Introduction
Finding good child care in Linn, Benton, and Lincoln Counties that works for your family can be hard, but understanding how it all works is a great first step.
Overview
Oregon defines child care as “the care and education of children aged birth to twelve years old, unaccompanied by a parent, guardian, or custodian, regularly, and during a part of the 24 hours of the day.”
There are different types of child care to choose from, depending on what your family needs:
• Child Care, sometimes called Daycare: Provides a safe and nurturing environment for children while parents or guardians are at work.
• Early Learning Programs: These include full and part day preschools and help kids learn, make friends, and get ready for kindergarten.
Ages
The rules for child care change depending on how old your child is:
• Infants: Children from birth to 12 months old. (Licensed programs are able to take children beginning at 6 weeks old.)
• Toddlers: Children from 12 months to 3 years old.
• Preschoolers: Children from 3 to 5 years old but not yet in kindergarten.
• School-Aged: Children from kindergarten eligible (usually 5 years old) up to 12 years old.
Types of Child Care
Child care programs can be licensed or licensed exempt.
Licensed Child Care in Oregon is overseen by the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC). They make sure child care programs are safe and follow important rules. Licensed programs must undergo an approval process and have regular visits to check for health and safety.
Staff at licensed programs must:
• Pass background checks
• Take regular training classes
• Follow rules about how many children they can care for at one time
Types of Licensed Child Care Programs:
• Certified Child Care Center: These are larger programs that care for children in a building that is not a home. They tend to follow a structured program. . Centers often have set schedules, such as regular business hours, and may be more expensive than care in a home.
• Family Child Care: These programs take place in someone’s home. They are usually more flexible and may cost less than centers. There are two types of family child care:
o Registered Family: One person runs the program from their home. They can care for up to 10 children, including no more than six children who are not eligible for kindergarten, with a maximum of two under 2 years old.
o Certified Family: One person runs the program with the help of one or more assistants. They can care for up to 16 children at one time in their home.
Licensed Exempt Child Care, also known as family, friend, and neighbor care, is a small, home-based program that cares for three children or fewer, or all the children from the same family.
These programs are often harder to find because they are not fully regulated or tracked by the state. But they can be a great option for many families because they:
• Usually costs less than licensed programs
• Are more flexible, especially for evening, weekend, or last-minute care
• Can provide more one-on-one attention because of fewer children
Some license-exempt providers are regulated, especially if they accept state subsidies. These providers are referred to as Regulated Subsidy Providers. Families who qualify for help from the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) through the Employment-Related Day Care (ERDC) program can use this kind of care. ERDC helps families with low incomes who are working or in school (up to 200% of the federal poverty level).
Read more about ERDC: www.oregon.gov/delc/programs/ pages/erdc.aspx.
Another License Exempt program is Recorded Preschool, which must be recorded with the Child Care Licensing Division.
Recorded Preschools:
• Are for children aged 3 to 5 years old
• Are open for no more than 4 hours per day, usually 3 to 5 days a week
• Focus on helping kids get ready for kindergarten and build social skills through play and learning activities
Subsidized Child Care Programs
If your family income is within 250% of the Federal Poverty Level, you may qualify for programs that help cover child care costs. Here are some options:
• Employment Related Day Care (ERDC): This Oregon program helps working families and student parents pay for child care. Call (800) 699-9075 to find out if you qualify.
• Preschool Promise (PSP): A free preschool program offered in many locations and through various community groups. To see if you’re eligible, contact Pollywog or visit pollywogfamily.org/free-preschool
• Head Start/Early Head Start: Free child care and education programs for families with incomes between 100% and 130% of the Federal Poverty Level. To learn more or check if you qualify, visit www.ohsa.net/contact.
Child Care Quality
Everyone wants the best care for their children, but what does “high-quality” really mean?
In Oregon, all licensed and regulated subsidy child care providers are required to join the Central Background Registry (CBR). This means the state checks their background through groups like:
• Oregon State Police
• Child Protective Services (CPS)
• The FBI
• Sex offender registries
If the care is in someone’s home, every adult (18 and older) living there must also be checked.
Recorded Preschool Teachers get a background check, but it’s less strict than the one for licensed providers.
License-exempt providers do not have to pass a background check.
Oregon has a system to help families understand the quality of child care programs. It’s called Spark, and it uses a star rating system to show how well a program supports children and keeps improving.
• Every licensed program starts with 1 Spark star, which means it meets basic care standards.
• Programs can earn up to 5 stars by meeting extra goals and showing a strong commitment to helping kids learn and grow.
• A 5-star Spark rating means a program offers top-level, high-quality care.
However, a 5-star Spark rating is difficult to achieve. As of April 2025, only five qualifying child care programs have 5-star Spark ratings in Linn County, six in Benton County, and five in Lincoln County.
To find programs with Spark Ratings, visit www.FindChildCareOregon.org.
