Tag: CCU-2026

Upcoming Provider Information Session

Join the Oregon ELMS Information Session on April 22 at 6:00 pm via Zoom to learn about updates; registration required and interpretation services available.

April 1, 2026

Join us for the first Oregon ELMS Information Session on Wednesday, April 22 at 6:00 pm to learn about Oregon ELMS and other Agency & Program Updates.

This is a virtual event. Registration is required to attend via Zoom. You may submit questions in advance on the registration form.

Note: Attendees utilizing interpretation services (Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Chinese, and ASL) should join the session via Zoom. For more information, please visit the registration page.

Click here TO Register for the provider informaTION Session

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National Home Visiting Week 2026: Celebrating Commitment, Connection, and Community

National Home Visiting Week recognizes Oregon’s home visiting programs, honoring the dedicated home visitors and promoting family support for healthy development and child abuse prevention.

April 1, 2026

National Home Visiting Week is a time to honor the powerful work happening across Oregon’s home visiting system which includes the Healthy Families Oregon and Relief Nurseries programs, and to recognize the families and communities supported through these relationship‑based services. Home visitors across both programs show up with compassion, skill, and consistency. They build trusting relationships, celebrate milestones, and walk alongside families through both joyful and challenging moments.

Through strength‑based, family‑focused home visits, these programs provide parenting support, education, and connections that promote healthy development and help prevent child abuse and neglect. Their shared commitment to early intervention and comprehensive family support continues to strengthen families and communities across Oregon.

National Home Visiting Week is a nationwide celebration of the impact of home visiting programs and the professionals who make this work possible. It is an opportunity to:

  • Celebrate and appreciate home visitors
  • Elevate family‑centered, relationship‑based support
  • Share the impact of home visiting with community leaders and policymakers
  • Build awareness and pride across the Healthy Families America network

As we recognize National Home Visiting Week 2026, taking place April 20–24, we are reminded of the dedication of our home visitors, the resilience of the families they serve, and the collective impact we make when we invest in strong, nurturing relationships from the very beginning.

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Week of the Young Child is Here

The Week of the Young Child celebration occurs April 11-17, 2026, marking its 55th year, honoring early learning, children, teachers, and families. Join via social media.

April 1, 2026

The Week of the Young Child (WOYC) celebration is happening April 11-17, 2026! This year marks the 55th year of WOYC and celebrates early learning, young children, their teachers, and families.

You can join the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) in this celebration by tagging the DELC social media pages on Instagram and Facebook in your WOYC posts. Are you doing a fun project in your preschool or child care program, or celebrating your team in some way? Show us what you are doing to celebrate this important week!

DELC Facebook: @OREarlyLearning
DELC Instagram: @orearlylearning

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Share Your Smiles and Staff Pride for Provider Appreciation Day

Provider Appreciation Day on May 8 invites childcare providers to submit team photos for social media recognition. Submit photos with release forms by May 4 to participate.

April 1, 2026

Provider Appreciation Day is approaching on May 8, the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) would like to have the opportunity to highlight you and your staff on our social media and blog.     

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

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

You can submit your photos to our inbox at delc.communications@delc.oregon.gov.

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

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

Photo-Release-Form-DELCDownload

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DELC Community Webinar: Legislative & Budget Updates

On April 14, 2026, DELC will hold a Zoom webinar discussing the 2026 legislative session, budget development, and previewing concepts for 2027. Register by April 10.

March 16, 2026

On Tuesday, April 14th, the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) will host a zoom community webinar on legislation and budget development. We will recap the 2026 legislative session, provide information on the agency budget development process, and preview potential legislative concepts for the 2027 legislative session.  

To register to attend Zoom webinar, please use this link.  

To help DELC staff accommodate any interpretation or ADA accessibility requests, please complete your registration by April 10, 2026.

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Your Voice Matters: 3rd Annual Child Care Business Survey Closing Soon!

First Children’s Finance invites child care business owners in Oregon to participate in the 3rd Annual Child Care Business Sustainability Survey by March 21, 2026, for valuable insights.

March 16, 2026

Help us shape the future of child care in Oregon! First Children’s Finance is conducting the 3rd Annual Child Care Business Sustainability Survey to better understand the financial and operational challenges and opportunities facing your business. Share your experiences and opinions on workforce, facilities, funding, and more no later than March 21, 2026!

If you are an owner or administrator who makes business decisions for a family child care home or a child care center, we encourage you to participate. Your insight will help identify areas where additional business support is needed and inform our programs and initiatives across the state. Look for the survey link in your email inbox that was sent on March 3, 2026.

Why Your Input Matters:

  • Decision makers, including the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care, want to know how economic conditions, workforce challenges, and public funding impact your business.
  • Business support organizations, like First Children’s Finance, want to provide services that meet the changing needs of child care businesses in Oregon.

Survey Details:

  • Takes about 25 minutes to complete.
  • Your responses are anonymous unless you choose to share your information.
  • If you operate more than one child care program, please complete the survey for just one program.

