UPDATE: Child care in Oregon is closed unless operating as Emergency Child Care. For more information, click here. |
Emergency Child Care
Child care is an essential service to communities. In response to COVID-19 and the governor’s Executive Orders 20-19, 20-08 and 20-12, the Office of Child Care (OCC) created a process for licensed child care providers, public schools, and employers or other entities to launch new, Emergency Child Care Facilities. In addition, Oregon has license exempt providers that typically offer care to three or fewer children. License exempt facilities do not need to apply to OCC, and do not fall under the same regulations. If you want more information about those options, click here.
We are still accepting applications to operate Emergency Child Care. The Early Learning Division is not currently accepting applications for non-licensed, temporary Emergency Child Care (“pop-up”) facilities unless they can demonstrate a community need. This does not apply to recorded programs. We are accepting recorded program applications.
If you have any questions regarding applications, please email OCC.CustomerService@state.or.us.
What is Emergency Child Care?
Essential Workers are prioritized to receive Emergency Child Care. This includes first responders, emergency workers, health care professionals, critical operations staff and essential personnel, and other individuals working outside of the home.
Following Oregon Governor Brown’s announcement and the Statewide Standards for Child Care released on May 13, providers must continue to prioritize care for essential workers and may also serve families who return to work in phased reopening.
To receive a customized referral to emergency child care programs contact 211info by:
- Calling 211. Listen to the prompt for Child Care and press the specified number.
- Texting the keyword “children” or “niños” to 898211 (TXT211).
- Emailing children@211info.org.
- Click here to visit the website.HOURS: Monday – Friday: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday – Sunday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The following groups may provide emergency child care for families during this public health crisis:
- Licensed Child Care Providers– Many current licensed providers are reserving slots for children of Essential Workers. Families can contact 211info to access this child care. For more information, check out the “Emergency Child Care Toolkit for Currently Licensed Providers” below.
- Public Schools– Public schools are currently working to provide child care to Essential Health Workers. Workers will receive a referral from their employer to access this care. For more information, check out the “Emergency Child Care Toolkit for School Districts” below. Corresponding to the end of the school year, school-based Emergency Child Care must end no later than June 30, 2020, unless the school provided child care prior to the state of emergency. For more information, click here.
- Emergency Child Care Sponsored by Employers or Other Entities– With approval from the Office of Child Care, experienced providers may open additional sites for emergency child care. For more information, check out the “Emergency Child Care Toolkit for Temporary Emergency Child Care Facilities” below. The Early Learning Division is not currently accepting applications for for non-licensed, temporary Emergency Child Care (“pop-up”) facilities unless they can demonstrate a community need.
Existing child care providers and public schools will be staffed by current employees and/or temporary staff and substitutes who have been vetted through a background check process and child care training. For emergency child care sites sponsored by employers or other entities, we are prioritizing staff structures with experienced child care staff from licensed providers that are currently closed, along with new or additional staff who are required to pass background checks and participate in training.
The Center on Early Learning and Youth Development (CELYD) in partnership with the Early Learning Division (ELD) is committed to supporting our Emergency Child Care Facilities that have chosen to remain open by providing referrals for Emergency Child Care substitutes.
Emergency Child Care substitutes are individuals who have worked in early learning and have signed up to provide care in approved Emergency Child Care Facilities through an online process. Substitutes have been screened for the following:
- Current Central Background Registry clearance or Emergency Background Check clearance
- Current CPR/First Aid or the online CPR/First Aid
- Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect
- Introduction to Child Care Health and Safety
- Safe Sleep for Oregon’s Infants (if applicable)
If you would like to receive referrals to Emergency Child Care Substitutes, please complete the form below.
English Form: https://fs22.formsite.com/QRIS/sdq2buinj7/index.html?1588107620795
Spanish Form: https://fs22.formsite.com/QRIS/nfpojg57bs/index.html?1588107635721
Russian Form: https://fs22.formsite.com/QRIS/bvysgxan67/index.html?1588107658517
You can also contact Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) at ccrr@wou.edu or 1-800-342-6712. NOTE: This is not a recommendation. It is a referral to available people. It is your responsibility to decide if they are an appropriate match for your facility and Emergency Child Care services.
The Early Learning Division is actively recruiting child care substitutes. These caregivers would provide care in a child’s home or emergency child care facility to support Oregon’s medical personnel, emergency responders and other essential staff needed to work during this public health crisis.
If you are not currently working in child care, but are willing to be mobilized to serve your community during this time, you can apply to be a substitute. The ELD will work closely to match you with the location, setting and schedule that most aligns with your preferences.
Emergency child care will be provided in the following settings:
- In a licensed home or child care center that is open for business during this emergency
- In a school that is providing emergency child care and is registered with the Office of Child Care in the ELD
- If you indicate it is allowable, we will also provide your name to medical personnel, emergency responders or other essential staff that are interested in someone providing care in their home
The program or individual you are matched with will be responsible for paying you. If you have questions, please contact the CCR&R helpline by email at ccrr@wou.edu or call 1-800-342-6712 for assistance.
At this time, many of the programs offering emergency child care slots are licensed child care providers. Public schools do not require child care licensure. Providers opening new emergency child care sponsored by employers or other entities must be experienced and participate in an expedited licensure process with the Office of Child Care.
The resources and toolkits below support emergency child care providers with:
- Setting up healthy and safe child care environments for children of all ages (0-12)
- Special considerations for set-up and operation related to COVID-19
- Staffing suggestions and structures
As with all resources related to COVID-19, guidance will be updated as new information becomes available.
Emergency Child Care Toolkit: For Currently Licensed Providers
- Facility Application Form
- Emergency Background Check Application
Emergency Child Care Toolkit: For Recorded Programs and Non-Licensed Emergency Child Care
The Early Learning Division is not currently accepting applications for non-licensed, Temporary Emergency Child Care (“pop-up”) Facilities unless they can demonstrate a community need. If you have any questions regarding applications, please email OCC.CustomerService@state.or.us.
- Emergency Child Care Guide for Recorded Programs and Unlicensed Child Care Facilities
- Facility Application Form
- Emergency Background Check Application
*Temporary Child Care Facilities are new Emergency Child Care facilities established by experienced child care operators. The “Emergency Child Care Guide for Temporary Child Care Facilities” is not for currently licensed facilities operating in their existing space and converting to Emergency Child Care.
Corresponding to the end of the school year, school-based Emergency Child Care ended June 30, 2020, unless the school provided child care prior to the state of emergency. For more information, click here.
General Resources
- Daily Attendance Log – COVID-19
- Physical Distancing Activities That Keep Kids Social
Emergency Child Care Dashboard
This Emergency Child Care Dashboard provides a valuable overview of the status of Emergency Child Care (ECC) in the state of Oregon, specifically around vacancy and capacity.
The Early Learning Division (ELD) partnered with the Center on Early Learning and Youth Development (CELYD) at The Research Institute at Western Oregon University to collect data on Emergency Child Care operations in Oregon. The ECC dashboard was created to ensure there was an adequate supply of child care for essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and to understand more about the supply of child care to support ECC providers and those who closed.
This dashboard is a dynamic resource, with data continually changing and updates processed daily, Monday through Friday. The ECC Dashboard may help determine:
- The demand for and availability of ECC, statewide and by county.
- The demand for and availability of ECC by age group.
- The overall impact and role of Emergency Child Care.
- Identify next steps as Oregon begins to reopen.
In addition, the ELD and CELYD are gathering data on trends since Emergency Child Care operations began.
Dashboard Tables
Table 1: General Summary - Vacancies by Age Group
Table 2: Vacancies by County
Dashboard Data Collection
Below are the data sources for the ECC Dashboard.
ECC VACANCY DATA:
- Oregon’s Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) Database
The Child Care Resource and Referral database (NACCRRAware) collects and houses program and vacancy data from child care providers in order to connect families with child care providers that match their needs. - Weekly Contact Attempts with all ECC Providers, including licensed and license-exempt, by CCR&R Agencies
Vacancies are reported by child care providers via email, text, or phone and updated as they are received. The date of the most recent vacancy update is also tracked.
ECC CAPACITY DATA:
- Emergency Child Care (ECC) Applications
The capacity for licensed ECC providers is determined by the Early Learning Division – Office of Child Care (OCC) staff based on state regulations. This information comes from each approved ECC Application and any updates that are made to that application. - Capacity for License-Exempt Providers
The capacity for license-exempt providers is entered and updated in the NACCRRAware database. This is based on state regulations and updates given by the provider during weekly vacancy checks with local CCR&R staff.
Dashboard Definitions
Capacity: Capacity for licensed programs or the number of children allowed at a licensed facility, determined by license type and the Office of Child Care. These data are broken down further by the child’s age.
Vacancies: Openings (slots) in a licensed or licensed-exempt child care . Vacancy data are further broken down by the child’s age.
Note: There is sometimes a slight discrepancy when reviewing vacancies by age groups or vacancies as an overall number. Many times, a provider is open to different combinations of ages and it is up to the CCR&R staff to sort overall vacancies into age groups in the vacancy fields.
- Infant Vacancies: Number of openings for children at least 6 weeks and up to 1 year of age.
- Toddler Vacancies: Number of openings for children at least 1 year of age and up to 3 years of age.
- Preschool Vacancies: Number of openings for children at least 3 years of age and up to 5.5 years of age.
- School Age Vacancies: Number of openings for children who are at least 5 years of age.
Types of Child Care Businesses
Licensed – Certified Center (CC): A program with a CC license operating in their approved business location.
Licensed – Certified Family (CF): A provider with a CF license operating in their approved business location.
Licensed – Registered Family (RF): A provider with a RF license operating in their approved business location.
Unlicensed – Recorded: A preschool or school-aged program that is recorded with the Office of Child Care.
Unlicensed – School Partners: Programs that are approved to provide Emergency Child Care in a school building.
License-Exempt: A provider that cares for three or less children in their own home.
All other combinations of licensure means that the child care provider:
- has a pre-existing license and an ECC identifier and may be operating child care out of their own location,
- temporarily partnering with another child care program, or
- providing care out of a temporary location.
Following the coronavirus outbreak and the reopening phases, the status and role of Emergency Child Care will continue to evolve.
