ambassadors embody the enterprise values of integrity, accountability, excellence, and equity.

The statements below were taken directly from the colleague-submitted nominations. Please join me in congratulating our 2024 DELC Ambassadors of Public Service award recipients, Adindu Iheanacho, Dayna Jung, andHilda Diaz!

A photo of Adindu Iheanacho, a Black man wearing a caddy cap — *Adindu Iheanacho, Licensing*

Adindu Iheanacho brings a wealth of experience and dedication to the field of child care licensing. With 31 years of public service, he has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to serving Oregon communities and supporting the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC.)

Adindu uplifts those around him and contributes to a more knowledgeable and consistent work environment. He places a high priority on being responsive and dependable to both internal and external customers. This reliability and commitment to excellent customer service not only reflects positively on him as an individual but also enhances the agency’s reputation and effectiveness.

Adindu’s approach to his work is characterized by courtesy, respect, and a focus on collective problem-solving. In his interactions with providers, he demonstrates a respectful approach to every individual, and prioritizes collaboration to find solutions that benefit all parties involved.

Adindu’s contributions as a child care licensing specialist go far beyond his years of experience; they speak to his integrity, professionalism, and genuine care for the well-being of children and families. He is an asset to the agency and a shining example of dedication and service.

Photo of Dayna Jung, a woman with shoulder length dark hair — *Dayna Jung, Preschool Promise*

Dayna Jung exemplifies extraordinary customer service as the Preschool Promise Manager of the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC).

Whether leading child care providers and early educators through the first statewide expansion of the Preschool Promise program during the pandemic,

or fielding requests for support to improve the quality and services of programs, Dayna is passionate about empowering others and ensuring communities have what they need to be successful. Even during difficult times, she has continued working to find innovative solutions to complex issues.

Her hard work has not gone unnoticed. As a bilingual Spanish-speaker, Dayna has shown a demonstrated commitment to ensuring that Spanish-speaking grantees and all early learning educators receive information and support.

Dayna is intentional about increasing access and equity for the Preschool Promise program, ensuring that resources, including grant agreements and manuals, are available in multiple languages. She also provides exceptional technical assistance to multiple DELC units and other state agencies to promote aligned messaging and to improve their customer service in interactions with Preschool Promise grantees.

Each day, Danya’s remarkable contributions and achievements are evident in the work she does. Dayna’s commitment to the needs of families and the small business owners of the Preschool Promise program makes her an asset to communities across Oregon and a strong agent of customer service for Oregon state government.

Photo of Hilda Diaz, a woman with curly hair wearing glasses — *Hilda Diaz, DELC Direct Pay Unit*

Hilda Diaz embodies the value of customer service. Hilda has been with the Department of Early Learning and Care’s Direct Pay Unit (DPU) for over five years, initially serving as a Claim Payment Specialist and currently as a Public Service Representative Branch Liaison.

Hilda is the definition of a team player and routinely goes above and beyond her regular duties to make sure that Oregon families and child care providers receive the support they need.

Among her duties, when questions or issues about benefits arise, Hilda serves as a liaison between families and Oregon Department of Human Services eligibility workers. She ensures families are supported at every step, with the utmost skill, responsiveness, and integrity.

When confronted with questions and issues from providers or families Hilda listens attentively and always seeks to find creative solutions while also clearly communicating rules and requirements to DPU customers. She has regularly taken exceptional initiative in “going the extra mile” to provide service to both internal and external services.

Hilda’s steadfast care and support of customers and demonstrated commitment to a culture of excellence make her an exceptional ambassador of public service within Oregon state government.

While the agency was only able to nominate three individuals, all DELC staff strive to deliver excellent customer service – to our colleagues and our external partners – every day. Thank you for all that you do!

Press Release: Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care Celebrates the Week of the Young Child

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 8, 2024

Contact:
Kate Gonsalves, (503) 428-7292
delc.media@delc.oregon.gov

Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care Celebrates the
Week of the Young Child

SALEM, ORE. – The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) joins partners across the country in celebrating the Week of the Young Child. The annual event sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children helps to build awareness about the needs of young children and their families. The week also helps focus attention on the early learning professionals and programs meeting those needs. In Oregon, Governor Tina Kotek issued a statewide proclamation officially designating the Week of the Young Child as April 6-12, 2024.

“We are grateful to Governor Tina Kotek for recognizing the Week of the Young Child and for elevating the importance of the earliest years for children and families,” said DELC Director Alyssa Chatterjee. “As we build a coordinated early childhood system where all children, families, early care and education professionals are supported and empowered to thrive we are proud to recognize this week to celebrate young children and the transformational impact of early learning and care.”

Each day during the celebratory week, there will be multiple themes highlighting early learning, young children, their families, and early learning professionals. DELC is currently spotlighting these daily themes and information over social media. To share pictures and stories about your family use the hashtag #WOYC24 and tag DELC’s social media pages.

For more information on Week of the Young Child®, visit naeyc. Learn more about the importance of early childhood education in Oregon: Oregon.gov/DELC.

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About the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care

Oregon proclaims April 6-12, 2024 to be the Week of the Young Child

father and baby on the beach at sunset — Photo by Tatiana Syrikova on Pexels.com

The Department of Early Learning and Care, in conjunction with the Early Learning Council, the Oregon Association of the Education of Young Children, the Early Childhood Coalition, and the National Association for the Education of Young Children, are celebrating the Week of the Young Child April 6-12, 2024.

What is the Week of the Young Child?

The Week of the Young Child recognizes the importance of the earliest years of a child life. The National Association for the Education of Young Children says on their website that:

“The Week of the Young Child® is a time to recognize that children’s opportunities are our responsibilities, and to recommit ourselves to ensuring that each and every child experiences the type of early environment—at home, at child care, at school, and in the community—that will promote their early learning. “

At DELC, we are committed to supporting Oregon’s communities by managing various programs that create opportunities for high-quality, low-cost, safe spaces for Oregon’s youngest children to receive early learning education and care. Families receive support through DELC’s family support programs as well, recognizing and celebrating parents and caregivers as the first teachers in a child’s life.

Along with our partners, we celebrate The Week of the Young Child to highlight the importance of this work that occurs every day.

Please celebrate with us on social media this week! Follow our Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Guest Post: Finding critical support during a challenging time

We are always excited to see how statewide early learning programs like Head Start and Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten are supporting families across the state to thrive.

The following story comes to us from Community Action of Washington County.

With your help, an immigrant family found critical support for their three-year-old during a challenging time.

Sam and Rose immigrated to the United States because their home country of Kenya did not offer them the kind of career opportunities they were looking for. And they wanted safer, better educational opportunities for their children.

With green card status secured, they arrived in Oregon in 2017 with their two children, aged three and nine. They worked temporary jobs with alternating shifts at first. Sam was then able to get a more permanent job in the tech field.

But it was hard for Rose to pursue her career, because their youngest, Zoey, was not yet old enough for kindergarten.

Things changed when a neighbor told them about our Head Start program, an early childhood education program for children prenatal – five years.

They enrolled Zoey but were nervous because the three-year-old didn’t understand English very well – it wasn’t her first language. But when they walked Zoey into the classroom that first day, they relaxed as they were greeted by a warm and understanding team of teachers and staff.

The classroom teachers supported Zoey in learning English by focusing first on comprehension. The next step was building up Zoey’s confidence to start speaking English. It became clear to her teachers that she was holding back out of fear. So they made it fun by encouraging her to speak through games and other interactive activities.

Zoey is now a thriving second grader at Springville Elementary.
She loves school and soccer!

Zoey’s confidence grew over the year and a half she was in Head Start, and soon she was speaking and socializing with other children in English.

Sam and Rose are so grateful to supporters like you. They can’t imagine what it would have been like for Zoey to start kindergarten without those years at Head Start, where she not only learned English but also grew in her social and emotional development.

Looking back, Sam says, “We weren’t worried about her transition to kindergarten. She was ready. She was used to other kids and was confident with the language because of her time in Head Start.”

Sam also credits Head Start with helping in other meaningful ways.

Coming to a new country and learning how to navigate systems was difficult. But Zoey’s Head Start teachers were a wealth of information about the community, the public education system, and how to be supportive advocates for their children in their new country. Additionally, with Zoey in the safe and enriching environment of Head Start, Rose had the time to focus on her own career.

Today, Rose has a rewarding career in the field of Information and Technology. Sam is currently working in the field of Cybersecurity. He is an avid volunteer and is working toward an Executive MBA degree at the University of Oregon. They are both thrilled with the opportunities they have found for themselves and their children in their new home of Oregon.

Please join us to learn more about how your organization can help develop and implement equity centered IECMHC across Oregon!

photo of woman taking notes — Photo by Ivan Samkov on Pexels.com

The Department of Early Learning and Care seeks proposals from organizations interested in becoming a center of excellence on Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation in Oregon.

Interested and eligible organizations are invited to submit proposals to become the Central Entity for the Early Childhood Suspension and Expulsion Prevention Program.

This organization will collaborate with DELC to develop a statewide equity centered IECMHC model with the goal of preventing suspension and expulsion of young children. The Central Entity will provide content expertise and technical assistance to Regional Service Providers in implementing IECMHC and expanding the diversity of the IECMHC workforce.