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Join the Employment Related Day Care Program Rulemaking Advisory Committee

The Department of Early Learning and Care invites diverse applicants for the Employment Related Day Care Program Advisory Committee; apply by March 30, 2026.

March 16, 2026

The Department of Early Learning and Care is seeking applicants for the Employment Related Day Care Program Rulemaking Advisory Committee (RAC) 

The Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) is seeking diverse voices to represent families, child care resource and referral agencies, early learning hubs, and early learning system community partners. 

Apply today to give input on the Employment Related Day Care Program RAC ! 

We are seeking diverse voices to represent groups within Oregon’s Early Learning system. Committee members may include: 

  • Families 
  • Early Learning and Care Programs and providers with contracted Baby Promise slots 
  • Child Care Resource & Referral representatives  
  • Representatives from advocacy organizations 
  • Union Representatives 
  • Representatives from programs who provide care for young children 
  • Representatives from culturally specific, community-based organizations  
  • Early Learning Hub representatives  
  • Higher Education Early Childhood Education Degree Program representatives 
  • Tribal Nations representatives 

There will be one RAC meeting hosted on April 15, 2026, from 6-7pm. 

Participants will be reimbursed for their time dedicated to this RAC and will positively impact Oregon’s children, families, early learning programs, and communities. APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 30, 2026 

There will be one RAC meeting: 

  • Wednesday, April 15, 2026: 6:00 – 7:00 PM

Traditional Chinese  

English  

Russian  

Spanish  

Vietnamese 

  
QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS? Jennifer Heras at 

 jennifer.j.heras@delc.oregon.gov 

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Informational Webinar about Early Childhood Programs and Immigration Impacts 

The Center for Law and Social Policy will host a bilingual webinar on March 17, 2026, to assist childcare providers in preparing for immigration enforcement impacts.

March 17, 2026

*Para cambiar el idioma en el sitio web de la DELC, haga clic en “SELECT LANGUAGE” en la esquina superior derecha del sitio web.

Webinar: The Center for Law and Social Policy will host a webinar to help childcare and early education providers plan for potential immigration enforcement activity affecting their programs and facilities. The session will cover preparedness strategies, provider guidance, and available resources. The webinar will take place March 17 from 2:00–3:30 PM ET. Learn more and register here: 

The webinar will be held in both English and Spanish.  

Please note that DELC is sharing this informational webinar as it may help early learning providers and families stay informed in their communities. This webinar is being hosted by the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP). DELC is not hosting this webinar and is not offering legal advice. This resource is for informational purposes and does not replace legal advice. If you have questions about the information shared, please contact the authoring organization and if you have legal questions, please contact an attorney or your local legal aid organization.

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ECB Connect Pilot Expands This Month

Oregon’s Every Child Belongs Connect system, launched in July 2025, expands in March 2026 to help childcare providers manage behavioral challenges and comply with new suspension regulations.

March 16, 2026

Oregon’s new Every Child Belongs (ECB) Connect system launched in select regions in July 2025 and is expanding to additional areas March 2026. Co-developed by DELC and the Oregon Infant Mental Health Association (ORIMHA) with feedback from early learning partners, ECB Connect offers a centralized way for child care providers to request support when a child is at risk of suspension or expulsion. There are also supports for providers who want more general help understanding and responding to children’s behaviors or who want to learn more about how to support children coping with stress and trauma.

The ECB Connect system will help meet the requirements of HB 2166, which require providers to seek structured support before suspending or expelling a child. Through ECB Connect, providers may be connected to consultation, technical assistance, infant and early childhood mental health (IECMH) consultation, or other resources.

Partners in participating regions will receive access to:

  • Online support request forms
  • Training materials and guidance
  • Regional coordination tools
  • Engagement opportunities through office hours and feedback sessions

We are working closely with Child Care Resource & Referral agencies (CCR&Rs), IECMH consultation providers, and other community groups to ensure a phased and equitable rollout that meets the needs of providers and families across Oregon.

Learn more and stay updated at Everychildbelongs.org

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Updated ERDC Provider Guide Insert Now Available

The ERDC Provider Guide Insert has been updated with new rate increases for license-exempt family child care providers, effective March 1, 2026.

March 2, 2026

The updated Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) Provider Guide Insert is now available on the ERDC website in English, Spanish, Russian, Traditional Chinese, and Vietnamese.

This update reflects important rate changes and includes previously shared information for providers.

What’s New

Rate Increase for License-Exempt Family Child Care Providers – Effective March 1, 2026

The maximum ERDC provider rates are increasing for:

  • License-exempt Standard Family (FAM) providers
  • License-exempt Enhanced Family (QFM) providers

These updated rates apply to child care provided in March 2026 and later.

Also Included in the Insert

The updated insert also includes:

  • ERDC provider rates for licensed providers effective January 1, 2026
  • Enhanced Rate information and application link
  • The ERDC 9% Additional Payment form and request process effective January 1, 2024

We encourage providers to review the updated insert on the ERDC website to ensure they are using the most current rate information.

View the Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) Provider Guide Insert

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