Child Care for Oregon

Calling all parents, caregivers, CCFO coalition members and partners: We still want to hear from you!

What is your caregiving experience in Oregon? What are you struggling with? What do you think the Child Care for Oregon coalition should be focusing on in the upcoming legislative session and beyond?

Share your thoughts now through the 31st at https://secure.everyaction.com/TmrjyCtRzEGr0gMu4Rj6_Q2

The child care crisis is real. We can all agree that child care is unaffordable and inaccessible for most families while child care providers are paid poverty-level wages. It shouldn’t be this way!

Learn how to make your voice heard about child care at the ballot box with ’s Guide! Together, we can this Election Day, November 5, 2024.

And meet the care champions who have made the commitment to prioritize child care in Oregon at http://motherpac.org/2024election!

Find more at the link in our bio.

The child care crisis is real. We can all agree that child care is unaffordable and inaccessible for most families while child care providers are paid poverty-level wages. It shouldn’t be this way!

Learn how to make your voice heard about child care at the ballot box with 's Guide! Together, we can this Election Day, November 5, 2024.
And meet the care champions who have made the commitment to prioritize child care in Oregon at motherpac.org/2024election!

Find more at www.momsrising.org/blog/presenting-momsrisings-child-care-voter-guide/?source=ChildCareVotertoolkit

Join us TOMORROW morning for a neighborhood canvassing event! We’re getting the word out about our endorsed candidate running for re-election, Annessa Hartman.

Annessa is the child care champion we need to stay in office. She advocates for the working class, parents and caregivers, and we can’t afford to lose her voice! Join us tomorrow at Max Patterson Memorial City park from 10am to 12pm.

Find this weekend’s opportunity and all of our future events at

Mother PAC 2024 Field Shifts

Over the past few years, the Child Care for Oregon coalition has had some historic wins — and we’re ready to do it again!

In the upcoming legislative session, kicking off January 21, 2025, we’ll have the opportunity to talk to our legislators to share what parents and caregivers in Oregon need to provide for their families and loved ones.

To continue centering the voices of parents and caregivers in this work, we want to hear from you as we plan for our legislative session priorities. What are you most concerned about? What policies do you think we should know about and advocate for this coming session?

No matter where ideas are in the legislative process — be it a concept or a previously-introduced policy — we invite you to share what you're passionate about at the form linked in our bio! Submissions will be accepted through October 31st.

We look forward to hearing from you about your policy priorities! Share your feedback at the link in our bio.

Unite Oregon Urban League of Portland PCUN Native American Youth and Family Center Family Forward Action APANO Action Fund Oregon AFSCME Children's Institute, Oregon Association for the Education of Young Children

Are you ready to vote in the upcoming general election? It only takes a few minutes to check your registration status at http://OregonVotes.org/MyVote! Make sure your info is up to date or register by October 15, 2024.

📅 Ballots will be mailed starting tomorrow, October 16, 2024, and Election Day is November 5, 2024! Be sure your ballot is received by 8 p.m. or postmarked on Election Day to be counted. You can return your ballot by mail, at a county clerk’s office, or in an official drop box. Find secure drop boxes at http://OregonVotes.org/MyVote 20 days before the election!

Let’s make your vote count! 🗳️

Are you ready to vote in the upcoming general election? Checking your registration status at OregonVotes.org/MyVote takes just a few minutes! Confirm your information is correct or register to vote by October 15, 2024. Ballots will be sent out starting October 16, 2024.

And don’t forget! Election Day is November 5, 2024. Make sure your ballot is received by 8 p.m. or postmarked on November 5 to be counted. You can return your ballot by mail, at a county clerk’s office, or at any of the secure, official drop boxes available throughout the state. 20 days before the election, you can find official drop boxes at OregonVotes.org/MyVote.

Your vote matters!

🌟 *Meet Victoria!* 🌟

Victoria Mendoza started VICTORIA'S DAYCARE 16 years ago in Salem. As a mom struggling to find local childcare, she decided to get licensed and start her own business. What began as a solution for her own kids has grown into a trusted resource for families in her community.

Even during tough times, like the COVID-19 pandemic, Victoria adapted and persevered—earning an emergency license to continue serving families. Today, she’s still providing loving care and working hard to ensure every child feels at home.

Our 🌸GIVE 🌸 THEM 🌸 FLOWERS 🌸 campaign aims to thank parents and providers like Victoria who care for our children. Childcare is often underpaid and under-appreciated, but it’s the work that makes all other work possible!

