Child Care and Daycare Assistance Programs in Oregon
Raising kids can be expensive, but there are programs in Oregon to help families with child care costs. This guide explains the help available, how to find it in your area, and answers common questions.
What is child care assistance?
Child care assistance programs help families pay for daycare so they can work, go to school, or look for a job. Some programs let you choose your daycare provider, and the state pays them directly. Other programs provide child care services without needing to find your own provider.
Child care assistance programs in Oregon
Oregon has several programs for low-income families that need child care help:
Employment Related Day Care (ERDC)
This program pays child care providers directly so parents can work or study.
Families must earn at or below 200% of the federal poverty level to qualify.
Parents may still need to pay a small fee based on family size and income.
Family can sign up to be paid child care providers through the ERDC program.
There is a waiting list for this program. However, some families, including families who get TANF Cash Assistance or TA-DVS domestic violence money, may be able to skip the list.
You can learn more about ERDC on this government website.
Early Head Start and Head Start
These programs offer family support, child care, and early learning for kids ages 0 to 5. Families must earn at or below 100% of the federal poverty guidelines or get other government aid, like food stamps or disability benefits. You can learn more on the Oregon Head Start Association website.
Preschool Promise
This program provides free preschool to children ages 3 and 4. To qualify, families must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. You can learn more about Preschool Promise on this government website.
Baby Promise
This program offers free child care for children from 6 weeks to 3 years old, but it's not available in all counties. Families must earn at or below 200% of the federal poverty level to qualify. You can learn more about Baby Promise on this government website.
Relief Nurseries
These nurseries provide special classrooms for young children and support for parents who have gone through tough times. You can learn more on the Oregon Association of Relief Nurseries website.
Children's Extraordinary Needs Program
This new program helps parents of kids with developmental disabilities. It currently serves only 150 families, but you can join a waitlist if more funding becomes available. You can learn more about the CENP program on this government website.
Children's Intensive In-Home Services (CIIS)
This program provides services, like in-home care, for children with developmental disabilities. To participate, children must be eligible for Oregon Medicaid. You can learn more about CIIS on this government site.
Finding child care programs in your area
Figuring out which child care programs you qualify for can be confusing. Not every county will offer all the programs listed above. The good news is you don’t need to be an expert to find help.
Here are some resources to help you learn about the programs available in your county:
- Early Learning Hubs: Oregon has 16 early learning hubs around the state. Contact your local hub to learn more about child care assistance and services in your area. You can find your Early Learning Hubs on this government site.
- Find Child Care Oregon: This website helps you understand child care options, provider licenses, and offers a directory of child care providers in Oregon. Visit the Find Child Care Oregon website.
- Call 211: You can call 211 for referrals to child care providers and other services in your area.
The Federal Poverty Level (FPL) is a number that helps the government decide who needs financial help. Government programs use this number to see if a person or family qualifies for assistance programs like child care assistance, health care, food stamps, or housing support.
Every year, the government calculates the FPL based on the cost of living and other factors. The level is different depending on how many people are in your household.
For example, a family of four has a higher FPL than a single person. The specific number can change, so it's important to check the latest figures.
Find this year's federal poverty level on this government website.
Parents without much money who work, attend school, or train can qualify for help. Some programs require parents to be at or below 100% of the federal poverty guidelines, while others require parents to be at or below 200%.
You can apply through the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) website or your local DHS office. Learn more about applying on the DHS website.
Many programs have waitlists because of limited funding. Some families can skip the waitlist if they are in a really tough place financially or involved in child welfare cases
Some programs, like Employment Related Day Care, let you choose your provider. The state will pay them directly for part of your child care costs. Other programs, like Relief Nurseries or Head Start, provide services directly to families.
Yes, the Employment Related Daycare Expenses (ERDC) program allows you to choose your provider. This person could be a relative, like an aunt or grandparent. ERDC will pay the provider directly for child care costs.