Child Care Resource Network

Types of Child Care in Oregon

Licensed (regulated) Child Care

Child care means the care and supervision of a child, on a regular basis, unaccompanied by their parent or guardian, in a place other than the child’s own home, with or without compensation. If a child care program is being operated by a provider that doesn’t match any of the descriptions of license exempt child care (see below), it will need to be licensed with the Early Learning Division Office of Child Care.

Becoming a licensed child care provider means that you intend to operate a child care program that meets the health and safety standards and requirements set by the State of Oregon. There are three types of licensing categories:

• Registered Family – in home, with up to 10 children in care. There are specific ratios of age groups for children in care. A Registered Family (RF) provider can specialize in one age group, or care for children from infant to school age.
• Certified Family – can be in-home, may also be at a separate home site. Depending on square footage and staff, may care for 12-16 children. Must have a minimum of one-year experience as an RF provider or meet teaching credential/experience requirements.
• Certified Center – at a commercial site. Must work directly with licensing specialists and meet health, safety, square footage, and teaching credential requirements. May specialize in one age group or serve many. Usually has multiple classrooms, teachers, and aides.

Licensed providers are all required to go through a process set by the State of Oregon which includes a healthy and safety set of trainings, lead testing, and a home inspection. They are required to participate in ongoing training hours in the field of early childhood education in order to support high quality child care and early learning opportunities.

Licensed providers are eligible to participate in Spark – Oregon’s Quality Rating and Improvement System. Spark documents the level of quality of care in a program and participants will earn a star rating.

A licensed provider must renew their license every 1-2 years (depending on certification type).

Oregon’s Early Learning Division Office of Child Care has created a Child Care Safety Portal. The portal is a resource for parents and families to check on the safety and quality of licensed child care programs in Oregon. The Portal lets you search for a child care provider and view their licensing history over a period of time. https://oregonearlylearning.com/parents-families/child-care-safety-portal-overview .

All licensed child care providers undergo a background check and are listed in the Central Background Registry. This includes and staff or other adults who may be alone with children.

If you are interested in becoming a licensed child care provider in Oregon, you may contact Child Care Resource Network for assistance at 541-776-8590, ext. 1126 or email at ccrn@soesd.k12.or.us .

Oregon’s Early Learning Division Office of Child Care can be reached at: 1-800-556-6616.

Exempt Child Care

Some types of child care are not required to be licensed with the Early Learning Division Office of Child Care. The following is a list of exemptions. If any of the following exemptions apply to you, the type of care you want to provide may not be required to be licensed but you may be required to record as a program. If you want to operate a preschool or school-age program that meets recording requirements, you will need to submit a recorded program application through Office of Child Care.

The following are exempt from licensing (regulated care)

• You provide care in the home of the child and all children present, not including your own children, reside in the home.
• You are related to all the children being cared for.
• All the children cared for – not including your own children – are from the same family.
• The number of days children are cared for is not more than 70 days in a year.
• You provide care for three or fewer children, not including your own children, at any one time.
• You operate a program that is for school-age children, is focused on a single enrichment activity and operates for no more than eight hours a week.
• You operate a program that is mostly a group athletic or social activity and is sponsored by an organized club or hobby group.
• You operate a parent cooperative child care program. Parents of the children in care must provide care on a rotating basis and the program cannot operate for more than four hours per day.
• The program is operated by a school district, political subdivision of the state or a governmental agency.
• You operate a program in a facility that provides care to children while the parents remain on the premises and are engaged in an activity offered by the facility or in other non-work activity.
• You operate a preschool recorded program or a school-age recorded program. To learn more about recorded programs click here: https://oregonearlylearning.com/providers-educators/become-a-provider/license-exempt-childcare/#recorded

If you have questions about Exempt care, you may contact Child Care Resource Network for assistance at 541-776-8590, ext. 1126 or email at ccrn@soesd.k12.or.us .

DHS Listed Child Care

A DHS child care provider may be either regulated (licensed) or exempt from licensing.