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🌟 *¡Conoce a Victoria!* 🌟

Victoria Mendoza inició VICTORIA'S DAYCARE hace 16 años en Salem. Como mamá que tenía dificultades para encontrar cuidado infantil, decidió obtener su licencia y abrir su propio negocio. Lo que comenzó como una solución para sus hijos se ha convertido en un recurso confiable para muchas familias de su comunidad.

Incluso durante la pandemia de COVID-19, Victoria se adaptó y perseveró—obteniendo una licencia de emergencia para seguir apoyando a las familias. Hoy, continúa brindando amor y asegurándose de que cada niño se sienta como en casa.

🌸 GIVE 🌸 THEM 🌸 FLOWERS 🌸 es una campaña para agradecer a padres y proveedores como Victoria, quienes cuidan de nuestros niños. ¡El cuidado infantil es mal pagado y poco valorado, pero es el trabajo que hace posible todo lo demás!

It’s election season, which means policy and political agendas are top of mind for lots of folks. We’re sure you’ve heard the Child Tax Credit mentioned lately, but what *is* the CTC?

The team at the National Women’s Law Center () put together a handy one-pager to help clear up any misconceptions about the CTC. Aptly titled “The Child Tax Credit Is Great – But It Won’t Solve the Child Care Crisis” we hope this will help provide you with the information you need to fully understand what our elected officials and those running for office are promising when it comes to addressing the national child care crisis, because while the Child Tax Credit is a helpful credit for families, it is not the care solution we need.

Let’s hold our elected officials accountable and demand that child care be a top priority.

Our friends at Unite Oregon invite you to join them for a Childcare Workshop!

This in-person training session is designed for license-exempt providers who are interested in enhancing the role of play in their family child care programs. Participants will explore the significance of play in early childhood development, discuss various materials that encourage active engagement, and identify age-appropriate resources that support a rich learning environment.

Format: In-person, 3-hour session
Dates & Location:
Clackamas County: Date & Time TBD
Jackson County: Date: Oct. 5th, 2024 / Time: 10am-1pm / Location: Medford Jackson County Library 205 S Central Ave. Medford, OR 97501
Multnomah County: Date: Oct. 12th / Time: 10:30am-1:30pm / Location: Highland Haven Community Room 7600 NE Glisan St. Portland, OR 97213
Washington County: Date: Oct. 19th / Time: 10:30pm-1:30pm / Location: Brookwood Library, Community Room 2850 NE Brookwood Pkwy Hillsboro, OR 97124

Stipend: $300 per participant
Sign up by visiting bit.ly/psf-training2024 or scan the QR code!

Parent Cohort Celebration Recap 🤩

Thank you so much to everyone who came out for the viewing of Caring Out Loud from where we heard from caregivers from all over the country, sharing their care stories.

Watch the replay from the live stream here: https://familyvaluesatwork.org/events-directory/caringoutloud/

🎉 Join us for the Care Out Loud Parent Cohort Celebration! 🎉

We’re coming together to honor our Parent Leaders and celebrate the collective work towards building a universal, publicly-funded child care system in Oregon that’s equitable, affordable, inclusive, culturally-relevant, safe, and community-led.

What to expect:

- Storytelling showcase
- Words from Child Care for Oregon Coalition Co-Chairs Candice Vickers & Kaliko Castille
- Recognition ceremony for Parent Cohort Leaders
- Connect with neighbors and fellow participants

Let’s celebrate together! 💛 https://secure.everyaction.com/oHS_moWSCE2w28f3LQnKVQ2

The Child Care for Oregon coalition is kicking off our Summer Parent Cohort today!

This cohort is a unique opportunity for parents to come together, empower each other, have dedicated leadership development, and play a pivotal role in building a comprehensive child care system that reflects our values and priorities.

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Childcare is the backbone of our economy, and together we’re fighting for solutions. ❤️ Last week, our coalition joined parents, providers, and other at a virtual town hall with the Biden-Harris administration where we discussed how to repair our broken childcare industry. .pdx

🌸 You deserve flowers! 🌸 Calling all the amazing parents, moms, mamas, dads, papas, grandparents, and care providers across Oregon! Sign up and let us give you your flowers: bit.ly/ideserveflowers

🌸 ¡Tú mereces recibir flores! 🌸 Llamamos a todos los fabulosos padres, madres, papis, mamis, abuelitos y cuidadores de todo Oregon. Inscríbete y déjanos regalarte flores: bit.ly/merecesflores

Nominations are open! We’re launching the 🌸 GIVE 🌸 THEM 🌸 FLOWERS 🌸 Campaign to thank parents and providers who care for our children. Far too often child care is underpaid and under-appreciated, but it’s the work that makes all other work possible!

