Category: News

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.

For more information about Community Action of Washington County visit: Community Action | Home | Assistance | Care | Help | Hillsboro, OR (caowash.org)

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

Press Release: Employment Related Day Care program opens waitlist for most families applying after November 3

Employment Related Day Care program opens waitlist for most families applying after November 3

Eligible families are encouraged to apply now

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 25, 2023

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

SALEM, ORE. – The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) reminds families that the Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) program will open a waitlist next week. The ERDC program helps families pay for child care through state and federal funds. The ERDC waitlist, announced last month, will open after an unprecedented increase in demand and limited available funding. Families should apply by November 3, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. if they think they may be eligible.

“We want to be sure families have had ample opportunity to apply for ERDC before the program opens a waitlist. We also want families to know there are other affordable child care programs they may qualify for,” said Alyssa Chatterjee, Director of DELC. “The good news is that the increase in ERDC enrollment means the recent changes to the program allow it to work better for families. We will continue working with the Legislature to identify more funding to support the program.”

Here is what families need to know:

  • Families currently receiving ERDC will continue to receive benefits as usual after November 3, 2023.
  • Families earning up to 200% of the federal poverty level (e.g., up to $5,000 per month for a family of four) may be eligible for ERDC and are encouraged to apply right away.
  • Families can apply in the following ways:
    – Go to Benefits.Oregon.gov
    – Visit or call their local office
    – Dial 1-800-699-9075
  • Families can text the word “children” to 898211 or call 211 if they need help finding their local office or figuring out how to apply to ERDC.
  • Some families outlined in Oregon rule can skip the waitlist:
    – Families recently or currently receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Temporary Assistance for Domestic Violence Survivors (TA-DVS) 
    – Families referred by the Child Welfare division of the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS)
    – Families reapplying for ERDC within two months of benefits ending.
  • After November 3, 2023, families applying for ERDC that do not meet an exemption above will be placed on a waitlist. DELC will regularly follow up with families on the waitlist to provide updates.
  • The waitlist is likely to be in place for at least 18 months, depending on the level of investment and the rate at which families leave the program.
  • Families who need support paying for child care after November 3, 2023 are encouraged to reach out to 211 or their local Early Learning Hub to learn more about programs such as Preschool Promise and Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten.

Once more funding becomes available and enrollment drops to a sustainable level, families will be selected from the waitlist based on the date they were added. The first to apply will be the first selected for eligibility screening and potential enrollment. Once a family is selected from the waitlist, they will receive a notice inviting them to apply for ERDC within 45 days.

Go to Oregon.gov/DELC/ERDC to learn more.

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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.

Download this press release in English or Spanish:

Final-ERDC-Waitlist-Reminder-Press-ReleaseDownload
Spanish-Final_ERDC-Waitlist-Reminder-Press-ReleaseDOWNLOAD

2022 Statewide Household Survey Report Released Examining Early Education and Childcare Needs  

Mom and dad and their two young children sit around a field after playing some family soccer together. The oldest, an elementary-age boy, has his arm around mom and has a big smile on his face. Little sister is pointing up at the sky.

The 2022 Statewide Household Survey Report has been released. The Preschool Development Grant (PDG) Research Team at Portland State University’s Center for the Improvement of Child and Family Services (PSU) and OSLC Developments, Inc. (ODI) has published the report, which presents the results of the third statewide survey administered to parents and other caregivers of children aged 0 to 5. The survey was conducted from December 2022 through January 2023. The findings provide important information about the needs for child care and the challenges to finding care currently faced by Oregon families.

The results of the 2022 survey echo those of the 2019 and 2020 surveys in finding that both the cost and availability of child care continue to be challenges for most Oregon families. One of the most striking findings is that 41% of families report challenges finding child care have had an negative impact on their employment. The report also finds an increase in the number of families reporting that their child has been asked to leave an early learning program.