To be eligible for payment from the Department of Human Services (DHS), the provider must be listed with DHS. Being Listed with DHS means that you have completed the necessary trainings and background check in order for DHS to pay the child care subsidy for families receiving assistance.

If you are interested in becoming a DHS Listed provider, you may contact Child Care Resource Network for assistance at 541-776-8590, ext. 1126 or email at ccrn@soesd.k12.or.us .

DHS Direct Pay Unit can be reached at: 1-800-699-907

Become a Licensed Child Care Provider

Licensed (regulated) Child Care

Child care means the care and supervision of a child, on a regular basis, unaccompanied by their parent or guardian, in a place other than the child’s own home, with or without compensation. If a child care program is being operated by a provider that doesn’t match any of the descriptions of license exempt child care (see below), it will need to be licensed with the Early Learning Division Office of Child Care.

Becoming a licensed child care provider means that you intend to operate a child care program that meets the health and safety standards and requirements set by the State of Oregon.

Registered Family Child Care (RF)

Child Care Resource Network can help you navigate the steps toward becoming an in-home Registered Family (RF) Child Care provider.

* If you are interested in exploring other licensing certifications (Certified Family or Certified Center), please contact Child Care Resource Network to help connect you to licensing at 541-776-8590, ext. 1126 or email at ccrn@soesd.k12.or.us .

You may also contact Oregon’s Early Learning Division Office of Child Care at 1-800-556-6616.

The Process of Becoming of Registered Family Child Care Provider

Checklist for becoming licensed as a Registered Family Provider

Step 1) Introduction to Registered Family Child Care

There are two parts to the Introduction to Registered Family Child Care class. The required Part One class is available online at:  occd.educadium.com. You must take Part One before you can register for Part Two. This brief online training will answer general questions about licensing and help you to understand the requirements as set by the State of Oregon.

Part Two is the in-person training conducted by staff at Child Care Resource Network. You must attend this after completing Part One online. This free class provides a rule book, resources to help you be successful, information about Child Care Resource & Referral, and more. You must pre-register.

Step 2) Central Background Registry

To become licensed, you and everyone in your home over the age of 18, including frequent or common visitors, must be a part of the Central Background Registry. It is recommended that this is one of the first steps you take so that the processing time can be used to complete the required trainings. https://oregonearlylearning.com/providers-educators/providers-educatorscbr/

Step 3) Required Health & Safety Trainings

These trainings may be taken in any order:

• Introduction to Child Care Health & Safety – This training is free and available online here: occd.educadium.com
• Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect – This training is free and available online here:  occd.educadium.com
• Adult & Pediatric CPR and First Aid – This is an in-person training. If taken through Child Care Resource Network, the fee for the training is $50 payable by cash or check. These trainings are offered monthly in Medford and quarterly in Grants Pass. We can also provide the names and contact information of other CPR instructors in the area.
• Food Handler card – This training is free and available online here: www.childcarefoodhandler.org
• Safe Sleep training – This training is free and available online here: occd.educadium.com
• Foundations for Learning – This training is free and available online here: occd.educadium.com
• Prevention is Better than Treatment – This training is free and available online here: occd.educadium.com

*If you have difficulties accessing a computer, please contact Child Care Resource Network and we will be happy to provide assistance.

Step 4) Lead Testing

The Early Learning Council approved new requirements for child care providers to prevent children in their care from being exposed to lead. All state-regulated child care providers must begin testing for lead in their drinking water and sending test results to the Office of Child Care. If the test results come in at or higher than “15 parts per billion (ppb),” the provider must make changes to prevent lead exposure.

The harmful impact of lead exposure is well known and documented. There is no safe blood lead level for people. Lead is especially harmful to young children and pregnant women because of the impact on growth and brain development. Lead in water is most harmful to formula-fed infants. The most important step adults can take is to prevent lead exposure before it occurs.

Click here for more information: https://oregonearlylearning.com/lead-poisoning-prevention/

You will learn more about this and receive paperwork at the in-person Introduction to Registered Family Child Care training.

Step 5) Submit Registered Family application

You will receive the Registered Family application at the in-person Introduction to Registered Family Child Care training. Once all of the above requirements have been completed (Central Background Registry, health & safety trainings, lead testing) you may submit your application. The Registered Family application will require that you submit copies of all your completed requirements and certifications. There is a $30 processing fee to apply for a license.

Step 6) Health & Safety Inspection

Once you have submitted your application and been approved, a licenser will contact you to set up a home Health & Safety Inspection. The Health and Safety inspection checklist will be reviewed at the in-person Introduction to Registered Family Child Care training.

Once you have passed the Health & Safety Inspection, you will receive your Registered Family License. The RF license is good for two-years. Within that two-year period you will be required to complete a minimum of 10 hours of ongoing Early Childhood Education trainings.

Professional Development is an important part of offering high quality care. Child Care Resource Network offers free trainings each quarter.

After you are licensed:

Become DHS Listed!

Complete and submit an Intake form to Child Care Resource Network so that parents may be referred to your program through 211

Connect with the USDA Food Program

Develop your contracts and policies

Contact Child Care Resource Network to participate in Spark – Oregon’s Quality Rating and Improvement System

Important resources:

Oregon Early Learning Division
Oregon's Spark - Quality Rating and Improvement System
Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS)

Become Listed with DHS

In order to receive payment from DHS, an in-home provider must meet all DHS provider requirements, take part in a criminal background check, take required health & safety trainings and the DHS Orientation, test for lead in drinking water, and pass a home health & safety inspection (Non-relative care).

Registered Family, Certified Family, and Certified Center providers also need to be Listed in order to receive payment through DHS.

The DHS Listing Process:

For complete instructions click here: https://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ASSISTANCE/CHILD-CARE/Pages/Provider-Listing.aspx

Key information for Exempt In-Home providers (not licensed):

The process of being Listed with DHS is different depending on whether you are considered a relative to the child or children in question. DHS defines relative as: you are a grandparent, great-grandparent, aunt, uncle (does not include great-aunt and great-uncle) or a sibling not living in the home of the child that you intend to care for. Relationships must be established by blood, adoption or marriage. This also includes blood relationships established before the child was adopted. Relationships established by marriage continue even if a spouse dies.

Relative Care requirements are slightly different than non-relative care. Any required trainings must all be completed before the Listing Form is turned in to DHS.

Both Relative and Non-Relative care are required to take the online Introduction to Child Care Health & Safety training. Then please refer to the checklist below and to the instructions on the DHS Listing Form for the process that is specific to you.

Child Care Resource Network staff are also available to assist you. Please contact 541-776-8590, ext. 1126 or email ccrn@soesd.k12.or.us .

Click here for more information on DHS provider requirements:

https://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ASSISTANCE/CHILD-CARE/Pages/Providers.aspx

Click here for more information about the DHS Listing process and the link to the DHS Listing Form. https://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ASSISTANCE/CHILD-CARE/Pages/Provider-Listing.aspx

Click here to see current rates that DHS pays for child care. Rates are set by zip code.

https://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ASSISTANCE/CHILD-CARE/Pages/Rates.aspx

Please note:

Being “listed” with DHS is NOT the same as being licensed with the Office of Child Care. In order to be paid by DHS, licensed providers still have to fill out the DHS listing form and return it to DHS.

Important Resources:

Direct Pay Unit (DPU): 1-800-699-9074 (toll-free) or 503-378-5500 (Salem area)

SEIU — Union for license-exempt providers: 1-800-452-2146

Adult & Pediatric CPR and First Aid training

Who needs it? Everyone! You are required to achieve this certification and re-certify every two years. You must keep proof of your current certification in your files.

*There is only one exception: if you are DHS Listed Relative Care and you have elected to not receive the higher rate of pay through the Enhanced Rate option.

This training MUST be taken in person.

Child Care Resource Network offers this training monthly in Medford and quarterly in Grants Pass. Please see our current training calendar for current offerings.

If a training date is full, or if you need certification before the next CCRN scheduled training, we can provide you with a list of CPR instructors in your area.