THANK YOU! Because of our collective actions, the legislature invested an unprecedented $171 million to stabilize ERDC for families across Oregon

Parents, providers & employers know that ERDC (Employment-Related Day Care) is a lifeline—it keeps parents working & ensures kids get the early education they deserve. Together, we sent over 4,000 messages to elected leaders urging them to invest in ERDC!

Our work is just beginning: more investment is needed to solve our . We won’t stop until we have a child care system that works for ALL families. Sign our pledge to join the fight ahead! bit.ly/childcarepledge

TOME ACCIÓN 👉🏽 Más de 1,900+ familias de Oregón que necesitan cuidado infantil están ahora atrapadas en una lista de espera durante meses o posiblemente años. No tiene por qué ser así. Los líderes estatales pueden utilizar el ingreso estatal histórico para financiar el cuidado infantil AHORA. bit.ly/accionerdc

Take action! 👉🏽 1,900+ Oregon families who need child care are now stuck on a waitlist for months or even years. It doesn’t have to be this way. State leaders can use the historic budget surplus to . bit.ly/funderdc

Take Action: bit.ly/funderdc 👉🏽Our leaders need to hear from YOU! If you’re a parent, provider, caregiver, or community member who has been impacted by Oregon’s child care crisis, please take two minutes to email your elected leaders today.

BREAKING—Oregon has a $1.3 BILLION budget surplus! At minimum, we expect our elected leaders to use a fraction of this historic surplus to end the ERDC budget shortfall and address the .

TAKE ACTION: Tell elected leaders they can’t leave Oregon families hanging out to dry. They must pass a budget that recognizes the critical value of child care, and prioritize the needs of families across our state:  bit.ly/funderdc

Employment-Related Day Care (ERDC) is a lifeline for families—it keeps parents working and ensures kids get the early education they deserve. Because the legislature underfunded the program in 2023, ERDC now faces a serious budget shortfall and an indefinite waiting list—which has grown to 1,600+ families and counting.

Join in urging legislators to use the power of their elected positions—and our state’s historic $1.3 billion budget surplus—to support a budget that meets the needs of families struggling to afford child care in this economy and help us build a child care system that works for ALL families.

Today’s budget forecast provides legislators a green light to address Oregon’s child care crisis in the form of a $1.3 BILLION (!!) budget surplus. We are asking the legislature to use a fraction of the historic budget surplus to end the ERDC budget shortfall. The Legislature must also pass HB 4158 and HB 4098 to make sure child care programs benefit as many families and providers as possible.

Employment-Related Day Care (ERDC) is a lifeline for families—it keeps parents working and ensures kids get the early education they deserve. Because of underfunding and increased demand, ERDC faces a serious budget shortfall and an indefinite waiting list—which has grown to 1,600+ families and counting.

We are asking legislators to use the power of their elected positions—and our state’s historic $1.3 billion budget surplus—to support a budget that meets the needs of families struggling to afford child care in this economy and help us build a child care system that works for ALL families.

Candice Vickers is a parent and the ED at Family Forward Action. Outside the State Capitol, she outlined what Oregon families are calling for: “We are calling on Gov. Kotek and legislative leadership to use our state’s historic budget surplus to meet the needs of families. Specifically, that means addressing the projected shortfall for ERDC with $221 million from the budget surplus.”

Join Candice in asking our leaders to prioritize the needs of Oregon families: bit.ly/funderdc

“Hacemos un llamado a la gobernadora Kotek y al liderazgo legislativo para que utilicen el ingreso estatal histórico para satisfacer las necesidades de las familias,” dijo Candice Vickers, directora ejecutiva de Family Forward Action. “Específicamente, eso significa solucionar el déficit proyectado para los fondos del programa social del subsidio de cuidado infantil relacionados con el empleo. Guardería (ERDC) con $221 millones del ingreso estatal histórico.”

Más de 1300 familias de Oregón que necesitan cuidado infantil están ahora atrapadas en una lista de espera durante meses o posiblemente años. No tiene por qué ser así. Los líderes estatales pueden utilizar el ingreso estatal histórico para financiar el cuidado infantil AHORA. Toma acción: bit.ly/accionerdc

Marchel Marcos is a parent, PPACE Director at APANO Action Fund and a small business owner. At the event, she shared, “Our economy depends on child care—but as parents and providers know, Oregon’s child care system is profoundly broken. More than 1,300 families who need child care are stuck on a waitlist with no end in sight.”

Join Marchel in asking our leaders to prioritize the needs of Oregon families: https://bit.ly/funderdc