Resources for Oregon Families

When searching for child care in Oregon, understanding the difference between the types of child care available is important. You may prefer a center-based structure for your child, where the care is in a facility and children are in classrooms based on age. Or, you may prefer a family-based program where the care is in a private home, includes mixed ages, and has fewer children. Within these two options, there are licensed programs and license-exempt programs.

Types of Child Care

Center Based Child Care

CENTER-BASED

Center-Based Child Care

Some families choose center-based child care because of the classroom-like environment. Center–based programs may have more adults present in the program and consistently longer hours of operation. Families may like that their child is grouped children of the same age.

Home Based Child Care

HOME-BASED

Home-Based Child Care

Some families choose home-based child care because they like the family environment and the smaller number of children in the program. Home based programs may offer flexible hours for families needing weekend or evening care. Families with multiple children may enjoy having siblings cared for together in one group.

Licensed and License Exempt Care

LICENSED

Licensed Child Care

The Office of Child Care conducts regular visits to licensed child care programs to ensure each program is following basic health and safety rules. Licensed programs require that staff have ongoing training and background checks. Programs are required to follow rules about the number of staff that need to be present and the number of children that can be cared for at one time.

LICENSE EXEMPT

License Exempt Child Care

Some families may choose License Exempt caregivers who provide child care in their homes on an informal basis. These caregivers are not required to be licensed if they care for three children or fewer and may be friends or relatives of your family.

SAFETY IS OUR PRIORITY

Child Care Safety Portal

The Child Care Safety Portal is a resource for parents and families to check the most updated information on the status of licensed child care programs in Oregon. The Portal lets families search for a child care provider and view their licensing history over a period of time. Parents can explore the site to determine the best child care for their children. The Finding Quality Child Care Guide can be found here and includes quality child care indicators to help inform families.

Visit DELC's Page for More Information
If you have any question, please contact the DELC Child Care Licensing Division via:

E-mail:  ccld.customerservice@delc.oregon.gov
or Phone: 1-800-556-6616

HIGH QUALITY CHILD CARE

Spark Rated Programs

Spark is Oregon’s voluntary Quality Recognition and Improvement System (QRIS). It helps providers set goals to strengthen their practices to provide nurturing, responsive relationships between children and educators, environments that engage and meet the needs of children, learning experiences that promote children’s growth and development, and meaningful partnerships between families and early learning professionals.

Go to the Oregon Spark Website
To find out more visit Oregon’s Spark.

Additional Resources

DELC (Department of Early Learning and Care) is responsible for licensing and monitoring child care facilities in the State of Oregon.

211info – A non-profit organization that provides referrals and helps families find & locate childcare options.

The ERDC (Employment Related Day Care) Program  helps families who are working, in school, or receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) pay for child care, including registration fees. We also work with partners across the state to help families find and keep good child care.

Department of Early Learning and Care Information on  child care, preschool, and home visiting opportunities for families with children from Birth to 5 years.

Oregon Parenting Education Collaborative (OPEC) supports access in Oregon to parenting education.

The Department of Early Learning and Care supports parents needing assistance paying for child care through the Employment Related Day Care program (ERDC).

FACTOregon – provides information and resources to empower families experiencing disabilities with children birth-young adult.

Inclusive Partners – Inclusive Partners supports access to child care and inclusive child care opportunities for children with diverse abilities and needs.