CPR Training Through CCRN:

You much register and pay in advance in order to attend a CPR training. Please register either through the CCRN Training Request Line: 541-776-6768 or use the online registration form on our home page at www.ccrnso.org .

The fee for the CPR training through CCRN is $50. This fee must be paid in advance.

We currently can accept only a check (made out to First Response) or cash (exact change only).

We cannot confirm your spot in the training without payment. There are generally 15 spots available and your spot can only be confirmed with receipt of your payment. We cannot hold spots and we cannot receive payment at the door.

Should you miss the training, your payment is non-refundable unless you call in advance to let us know you must miss the training. Your payment will then be transferred to another training date. Your payment can be transferred once.

It is not possible to accept payment at the door. We have a maximum capacity of 15 unless we have arranged special circumstances in advance with the instructor.

There is no formal break in the training. You are encouraged to bring beverages and snacks to the training. We love children, but they are not welcome at this training. Please make appropriate child care arrangements.

Payment information:

Payment may be made by check or cash (exact change only). We cannot accept credit/debit cards. If you pay by check, please make it out to First Response. You may come by the CCRN office to pay or mail the payment. Our mailing address is: CCRN/SOESD, 101 N. Grape St., Medford, OR 97501. If you need to explore other payment arrangements, please contact CCRN at 541-776-8590, ext. 1126.

Exceptions to the payment requirement:

• If you are licensed through the Office of Child Care as either a Registered Family or Certified Family Provider, your fee is covered by the Early Learning Division. You must be within your current licensing period. Please be prepared to provide your RF or CF license number when you register. If you are not able to take the CPR training through CCRN, you can be reimbursed for using an outside CPR instructor. The Reimbursement Form and W-9 can be downloaded here: http://triwou.org/pages/show/first-aidcpr-reimbursements
• If you are Listed with DHS, and meet the following requirements you are eligible to have your fee covered: you are Active in the DHS system, and are currently serving a DHS family receiving the child care subsidy. If you meet these requirements, then your fee is covered by DHS. Please be prepared to provide your DHS Provider number when you register.

Certified Center Aide 1 or Assistant 1 Reimbursement:

If you work for a Certified Child Care Center as an Aide 1 or Assistant 1, you are eligible to be reimbursed for your CPR payment. You will need a Reimbursement Form and W-9 which can be downloaded here:

http://triwou.org/pages/show/first-aidcpr-reimbursements

If you have questions about your CPR reimbursement, please follow up with Western Oregon University directly.

Western Oregon University

TRI/Central Coordination of CCR&R

345 Monmouth Ave N.

Monmouth, Oregon 97361

Phone: 1-800-342-6712

Spark – Oregon’s Quality Rating and Improvement System

Oregon’s Spark is a program that raises the quality and consistency of child care and early learning programs across the state. The Quality Rating System recognizes, rewards and builds on what early learning and development programs are already doing well. It helps ensure children in Spark programs are ready for kindergarten by connecting programs and providers with free tools, financial incentives and professional advice that they can put into practice with confidence.

Find a Spark star-rated program near you! http://triwou.org/projects/spark

If you would like to become a Spark program, Child Care Resource Network is here to help you! Please contact us at 541-776-8590, ext. 1118.

Coming Soon! Please contact Child Care Resource Network for assistance with your professional development. 541-776-8590, ext. 1118

The Oregon Child Care Alliance

The OCCA helps child care providers and preschool owners get the support they need to run their business.  Services are available in both English and Spanish, and Alliance members get access to mentorship, business coaching, business trainings, resources and business support.

This program is free to join and is available to licensed in-home providers and small centers, and those planning on becoming licensed within the next 6 months.  Joining the Alliance is easy.  Simply fill out a brief application online at https://www.oregonchildcarealliance.org/.  OCCA members get a free website for their business, free bookkeeping software and tax help.

Learn more about the Alliance and apply online at: https://www.oregonchildcarealliance.org/

Contact Norma Pantoja at Child Care Resource Network for additional questions: norma_pantoja@soesd.k12.or.us

Coming Soon!