CARE Connections

Contact Care Connections
(541) 888-7957
Email

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

Please note: Documents contained on this page may not be ADA accessible. If you require an accessible version of a document, or if you require any other accommodations, please contact Care Connections at (541) 888-7957.

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.

QRIS Program Info

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

Child Care Food Handlers:

Oregon Child Care Food Handler's test online

Oregon Child Care Central Coordination

Find online child care referral link, tips for providers, and other resource information regarding child care in Oregon.

http://oregonccrr.com/child-care

Other Important Information:

Office of Child Care Rules

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.

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.

For more information and support call (541) 888-7957

Interested in pursuing a college degree or certificate in Early Childhood Education?

Southwestern's Childhood Education and Family Studies (CEFS) Program

Interested in attending trainings and workshops?

Interested in attending a conference?

Retreat by the Lake
Child Care Business Summit

Need financial support to complete any of the above?

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:

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

CARE Connections

Improving care for young children

Need help?

What you need to know

Our Mission

Training Calendars

Child CARE Resource and Referral

Pathways to Positive Parenting Program

QRIS Quality Rating Improvement System

Become a Child Care Provider

Welcome to the Oregon Registry Program!

The Oregon Registry recognizes two pathways for professional development:

The Oregon Registry:

The Oregon Registry recognizes the professional enhancements of:

General Information About Licensed Childcare for Parents and Providers

Child Care Food Handlers:

Oregon Child Care Central Coordination

Other Important Information:

Office of Child Care Rules

How To Chose Quality Childcare

211 – Your resource for child care and so much more!

Licensing Specialists:

Why SWOCC

Academic Pathways

Getting Started

For the Community

Staff & Administration

COOS CAMPUS

CURRY CAMPUS

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