Researchers conducted outreach to over 400 agencies and organizations to reach families from across the state. Specific focus was given to outreach to agencies serving historically underrepresented communities and those in more isolated rural regions of the state. Families across Oregon’s 36 counties were invited to participate in the survey. Nearly 4000 parents, guardians and primary caregivers of young children provided feedback about their early education and child care needs.

Specifically, the 2022 survey focused on information about:  

  1. Families’ usage of child care, including type, frequency, and hours of care;
  2. Families’ satisfaction and challenges with finding child care for their child, as well as whether the services obtained were responsive to the family’s cultural background and/or home language;
  3. Whether children with an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), developmental disabilities, or chronic medical needs were able to access services they needed;
  4. Rates of suspension and expulsions from early childhood care experienced by families and reasons for these experiences.

The latest results show an important representative snapshot that will allow the new Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) to determine how the landscape of early care and education (ECE) services and supports has remained the same and what trends have changed in recent years.

The recommendations presented in the report will be used to strengthen the reach and impact of Oregon’s birth-five early learning and support system moving forward after the COVID-19 pandemic. This research was made possible by a Preschool Development Grant which expired last year. Future family surveys that measure the needs of Oregon families may not be possible without additional funding.

To read the full report and see survey data, visit the DELC website Oregon.gov/DELC and search under 2022 Household Survey.

The DELC research staff and the PDG Research Team would like to thank all those who participated in the survey for sharing their needs, experiences, and perspectives.

Press Release: Growing Enrollment of Oregon’s Employment Related Day Care program Prompts Waitlist after November 3

Growing Enrollment of Oregon’s Employment Related Day Care program Prompts Waitlist after November 3

Current ERDC participants will not be affected

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SALEM, ORE. – Today, the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) announced they will pause Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) program enrollment and open a waitlist due to increased demand and limited funding. Families who believe they are eligible for ERDC should apply by November 3, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.

Families currently receiving ERDC support will continue to receive benefits after November 3, 2023.

Enrollment in the ERDC program, which is funded by both federal and state investments, has grown by 52% in the 2021-2023 biennium due to expansions in family eligibility and program improvements. Enrollment has grown 22% in the last two months alone due to changes that include lower copays, enrollment-based pay for child care providers, opening the program to non-working students, extending eligibility timeframes, and minimizing the number of reasons a family may lose their ERDC benefits.

Families with specific needs outlined in Oregon rule can still enroll in ERDC after the waitlist is implemented:
● Families recently or currently receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Temporary Assistance for Domestic Violence Survivors (TA-DVS) will still be able to enroll in ERDC.

● Families will also bypass the waitlist if they are referred by the Child Welfare
division of the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) or are reapplying
for ERDC within two months of benefits ending.

● Families currently receiving ERDC will continue to receive benefits after
November 3, 2023.

“Every family should have access to affordable child care options, and there has been a lot of great work done to expand eligibility for this important program,” Governor Tina Kotek said. “This means we need more state funding for ERDC – at least $50 million more this biennium – if we’re going to meet the demand for child care assistance across the state. There have been productive conversations with legislative leaders about addressing the funding gap in the next session.”

“The Employment Related Day Care program is working better for families, which is a really good thing,” said Alyssa Chatterjee, director of DELC, the new state agency that began overseeing ERDC on July 1, 2023. “The successful expansion and improvement of the program has demonstrated what families already know: Oregonians depend on child care to keep our economy running. When we invest in early education and child care, we invest in families and our current workforce while simultaneously investing in our collective future. We are working closely with the Legislature to identify more funding and are focused on connecting families to other available programs in the meantime.”

ERDC currently supports about 14,000 families across the state in paying for child care. Families earning up to 200% of the federal poverty level (e.g., up to $5,000 per month for a family of four) pay a small copay based on income and can enroll with a provider that accepts ERDC.

