This plan is available as a PDF: View downloads here

Department of Early Learning and Care Strategic Plan:
Growing Oregon Together, 2024 - 2029

Dear Oregonians:

It is an honor to introduce you to the Department of Early Learning and Care’s first-ever strategic plan, Growing Oregon Together. On July 1, 2023, the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) was established by House Bill 3073, bringing together the Oregon Early Learning Division (ELD) from the Department of Education and the Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) program from the Oregon Department of Human Services.

At DELC, our 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. We work towards a vision where all children, families, early care and education professionals, and communities are supported and empowered to thrive.

In developing this plan, we built off the work that led to the creation of DELC. Growing Oregon Together is a five-year plan that seeks to be both ambitious and achievable. It will guide us as we work to achieve our mission. As a new agency, our focus is on creating strong, sustainable foundations so DELC is recognized for its organizational excellence and implementation, service and commitment to its customers, actionable embrace of equity, support of its employees, continuous improvement, and its role as a leader and partner for early learning and care.

Growing Oregon Together is framed by six goal areas: access, Tribal sovereignty, infants and toddlers, early learning and child care workforce, relationships, and foundations. To create Growing Oregon Together, DELC drew upon the insights of families, the early learning and care workforce, partners, and DELC staff alongside information culled from analysis and reports. I am grateful for the participation of so many contributors. Each of these goal areas will help us as we focus on a responsive and equitable system for early learning and care. Our aim is to enhance the development, growth and well-being of children, support families and communities, and strengthen the early learning and care workforce.

It is humbling and inspiring to work with so many dedicated, visionary individuals and organizations throughout Oregon to develop Growing Oregon Together. Maintaining and growing these relationships will be critical to successful implementation. DELC cannot, and should not, do this work alone—we are all needed to move this essential work forward. In executing Growing Oregon Together, I pledge to continue to develop DELC as a strong, responsive, and reliable partner with a singular focus on doing all that we can for Oregon’s children and families.

Sincerely,

DELC cannot, and should not, do this work alone— we are all needed to see that all children, families, early care and education professionals, and communities are supported and empowered to thrive.

Alyssa Chatterjee, Director

View DELC's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Action Plan

Planning Process Overview

In developing DELC's mission, vision, and values, intentional outreach began in June 2022 to communities across Oregon. This feedback and community input helped to inform the strategic plan. In 2024, DELC launched a series of community meetings and outreach around the development of Growing Oregon Together. Different methods of engagement were available and included interpretation. Some of the diverse voices who helped shape the plan included Early Learning Hubs, CCR&Rs, