Types of Care in Oregon

Child Care Types

Types of Care

This table shows you the basics about child care options in Oregon so you know what questions to ask to help you determine what type of care fits your child best.

Child Care Type	License Exempt		Licensed
Child Care Type	Recorded Programs	Regulated Subsidy Provider	Registered Family Child Care	Certified Family Child Care	Certified Child Care Center
What are the care options?	Preschool programs that operate four hours or less per day and school-age programs that aren’t required to be licensed.	Providers eligible for state subsidy reimbursement, but are not required to be licensed. Includes family, friends and some program with limited hours.	Home-based child care program with up to 10 children.	Home-based child care program with up to 16 children.	Center-based child care program with number of children determined by floor space and number of staff.
Is this type of care regulated?	Recorded Programs: self-attest use of criminal background checks	Regulated Subsidy Providers: meet health and safety standards (on-site inspections) comply with comprehensive background checks are regularly monitored participate in ongoing training	Licensed child care: meet higher health, safety and program standards (on-site inspections) comply with comprehensive background checks with Office of Child Care are regularly monitored participate in ongoing training
Which are eligible to accept subsidy dollars?	No. Unless programs meet requirements for regulated subsidy.	These types of care can accept subsidy payments as long as they are listed with Department of Human Services.
Which are licensed?	No. These programs are recorded with the State.	No.	Licensed child care: keep attendance records have planned educational activities have a guidance and discipline policy have a daily routine/schedule are certified to handle food preparation are trained in first aid and CPR are trained in child abuse and neglect participate in ongoing training on child development hearth and safety
Which are eligible for quality ratings?	No.	No.	Eligible to apply for quality rating (3, 4 or 5 stars). Licensed child care: employ staff who meet training and education qualifications use materials, curricula, and activities that help child learn and grow make it their policy to follow best practices in adult-child interaction

Registered Family Child Care Overview

The general characteristics of a Registered Family Child Care provider are:

The child care business is in the provider’s own home. A license is limited to one provider per household.
A maximum number of 10 children are allowed in care at any one time. Of those 10 children, six children may be preschool age or younger, two of the six preschool children may be under 24 months of age. The provider’s own children are included in the number of children in care.
Prior to a license being issued, changing to a new home address, reopening a license after a lapse in time, or renewing a license every two years, the provider must satisfactorily complete an on-site health and safety review conducted by the Office of Child Care.
The provider, all other residents of the home, substitute caregivers, and frequent visitors 18 years of age or older must be enrolled in the Office of Child Care’s Central Background Registry.

To find available Registered Family providers in your area, contact 211Info via their website, by dialing 211 toll free, text your zip code to 898211, or email help@211info.org.

Certified Family Child Care Overview

The general characteristics of a Certified Family Child Care provider are:

The child care business is in a single family home, usually the provider’s own home. License is limited to one provider per household. The provider may hire additional staff.
A maximum number of 12 children (16 children with prior approval by the Office of Child Care) are allowed in care at any one time. The provider’s own children are included in the determination of caregiver/child ratio and group size.
An environmental health specialist, as well as a licensing specialist from the Office of Child Care must inspect and approve the home prior to a license being issued. Both specialists must conduct an annual inspection before a license is renewed.
The, provider, all other residents of the home, substitute caregivers, staff, volunteers, and 18 years of age or older must be enrolled in the Office of Child Care’s Central Background Registry.

To find available Certified Family providers in your area, contact 211Info via their website, by dialing 211 toll free, text your zip code to 898211, or email help@211info.org.

Certified Child Care Center Overview

The general characteristics of a Certified Child Care Center are:

The child care business is in a facility that has met zoning, occupancy, and building code requirements; usually a commercial building.
The maximum number of children allowed in care depends on the square footage of the building, number of qualified staff, and various other factors. The license reflects maximum number of children allowed in care at any one time.
An environmental health specialist, the local fire department, as well as a licensing specialist from the Office of Child Care must inspect and approve the facility prior to a license being issued. All three inspections must be conducted annually before a license is renewed.
The director, child care staff, volunteers, or any individual who may have unsupervised contact with child care children during operation hours that are 18 years of age or older must be enrolled in the Office of Child Care’s Central Background Registry.

To find available Certified Child Care Centers in your area, contact 211Info via their website, by dialing 211 toll free, text your zip code to 898211, or email help@211info.org.

Recorded Programs Overview

Being recorded with the Early Learning Division Office of Child Care is different than being licensed, in that there are only two requirements: (1) Self-attest to completing a criminal background check on all staff and volunteers 18 years of age and older who will have contact with children in the program; and (2) Inform parents about their recorded status and post the program notice in a place where it can be seen. Unlike a licensed child care facility, the rules for recorded programs are not extensive. The Office of Child Care will not look at staff requirements, ratio of children to adults, equipment, activities or any other aspects of the program. In most cases, Office of Child Care staff will not visit the facility.

There are two types of recorded programs. Preschool Recorded Programs serve children 36 months to 5 years of age, are primarily educational and no child is in the facility more than four hours per day. And School-age Recorded Programs serve child from first grade to 13 years of age, provide youth development activities that are extracurricular in nature and do not take the place of parental care.

Questions?

If you have more questions about Preschool or School-age Recorded Programs check out the FAQ or contact the Office of Child Care at 1-800-556-6616 or email childcare.emp@state.or.us.

Regulated Subsidy Providers

Regulated Subsidy Provider Overview

A Regulated Subsidy Provider is a non-relative who cares for children whose families are eligible for child care assistance through the Department of Human Services (DHS), but who is not required to be licensed. A Regulated Subsidy Provider (sometimes referred to as a license exempt child care provider) is required to be listed with DHS and to follow new federal regulations for training and allow a visit by the Office of Child Care. Learn more about the changes and the new requirements for Regulated Subsidy Providers through the DHS website.

Background Checks

Licensed Child Care and Regulated Subsidy Providers

All child care staff and any individual who may have unsupervised access to child care children e.g. adults living in the home, volunteers, maintenance staff, the owner, office staff, and regular visitors must be enrolled in the Office of Child Care’s Central Background Registry. The background check process includes a criminal background check through the Oregon State Police, a record check through Department of Human Services Child Protective Services and the fingerprint based criminal background check through the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Record Programs

Self-attest a criminal background check is conducted on all staff and volunteers 18 years and older who have contact with children.

Monitoring and Inspection

All licensed child care programs receive a combination of announced and unannounced visits. Certified Child Care Centers and Certified Family Child Care Homes have an announced licensing visit annually. Registered Family Child Care Homes have a licensing visit biennially. In addition the announced licensing visit, all programs receive no less than one unannounced monitoring visit annually. If compliance concerns exist, the program will receive additional unannounced monitoring. The Office of Child Care also responds to complaints alleging rule violations in a program and reports of injuries requiring medical attention. Complaint visits are conducted unannounced.