Once more funding becomes available and enrollment drops to a sustainable level, families will be selected from the waitlist based on the date they were added. The first to apply will be the first selected for eligibility screening and potential enrollment. Once a family is selected from the waitlist, they will receive a notice inviting them to apply for ERDC within 45 days. The waitlist is likely to be in place for at least 18 months, depending on the level of investment and the rate at which families leave the program.

DELC will provide regular updates to families added to the waitlist.

Families can apply for ERDC by November 3, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. in the following ways:
● Visit Benefits.Oregon.gov
● Go to their local office
● Call 1-800-699-9075

Families who need support paying for child care after November 3, 2023 are
encouraged to reach out to 211 or their local Early Learning Hub to apply for other affordable, high-quality child care and early learning programs through DELC, such as Preschool Promise and Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten. Families with specific needs listed above can still enroll after November 3, 2023 and will not be affected by the waitlist. Go to Oregon.gov/DELC/ERDC to learn more.

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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.

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

Kindergarten: It’s that time of the year!  

As the school year approaches, many young children and families are getting ready for their move from preschool to kindergarten. This experience is also called “kindergarten readiness.” But what does Kindergarten Readiness mean? And how does the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) support kindergarten readiness for Oregon’s families?

What is Kindergarten Readiness? 

Kindergarten readiness includes schools, caregivers, families, and children working together for a positive kindergarten year and a successful future of learning!  

Raising an eager learner is the goal, and it can be achieved through play and day-to-day activities.  

DELC’s Programs support Kindergarten Readiness! 

The Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) offers programs that support children and families while also nurturing the growth of the whole child.  

These programs include: 

  • Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten 
  • Preschool Promise 
  • Home visiting programs like 
  • Healthy Families Oregon and  
  • Relief Nurseries 

Simply put, kindergarten readiness helps children have the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary for success in school and for later learning and life.  

These are guidelines on skills that will support children in school. Every child is different and will learn at their own pace and in their own way. 

Kindergarten Readiness looks like:  

Approaches to Learning 
Children who are able to follow rules and routines with increased independence. 

Physical skills 
Children are able to hold and use a pencil or crayon, able to run, and jump with increased independence, 

Language and literacy 
Children are able to recognize and write their name, identify letters and numbers, and be familiar with basic sight words with increased independence. 

Math 
Children are able to identify numbers and count to 10 or recognize and create patterns with increased independence. 

Social and emotional skills 
Children are able to share with others, manage emotions, and resolve conflicts with peers with increased independence. 

For more information on the domains of learning and development, please reference the Oregon’s Early Learning and Kindergarten Guidelines. 

A letter from the Director:

This Friday is September 1st, which marks two months since the official launch of the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC). Friday is also the start of Labor Day weekend, an important time to recognize Oregon’s child care professionals who have a great responsibility to care for and educate our children in their earliest years.

Recognizing the importance of Labor Day and the Early Childhood Education Workforce

Neal Early Learning Center, Morrow County, Boardman, OR

Dear Partners,

This Friday is September 1st, which marks two months since the official launch of the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC). Friday is also the start of Labor Day weekend, an important time to recognize Oregon’s child care professionals who have a great responsibility to care for and educate our children in their earliest years.

DELC was created to unify and strengthen Oregon’s early learning and care system. The strength of this system is largely held by the child care and early educator workforce who provide critical care and support to children and families across Oregon.

In Oregon, 60% of children under age 6 have both parents in the workforce, making child care the workforce that supports all other workforces. When parents lack access to quality child care, our economy is affected. Fifty-four percent of Oregon employers say that access to child care impacts their ability to hire and/or retain employees, and 33% of businesses felt that child care issues factored “a great deal” into loss of productivity for employees. As a result, Oregon is estimated to have lost $1.4B in revenue due to the lack of infant and toddler child care alone.

However, child care continues to be an under-resourced and undervalued profession. Our latest data shows that child care workers earn an average of $13.00-18.00/hour, and often do not have access to benefits like healthcare, retirement or sick leave. In a recent survey, 26% of Early Childhood Education providers ranked at the level of anxiety that could indicate they need to get screened for clinical diagnosis, a rate more than 5 times that in the general population.

