CARE Connections
Improving care for young children
CARE Connections is your local Child Care Resource & Referral. This Oregon Early Learning program provides lifelong learning opportunities and workforce-related quality training to Early Educators and families of young children in Coos and Curry Counties.
Our mission is to improve the quality of early care and education experiences for young children by providing education, information and support to people who care for them.
CARE Connections links families and Early Educators to one another and to other resources in the community.
We are your go-to resource if you are:
- Interested in becoming an Early Educator and looking for information, required training/education, and workforce supports;
- Currently working in the field of early care and education and are in need of professional development, resources, and support; and
- In search of an early care and education program for your child that fits your needs.
Need help?
If you need assistance in a language other than English, please call our office at (541) 290-4209.
Si necesita ayuda en un idioma que no sea inglés, llame a nuestra oficina al (541) 290-4209.
Если вам нужна помощь на другом языке, кроме английского, позвоните в наш офис по телефону (541) 290-4209.
What you need to know
Our Mission
To provide quality education, training, support, and referral services to children, families, child care providers and community partners, while promoting regional partnerships focused on improving quality of care and early education that supports all children in reaching their potentials.
For Information about Class dates, times and locations, please contact:
Coos County
Phone: 541.888.7957 / 1.800.611.7555
Curry County - Liz Cohen
Phone: 541.813.1674
Coos & Curry email [email protected]
Child CARE Resource and Referral
Child Care Resource and Referral links parents, child care providers, employers and the community to provide accessible, affordable, quality child care to all children. From the database, staff give parents referrals to a variety of child care settings. Parents receive education on how to choose safe, appropriate child care and information on community resources.
Providers on the database receive referrals and support for their child care business. Resource and Referral offers training so providers can become professional in the child care and education field.
Coos: 541.888.7957 / 800.611.7555
Curry: 541.813.1674
Contact: [email protected]
Referral Hours
8:30 am to 4:00 pm Monday - Friday
Pathways to Positive Parenting Program
The Pathways of Positive Parenting project guides and educates parents as they lead their children to social/emotional growth and development and academic readiness.
Contact Kathy Barber: 541.888.7123 or to register for a class call: 541.888.1588
Visit the Website
QRIS Quality Rating Improvement System
This innovative program seeks to raise the quality and consistency of child care and learning programs. The QRIS connects caregivers and educators with tools, financial incentives and professional advice to ensure the children in their program are better prepared for school. It also gives parents expert, unbiased information to make informed decisions about child care options.
For local assistance in participating in the QRIS in Coos & Curry Counties, please contact CARE Connections: ccr&[email protected]
Become a Child Care Provider
To become a licensed Child Care Provider you must complete these necessary steps:
- Complete Overview Class – FREE Class through CARE Connections
- Become registered through the Child Care Division’s Central Background Registry
- Complete Recognizing & Reporting Child Abuse & Neglect Class
- Obtain a Food Handler’s card (self-study packet, class or online)
- Have a current Infant/Child CPR & First Aid certification
- Submit application and complete licensing process with the Child Care Division, including on-site health and safety visits from a Child Care Division specialist.
Classes are provided once a month through Care Connections Child Care Resource & Referral. Please call us for more information about schedules and fees.
Coos County
1988 Newmark Ave.
Coos Bay, Oregon 97420
541.888.7957
Becoming a Child Care Provider in Oregon
Oregon Rules for Registered and Certified Family and Certified Center Child Care
Welcome to the Oregon Registry Program!
The Oregon Registry: Pathways for Professional Recognition in Childhood Care and Education is a voluntary, statewide program to document and recognize the professional achievements of people who work in the childhood care and education profession.
The Oregon Registry recognizes two pathways for professional development:
- A degree or certificate pathway
- A college course credit or community based training pathway
The Oregon Registry recognizes that individuals may use a variety of sources to gain increased knowledge in the core body of knowledge for the profession.
The Oregon Registry Steps are the sequence from Enrollment through Step 12 in the Oregon Registry. Each step represents increased training and education in the Oregon Core Body of Knowledge for the Childhood Care and Education Profession.
The Oregon Registry:
- Promotes life-long learning for childhood care and education professionals.
- Recognizes the training and education of childhood care and education professionals.
- Recognizes the professional experience, personal attributes, and commitment to a professional code of ethical conduct.
- Contributes to a professional, well trained, and educated workforce.
- Provides a structured way for people to enter into and to advance within the field.
- Provides a basis for status, benefits, and incentives for professionals in the field.
- Promotes quality of care through learning a core body of knowledge.
The Oregon Registry recognizes the professional enhancements of:
- length of professional experience
- achievement of personal attributes
- commitment to the professional code of ethical conduct
If you have any additional questions or comments about the Oregon Registry, you may contact CARE Connections in Coos County at 541.888.7957 or 1.800.611-7555 and in Curry County at 541. 813. 1674x254.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND/OR APPLICATIONS:
http://www.pdx.edu/occd/oregon-registry-2
General Information About Licensed Childcare for Parents and Providers
- Oregon Early Learning General Information
- Online Childcare Search
- DHS Information for Childcare Providers
- Online Training Through Oregon Center for Career Development
- South Coast Regional Early Learning Hub
- Oregon Association for the Education of Young Children
Child Care Food Handlers:
Oregon Child Care Central Coordination
Find online child care referral link, tips for providers, and other resource information regarding child care in Oregon.
Other Important Information:
- Online Central Background Registry
- Tom Copeland's Taking Care of Your Child Care Business
- Child Care Aware [PDF].
Office of Child Care Rules
- Rules for Certified Child Care Centers
- Rules for Certified Family Child Care Homes
- Rules for Registered Family Child Care Homes
How To Chose Quality Childcare
211 – Your resource for child care and so much more!
Licensing Specialists:
Kim L. Yasutake
Center Certification Specialist, Child Care Division
119 N. Oakdale Avenue, Medford, OR 97501
Phone: 541.776.6060 ext. 296
Alfredo Gallegos
Home Child Care Licensing Specialist, Child Care Division
119 N. Oakdale Avenue, Medford, OR 97501
Phone: 541.776.6060 ext. 234
La Oficina de Cuidado Infantil le podría proveer servicios en el idioma de su preferencia. Favor de llamar al 1-800-556-6616 para ser conectado con un representante para que le ayude.
- Looking for child care?
211 Child Care Search - How to choose quality child care that fits your needs?
Steps to Finding Quality Child Care - How to know if a program is right for you?
Child Care Safety Portal - Other Resources
Zero To Three - Child Care Resource Fair for families is coming soon!
For more information and support call (541) 888-7957
Are you interested in joining the Early Learning workforce? Please follow these necessary steps to get started***:
- Enroll in the Office of Child Care's Central Background Registry
- After you are enrolled, you will get an access code to make an appointment to complete fingerprinting
- The following trainings can be found online and must be completed before entering the early learning workforce
- Recognizing & Reporting Child Abuse; Neglect Training
- Introduction to Child Care Health and Safety
- Introduction to Registered Family (2-part training)
- Prevention is Better Than Treatment
- Safe Sleep for Oregon's Infants (if working with children under the age of 24 months)
- Complete Food Handler's Certification
- Complete Pediatric CPR & First Aid Certification
- For Southwestern's course offerings in Coos County please call (541) 888-7352
- If you are a resident of Curry County, please call CAL ORE Life Flight at (541) 469-7911.
*** Not all trainings are required of every position and type of care. Please refer to the following documents for clarification.
- Certified Center Training Requirements
- Registered Family and Certified Family Training Requirements
- DHS Regulated Subsidy Provider Training Requirements
For more information and support call (541) 888-7957
Interested in pursuing a college degree or certificate in Early Childhood Education?
Interested in attending trainings and workshops?
- CARE Connections Coos/Curry Training Menu
- CARE Connections Coos Training Calendar
- CARE Connections Curry Training Calendar
- Oregon Registry Online (ORO) Statewide Training Calendar
- Oregon Center for Career Development (OCCD) Online Training Portal
Interested in attending a conference?
- Retreat by the Lake
- Child Care Business Summit
Need financial support to complete any of the above?
- Betty Gray Early Childhood Scholarship Program
- Oregon's Family Child Care Scholarship Program
- *DHS Provider Training Stipend
- *SOELPDC
- Financial Aid at Southwestern
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
For more information and support call (541) 888-7957
Spark is Oregon’s Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS). Spark is a program that raises the quality and consistency of child care and early learning programs across the state. This 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 Spark resources here:
- Spark Information and Resources
- Find Spark rated programs in Oregon
- Spark QRIS Family Survey
- Spark Update Report- English
- Informe de Actualización del Programa Spark
- Промежуточный отчет детского учреждения, участвующего в программе Spark
For more information about Spark, please contact a Quality Improvement Specialist at (541) 888-7957
Baby Promise is a pilot project through the Oregon Department of Education’s Early Learning Division funded through the Child Care and Development Block Grant designed to develop and refine strategies that build a supply of quality infant and toddler care. The goals are:
- Increase number of high quality infant-toddler child care providers, especially in communities with the greatest need;
- Increase access to high quality infant and toddler slots for low-income families;
- Increase the length of time that children maintain placement in a high quality environments;
- Decrease in the turnover rate for providers serving infants and toddlers; and
- Develop a scalable model.
For more information please visit
Baby Promise
If you are a provider interested in receiving increased support to provide high-quality infant and toddler care, or a family member of an infant or toddler looking for information about eligibility, please contact:
Kallie Mill, Infant Toddler Specialist
(541) 888-7097
For more information and support call (541) 888-7957
- Oregon Child Care Rules
- Early Intervention & Early Childhood Special Education (EI/ECSE)
- Inclusive Partners
- Oregon's Early Learning & Kindergarten Guidelines
- Raise Up Oregon
- South Coast Regional Early Learning Hub
- Oregon Registry (ORO) Step Credentials
- CARE Connections Newsletter
For more information and support call (541) 888-7957
