DELC on Social: October Highlights

As we wrap up September, we’re taking a moment to look back at some highlights we shared on our social media channels throughout the month. If you haven’t already, we invite you to follow us on social media!

As we wrap up October, we’re taking a moment to look back at some highlights we shared on our social media channels throughout the month. If you haven’t already, we invite you to follow us on social media! It’s one of the easiest ways to stay up to date on child care resources, early learning news, and opportunities to get involved.

🔗 Follow us: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube

Did you know? In 1982, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed October as National Head Start Awareness Month to honor the program’s impact.

Every October, we celebrate the children, educators, families, and communities who are part of our Head Start family. Since its founding in 1965, Head Start has provided high-quality education, health care, and family support to more than 40 million children and their families nationwide.

📣 This month, we invite you to be a part of #HeadStartAwareness by sharing a story, memory, or experience you’ve had with Head Start. go.nhsa.org/HSAM


Thank you to the Oregon Association for the Education of Young Children (ORAEYC) for inviting the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) to speak at the Early Childhood Summit! 🌟

It was a wonderful event celebrating collaboration, innovation, and the incredible work happening across Oregon’s early learning community.


Exciting news from the Government to Government Summit!

Governor Tina Kotek met with leaders from Oregon’s nine federally recognized tribes and signed House Bill 2815 — directing DELC to work in partnership with Tribal Nations to develop a statewide early learning and care plan for Native American and Alaska Native children ages 0–8.

We’re honored to support this important collaboration for Tribal sovereignty and early childhood success. 💛


Earlier this month, Governor Tina Kotek issued a statewide proclamation recognizing the vital role Head Start plays in supporting children, families, and communities.

To celebrate, DELC and the Oregon Head Start Association visited a Lane County preschool classroom to witness firsthand how Head Start is helping Oregon’s youngest learners grow and thrive.

In this special video, Charleen Strauch and Heather Edge from Head Start of Lane County share how—for over 60 years—Head Start has been a place of opportunity, belonging, and support for families across our state.


Repost from Oregon Department of Human Services:

The federal government shutdown is affecting funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). If the shutdown continues into November, SNAP benefits for November will not be issued until federal funding starts again.

You can still use any SNAP benefits already on your EBT card. SNAP funds do not expire right away. Your current balance will stay available during this time.

When federal operations resume, ODHS will issue November benefits as quickly as possible. The timing will depend on national systems that process benefits for many states, which may cause some delays.

We know this is stressful for many people who rely on SNAP. We are watching the situation closely and will share updates as soon as we have them.

Get more details here: https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/news/Pages/snap-updates.aspx


Repost from NeighborImpact Child Care Resources:

🌟 Baby Promise in Salem! 🌟

This week, our CCR Baby Promise team- joined by the Department of Early Learning and Care Baby Promise Data Crew and Baby Promise program manager- met up in Salem with teams from Central, Multnomah, and South Coast regions for some cross-region collaboration! 🤝

We connected, shared common challenges, and worked together on ways to better support our teachers, programs, and the families we serve. 💛

Grateful for teamwork, fresh ideas, and the big impact we can make together! 🙌

Celebrating Head Start Awareness Month

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek declared October as Head Start Awareness Month, highlighting the program’s impact on children and families through community visits and a video featuring leadership reflections.

November 3, 2025

Last month, Governor Tina Kotek issued a statewide proclamation officially designating October as Head Start Awareness Month. The month is celebrated annually across the country as a way to honor the legacy and continued impact of Head Start in improving the lives of children, families, and communities.

The Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) and the Oregon Head Start Association (OHSA) recently visited a Head Start of Lane County preschool classroom located at Lane Community College. The visit offered a firsthand look at how Head Start programs are building strong foundations for Oregon’s youngest learners by helping children grow, families thrive, and communities strengthen.

As part of this celebration, DELC partnered with Head Start of Lane County to create a short video featuring Charleen Strauch, Executive Director, and Heather Edge, Board Chair.

Through their heartfelt reflections, they share the profound impact of Head Start. How for more than 60 years, it has served as a cornerstone of opportunity and belonging for families across Oregon.

Watch the video: Head Start: Building Strong Foundations for Children, Families, and Communities

Learn More

To learn more about Head Start programs or find one near you, visit the Head Start Center Locator.

Click below to view other Child Care Update articles

October 2025 Community Newsletter

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! 


Click below to view other Community Newsletter articles