In our efforts to strengthen Oregon’s early learning system, DELC will continue to develop a cohesive professional learning system, grow the overall workforce and reduce barriers to child care while maintaining health and safety for children in care.

As we head into Labor Day weekend, remember the workforce that helps you get to work and thank the child care worker or early educator in your life.

Alyssa Chatterjee
Department of Early Learning and Care Director

The Early Learning Council Is Looking for New Members

The Early Learning Council is looking for five new members to shape early childhood policy in Oregon and we need your help in getting the word out! These positions are appointed by Governor Kotek and individuals who are interested are encouraged to apply. This Council ensures that our state-funded early childhood programs and investments are coordinated in a way that is accessible to children and families. We hope you’ll consider either applying yourself or sharing this with individuals who may be interested.

The Early Learning Council is looking for five new members to shape early childhood policy in Oregon and we need your help in getting the word out! These positions are appointed by Governor Kotek and individuals who are interested are encouraged to apply. This Council ensures that our state-funded early childhood programs and investments are coordinated in a way that is accessible to children and families. We hope you’ll consider either applying yourself or sharing this with individuals who may be interested.

Below is an FAQ of key info:

What does the Early Learning Council do?

The Council was established in state law to coordinate a unified and aligned system of early childhood services throughout Oregon to ensure that all children enter school ready to learn and that all families are healthy, stable, and attached. In pursuit of these goals, the Early Learning Council developed Raise Up Oregon in 2018 as the state’s five year, cross-sector early childhood strategic plan. The Early Learning Council tracks and monitors progress towards the implementation of Raise Up Oregon, publishes reports and is in the process of finalizing an updated plan this fall.

Early Learning Council members are also vital participants in statewide decision-making. For example, during COVID, this Council made emergency rules about operating with health and safety for children and for child care providers as the forefront. This Council is also charged with translating the “30,000 foot” legislation created by statewide lawmakers into the “brass tacks” of how to operationalize the legislature’s intent into the on-the-ground state agency rules. 

What’s the time commitment if I am selected to serve on the Council?

Members of the Early Learning Council serve for four year terms and must commit to monthly meetings throughout the year, five hours per month. The Early Learning Council takes a break during the summer in July and August in which there are no monthly meetings.

 What types of expertise is the Early Learning Council looking for and who makes decisions? 

The Early Learning Council is seeking new members that will:

  • Add to the geographic diversity of representation, particularly rural and coastal areas. Specifically, we are looking for residents in Oregon who live in congressional districts 1, 3, and 4 and two “at-large members,” which means they can reside anywhere in the state. If you are unsure which district you live in, please visit this website and put your zip code in to the top right part of the screen where it says “Find your representative.”
  • Ensure representation from communities that are most impacted by opportunity gaps and access to early childhood and health services;
  • Bring a lens of navigating and addressing workforce barriers in the early childhood sector, connections to the public K-12 school system, connections to health systems as they intersect with young children and their families, affordable supportive housing and social services, and business leaders who have navigated intersections with child care.

This is a Governor-appointed Council, so ultimately the decision lies with Governor Kotek.

What’s in it for me?

Great question! Volunteers to state agency councils, boards, and commissions are the backbone of what makes it all work! Individuals who are interested in joining the Early Learning Council will have the opportunity to participate in developing a variety of important policies directed towards improving early learning services and will have a direct impact in their community.

I’m interested! How can I apply?

All candidates must apply through for appointment using the online system, Workday. Governor’s Boards & Commissions webpage. Applications are reviewed by the Governor’s office. Applications are encouraged no later than September 30, 2023. For more information or if you have any questions, please contact Gaby Hernandez at gabriela.hernandez@delc.oregon.gov.

Department of Early Learning and Care officially launches!

New state agency to oversee programs and services related to early learning and care throughout Oregon

little boy in wheat field
Photo by JESSICA TICOZZELLI on Pexels.com

We’re thrilled to announce that as of July 1, 2023, the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) is the official agency for early learning and child care policy and program administration throughout Oregon. That means Oregon’s families and child care professionals will now have one state agency dedicated to ensuring high-quality, family-centered and culturally appropriate early learning and care opportunities for families and child care professionals. To mark this exciting milestone, we now have a new name, look, email addresses, and website: oregon.gov/DELC.

As part of the launch, DELC created a new video introducing Oregonians to the new state agency:

“This is an historic step to ensure Oregon’s families and child care professionals get the resources, services, and programs they need to thrive,” said Alyssa Chatterjee, DELC Director. ”It positions our state as a leader in the early learning space. We know accessing child care is still a challenge for families, and our child care workers are facing multiple stressors. The launch of DELC is a milestone for our state, recognizing the importance of early learning and child care for Oregonians

The Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 3073 in 2021, heralding the transition towards the launch of DELC. The agency brings together the Early Learning Division (ELD) and Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) program. ELD was a division of the Oregon Department of Education (ODE), and Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) was a program of the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS).

“The best way to support whole communities is to serve the needs of children and families. Bringing ERDC into DELC allows us to center the needs of children and families first and foremost. DELC is in the opportune position to work with families and providers, and design systems built for and with them” said Chatterjee.

Certain ERDC changes also take effect as of July 1. Families can now receive cash assistance from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and get help paying for child care from ERDC at the same time. The current TANF child care program will end because ERDC will provide those families more flexible child care assistance.

In addition, there will be fewer reasons for child care assistance to end mid-certification. Most cases will now stay open a minimum of 12 months. Cases will no longer close if a family is not connected to a child care provider. ERDC benefits will continue if a caretaker loses their job or stops attending school. 

In the short term, Oregonians won’t notice much of a change. Even so, we are committed to minimizing the impact this launch will have, and ensuring those we serve know what to expect. That includes:

  • Customer service phone numbers and social media pages will remain the same
  • Early learning and care programs under ELD such as Preschool Promise will not change
  • Child care licensing services and processes such as billing forms, payment processes, licensing applications, inspections and background checks, will remain the same
  • Early Learning Division (ELD) staff will transition from ODE to DELC
  • The ERDC program and staff (including the Direct Pay Unit) will transition from ODHS to DELC, but families will still apply for and receive benefits through ODHS
  • ERDC eligibility has changed and more families can now get help paying for child care (learn more about ERDC eligibility changes here)

The launch of DELC is only the beginning of the benefits providers and families can expect. DELC staff will continue to listen to and learn from Oregon families and child care professionals on how to best support them and meet their needs. Over the next few years, unifying these agencies and programs under DELC will help:

  • Enable greater alignment across major early learning and child care programs
  • Maximize state and federal funding for early learning programs
  • Create a more efficient and effective billing and licensing system for providers
  • Support and strengthen the early learning and care workforce
  • Promote  culturally-specific and family-centered resources, services and programs for families and child care professionals

“DELC Is honored to support Oregon families and child care professionals through this unified agency. We thank our partners, supporters, child care professionals, and families for being part of the work to make Oregon’s early learning and care system as strong as possible. We are committed to continue working together to best meet the needs of children, families, and child care professionals across the state,” said Chatterjee.

About the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC)DELC is a new Oregon state agency that supports the development and wellbeing of all Oregon children and ensures families in every corner of the state have access to high-quality early learning and care. DELC also supports child care professionals by providing technical assistance, professional development opportunities, business services, licensing, grants and other resources. DELC was created by the Oregon Legislature in 2021 to unify and strengthen Oregon’s early learning system beginning July 1, 2023. DELC brings together the Oregon Early Learning Division (ELD) and the Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) program. ELD was a division of the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and ERDC was a program within the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS). Visit oregon.gov/DELC  learn more or visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  social media pages.