Webinar overview

The Central Entity will function as a center of excellence on equity centered IECMHC in Oregon. This Entity will collaborate with DELC to lead the development and features of the Oregon model and provide technical assistance to Regional Service Providers. Activities include:

Develop standards and guidelines for program administration and the delivery of IECMHC that is culturally responsive, implemented with a focus on antibias and inclusive practices, and is effective in preventing the use of suspension and expulsion and other exclusionary discipline
Define the essential skills and competencies for IECMH Consultants

Support the knowledge and skill development of IECMH Consultants and program leaders through strategies such as:

Core training and onboarding
Communities of Practice
Reflective Supervision (particularly where not available locally)
Licensure Supervision (particularly where not available locally)
Equity Dialogues and Affinity Spaces
Develop a variety of strategies and workforce pathways to increase the diversity of Oregon’s IECMHC workforce
Provide technical assistance and implementation support to Regional Service Providers on all aspects of implementing and administering an IECMHC program, including development of job descriptions and hiring protocols, strategies for developing authentic relationships and understanding the current and historical context of the communities being served, and instruction on the use of selected screening and assessment tools.
Engage in Continuous Quality Improvement and Evaluation Activities, adjusting program practices and updating technical assistance to Regional Service Providers as needed.

Please join us for this informational webinar to learn more!

Date: January 9, 2024

Time: 2 PM PST

Click here to register: January 9th Zoom Meeting

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

To read the full list of requirements for the Central Entity and submit a proposal, please visit oregonbuys.gov.

Questions? Contact Laura Sprehe, Laura.Sprehe@delc.oregon.gov

Proposals are due on 2/9/2024

Announcing new Early Learning Council (ELC) members!

The Early Learning Council is charged with coordinating a unified and aligned system of early learning throughout Oregon to ensure that all children, no matter what their background or their community, enter school ready to learn and that all families are healthy, stable and attached. The council follows the work of the five year early learning system strategic plan, Raise Up Oregon.

We are excited to announce that the following individuals have joined the Early Learning Council of Oregon!

Elizabeth Farrar Campbell, Appointed October 2023

Elizabeth Farrar Campbell was confirmed to the ELC in October 2023. Elizabeth Farrar Campbell serves as Gilliam County Judge, where she leads the County’s efforts to address critical community challenges, including early education access. She has held many titles, including in the State Capitol and on Capitol Hill, but her favorite is “Mommy” to 2-year-old daughter, Ainsley.

Barry Ford, Appointed October 2023

Barry Ford was confirmed to the ELC in October 2023. Mr. Ford is the President and CEO of Council for a Strong America (CSA) based in Washington, D.C. Mr. Ford has dedicated his life and career to fighting for the policies and public investments that children and families throughout this country need to thrive. He is a leading national voice on the importance of early care and education to the strength of our economy, the safety of our communities, and the ongoing security of our nation. Before joining CSA, Mr. Ford led the advocacy and community outreach efforts of the United States Tennis Association, was a two-time candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, and an associate with the international law firm Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton. He is a member of the Leadership Council of the Stanford Center on Early Childhood and the Early Years Climate Action Task Force. Mr. Ford also co-chairs the steering committee of The National Collaborative for Infants & Toddlers (NCIT).

Robin Hill-Dunbar, Appointed October 2023

Robin Hill-Dunbar was confirmed to the ELC in October 2023. Ms. Hill-Dunbar is a Senior Program Officer for The Ford Family Foundation based in Roseburg. The Foundation works to improve the lives of rural Oregonians. She joined the Foundation in 2016, where she is working to shape and execute the Foundation’s strategies to support strong families and healthy children of all ages. Prior to coming to the Foundation, she served as the home visiting workforce development coordinator at the Oregon Health Authority/Maternal Child Health. While there, she created a comprehensive workforce development plan that included the development of home visiting competencies for Oregon’s home visiting field, a workforce development plan, and helped embed the Infant Mental Health Endorsement in Oregon. Her extensive background includes work in early Intervention/early childhood special education, home visiting, parenting education, early learning local and statewide program management, and training and technical assistance in the early learning field.

Ruby Ramirez, Appointed October 2023

Ruby Ramirez was confirmed to the ELC in October 2023. Ms. Ramirez is a Program Officer, for Early Childhood Programs at Oregon Community Foundation. In this role, Ms. Ramirez is a relational bridge-builder and cross-system strategist passionate about equitable early learning opportunities and healthy early childhood development. Prior to joining Oregon Community Foundation, Ms. Ramirez worked as an early childhood policy strategy consultant and held several roles in non-profit administration, early childhood workforce professional development, and supporting families with early childhood mental health services.

Marie Simonds, Appointed October 2023

Marie Simonds was confirmed to the ELC in November 2023. Marie joined Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in 2012 and serves as the Executive Director of the newly named Bandon Dunes Charitable Foundation (BDCF), working to support a thriving South Coast of Oregon. Through the support of BDCF, she is actively engaged in conservation, economy, and community projects such as Whiskey Run Mountain Biking Trails, Bandon Community Child Care Center, Washed Ashore, Watershed support, and more. Her work on the Bandon Community Child Care project, the local shared services alliance, and workforce challenges have driven and motivated to work for change in the systems surrounding childcare businesses. Prior to joining the Resort, Marie was the Executive Director of the Southwestern Oregon Community College Foundation where she led scholarship fundraising efforts for students as well as served as the Men’s and Women’s golf coach.

To learn more about the early learning council visit the DELC website at: Department of Early Learning and Care : Early Learning Council : About Us : State of Oregon