Finding Quality Child Care

Quality Care Connections is available to provide families with resources for understanding their child care options and finding child care services in Lane County.

Resources to Support Your Child Care Search

One of the most important decisions your family will ever make is choosing child care. The Finding Quality Child Care: A Guide for Oregon’s Families provides information, resources, and guidance to help you to make the best decision when choosing a child care program that meets the needs of your family. Finding the right program takes time, so start early.

This information is provided on the Find Child Care Oregon website.

It can be challenging to know what questions to ask a Child Care Program. This Questions to Ask When looking for Child Care document can provide some suggestions  as you interview and search for Child Care to make the best decision for you and your family.

This information is provided on the Find Child Care Oregon website.

The Child Care Safety 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.

Child Care Safety Portal Information 

How to Make a Complaint

How to Request Compliance History

Click Here to Open the Portal

 

 

Spark is Oregon’s Quality Recognition and Improvement System (QRIS). It is a voluntary program designed to support and recognize high quality early childhood care and education programs. In early learning and educational settings, high quality includes some of the following features and benefits: 

  • Attached, supportive relationships with a qualified caregiver/teacher
  • Environments which are stimulating and appropriate for each child
  • Experiences and activities that support all aspects of a child’s development
  • Strong partnerships between families and early educators

Information provided by Oregon Spark.

Learn About Spark

Find Spark-Rated Programs

There are several programs available to help Lane County families with the cost of child care services.

  • Employment-Related Day Care (ERDC) - Subsidy to support eligible familes pay for child care
  • Preschool Promise - Free, high-quality preschool for Oregon families living at or below 200 % of the Federal Poverty Level
  • Head Start and Early Head Start - Federal programs to promote school-readiness for young children from low-income families.

Learn More

Searching for Child Care Services

Referrals are provided by 211info, Find Child Care Oregon, and Child Care Resource and Referral agencies. Referrals are NOT recommendations. The responsibility of exploring and determining the best child care provider is solely upon families seeking child care.

  • Search for child care using Find Child Care Oregon.
  • Contact 211info for a referral list of programs.
    • Call 211
    • Text “Children” or “Niños” to 898211
    • Download 211info App
    • Hours: Monday-Friday 7 am - 11 pm, Saturday/Sunday 8 am - 8 pm
    • Languages: English, Spanish, Interpretation available
  • After you have contacted 211info once or even twice, you are welcome to contact Quality Care Connections for additional referrals through the Find Child Care Oregon database.

Find Child Care Oregon Website

    211 Child Care Referral

    211 Child Care Referral can provide free guidance and information about:

    • child care
    • behavioral strategies
    • school readiness & tips
    • early childhood development
    • family stress & anxiety
    • parenting classes & support
    • local play groups
    • foster care support
    • basic family resources
    • and much more!

    211info Website

    Additional Community Resources: