FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 1, 2024
SALEM, ORE. –The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) is celebrating a successful first year as one of Oregon’s newest state agencies.
“This anniversary represents the first of many milestones,” said DELC Director Alyssa Chatterjee. “I’m overjoyed to see how far DELC has come. It is an honor to support young children and families across the state.”
Standing up a new agency devoted to children in their earliest years kicked off last July when staff announced they had successfully surpassed all three transition goals. Over the course of the year, staff administered programs that successfully delivered assistance to tens of thousands of Oregonians across the state with high quality programs such as Baby Promise, Early Childhood Equity Fund, Employment Related Day Care, Healthy Families Oregon, Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten, Preschool Promise, and Relief Nurseries. Together, these programs, under one roof, are helping to unify and strengthen early learning across Oregon.
In June, the agency released two guiding documents: Growing Oregon Together, strategic plan for 2024-2029 along with its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Action Plan which will help guide the work in the years ahead. Staff have also taken steps to increase transparency including the launch of three new data dashboards to help measure progress.
DELC staff set up strong foundations and structure for the new agency including creating policies, information technology infrastructure, and agency-wide budget processes to ensure limited financial resources are leveraged to their greatest effect. In June the agency refined the organizational structure with a dual deputy model that will help teams operate more efficiently, and in turn, better serve Oregonians.
Child health and safety is an important focus at the agency. The Child Care Licensing Division worked with partners to revise and implement new rules, ran over 21,000 background checks, conducted investigations and supported providers to help ensure Oregon’s children have safe and healthy environments to play, explore, and learn. This work took place out of field offices across the state in Redmond, La Grande, Medford, Eugene, Salem, Tualatin and Portland.
Over the course of the year, staff worked hard to be intentional about internal and external engagement. Leadership recently announced a contract with Workplace Change to help build a supportive culture and to foster an inclusive work environment. The new Tribal Affairs Office and Social Equity Office have expanded and are fully staffed. Agency staff will continue to build strong government-to-government relationship with Tribes and to deepen partnerships with advocates, unions, legislators, culturally specific nonprofits, providers, families and other community groups.
At the legislature, staff testified, attended committee hearings, and worked with the legislature to pass the agency’s first budget. Bills were advanced and new policies are being implemented to increase options and provide supports to Oregonians in need.
DELC does many things to be proud of and this work represents only a small sampling of what was accomplished over the last year.
The agency is marking the “DELC Turns 1!” occasion with a downloadable coloring page. Tag DELC on social media with completed works of art.
“As we reflect on all we have collectively achieved this past year, we are more committed than ever and are deeply grateful for the collaboration, support, and partnership we’ve received,” said Chatterjee. “We have a great deal more work to do, and in the years ahead we will continue to evolve our strategies and solutions to meet the needs of the communities DELC serves.”
About the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care
The Department of Early Learning and Care’s mission is to foster coordinated, culturally appropriate, and family-centered services that recognize and respect the strengths and needs of all children, families, and early learning and care professionals. More information about DELC is available at Oregon.gov/DELC. You can also connect with DELC on Facebook or sign up for news alerts and updates.