It’s time for lawmakers to take bold action to fix our child care crisis.

Our 2023 Legislative Agenda

Our entire economy is dependent on equitable access to child care. Like roads and bridges, affordable, high-quality child care is necessary infrastructure. Parents need affordable child care that provides a peace of mind that their children are learning and loved. Employers need their employees to have access to reliable, affordable child care so they can return to work. And our future workforce demands must ensure that all children have access to child care environments that stimulate development and get kids ready to learn in K-12.

While our state has taken necessary steps and made critical investments to address the child crisis in the last two years, without continued investment in child care infrastructure—supply-building, facilities, workforce investments, affordability, access—this crisis will continue to have a devastating economic impact on those who are already financially vulnerable: the disproportionately Black, Indigenous, and women of color who make up the child care workforce, and low-income and families of color who struggle to access the quality care they need.

Priority: Increase Affordability & Access

All of us depend on a child care system that works. Oregon currently only funds ERDC to serve about 12% of eligible families. For state-funded early learning programs, we only serve 30% of the eligible population.

We must continue the progress we've made funding quality and accessible early learning and child care. Families will also need assistance navigating the ONE eligibility proccess.

  • Adequately fund DELC POP 102 to implement the 2021 legislatively-approved changes to Oregon’s child care assistance program

  • HB 3027: Fund trusted CBOs to provide navigation services to families who should be eligible for Child Care assistance

  • Fund POP 104 to increase slots for Baby Promise

  • Fund POP 101 to increase access to existing early learning programs

Priority: Support Workforce Development

We currently see annual turnover in the child care workforce of between 25-30% in Oregon. The stability of our economy and the social and emotional well-being of our kids depends on us addressing low compensation in the secor.

  • HB 2991: Remove unnecessary barriers to professional credentials for child care workers

  • HB 3029: Create an incentive and assistance program for child care workforce modeled after the medical providers program

Priority: Create Child Care Infrastructure

Even if we fully funded our programs and paid our providers the wages they deserved, families would still struggle to find care because we lack adequate physical space for all children who need care.

It's critical that we invest in suitable child care infrastructure to meet the growing need for affordable, reliable, and quality child care.

  • HB 3005: Create an Early Learning & Care Facilities Fund and continue co-location with affordable housing investments

  • SB 599: Protect child care providers operating in rental homes

  • HB 2727: Examine and address how zoning regulations, state and local building codes and permitting practices inhibit or support expansion of early learning and care facilities

Our Guiding Principles

Equitable

Our vision is a targeted universal child care system rooted in racial, gender, and disability justice that works for all involved—parents, providers, and our kids. A new system must support wider economic growth and shared prosperity across the socioeconomic spectrum. Care must be accessible through “one-door” and easy to navigate for parents, providers, community navigators, and case managers.

High Quality & Affordable

A new system must be publicly-funded and affordable or free to all families. Parents must have the ability to choose their child’s care provider, setting, and be informed with the information they want and need when making that choice. Care must be offered all days and times families need it.

Community-Led

Our new system must be accountable to and governed by the parents and providers who most need it. A new system must truly support everyone’s needs and consider the economic security and well-being of our families. In this new system, the strength of grassroots organizing and base building are recognized.

 

Safe & Inclusive

Our new system will be informed by the different identities and needs of parents, providers, and children, which is what makes it truly comprehensive. All provider types must be included and care must be offered in a variety of settings that fits every family and child’s needs. Care must be culturally appropriate, reflective, and safe, and offered in the languages our families speak.

Developmentally Appropriate

A new child care program must be accessible to all families with children ages 0-13, including care for some families who need care for older children and young adults; with targeted focus on prioritizing the needs of BIPOC children, families and providers. A new system must be safe and support every child’s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical health and development.

Centered on the Value of Caregivers

A new system must value the work of caregivers, especially Black and Indigenous women, women of color, and immigrant women, and ensure they receive the equitable pay and benefits they deserve for their work. Training and services that support workforce development and that is offered to all provider types.