Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care

With heat advisories predicting triple-digit temperatures, we hope everyone stays cool and safe.

Heat waves can seriously harm older people, those who live or work outdoors, have low incomes, are pregnant, are infants or children, or who have a chronic medical condition.

Check in regularly with family, friends and neighbors who are vulnerable to heat, especially if they live alone, older or don't have AC.

To find a cooling center, call 2-1-1 or visit 211info.org and search for "extreme heat cooling centers" to find a cooling center near you.

Wildfire season is underway. It's important for Child Care Providers to update, revise, and review emergency and reunification plans in the event of a level 3 "GO NOW" evacuation.
Read more about how to create a plan here: https://www.oregon.gov/delc/providers/pages/emergency-preparedness.aspx

The DELC Customer Service Survey invites direct care providers, tribal organizations, external partners, and regional service providers to participate in their preferred language.
Learn more and take the survey:

The 2026 DELC Customer Service Survey is Now Open The DELC Customer Service Survey invites direct care providers, tribal organizations, external partners, and regional service providers to participate in their preferred language.

Today, DELC is upgrading our phone systems for Child Care Licensing (CCLD) and the Direct Pay Unit (DPU), combining them into one new DELC Call Center.
What to expect:
⭐Current phone numbers will still work and go to the same place
⭐Menu options have been updated so please listen closely to pick the right one
⭐You can choose to get a call back instead of staying on hold if wait times are long
⭐Hours of operation remain the same.
Thank you for your patience during this transition. Questions? Call 1-800-556-6616 or email [email protected]

The draft revised Career Lattice (points) is built on what providers and partners told us during the 2024-2025 listening sessions. That input helped create a new and improved draft of the Oregon Registry Steps.
This fall's Listening Sessions through the Oregon Career Development Center (OCCD) are your next chance to weigh in before anything is finalized. Fill out our quick survey to help us schedule sessions that work for you.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfuCupIqPtWu9SVM0m0Kt9n_BI8x5SoxGEpcGR9KfE4q6avlw/viewform

Make sure to keep our little ones safe by staying updated on the latest air quality information. Monitor weather conditions and other hazards, including air quality emergencies.
Stay prepared and bookmark these essential resources:
- Oregon DEQ Air Quality Index Map: aqi.oregon.gov/
- Oregon Smoke Information Blog: oregonsmoke.org
- Local emergency alerts: oralert.gov
- Current wildfires: inciweb.wildfire.gov
Safety first! 🌬️🌲

Starting Friday, July 24, DELC is upgrading our phone systems for Child Care Licensing (CCLD) and the Direct Pay Unit (DPU) — combining into one new DELC Call Center. Here's what to expect: all current phone numbers will still work and go to the same place, our menu options will be updated (so listen closely to pick the right one!), and if wait times are long, you can choose to get a call back instead of staying on hold. Our hours are staying the same too.
Questions? Call 1-800-556-6616 or email [email protected].

This fall, the Oregon Center for Career Development is holding additional Listening Sessions on the Oregon Registry Steps redesign.
Since the 2024-2025 listening sessions, a group of providers and partners reviewed all your feedback and used it to build a new and improved draft. Now we're asking for your voice again to help us get this right.
Take a minute to fill out a quick survey and help us find the best times and ways to connect with you this fall. Learn more at https://www.oregon.gov/delc/providers/Pages/ECE-support.aspx :~:text=October%20Revision%20Feedback%20Sessions

DELC turns 3! Three years as our own agency, working to make sure every Oregon family has access to safe, affordable early learning. Here's to the next chapter. 💛

Celebrating Three Years of DELC Enjoy the videos and music that you love, upload original content and share it all with friends, family and the world on YouTube.

Turn your next outdoor moment into a playful learning adventure! Invite your child to explore their surroundings and discover a rainbow of colors together.
Head outside and see how many colors you can find together! Ask your child to collect (or point to) something green, yellow, red, and brown.
As you explore, talk about what you see:
"What color is this flower?"
"Is this leaf bigger or smaller?"
"Can you find something that flies?"
Every conversation helps build vocabulary and observation skills.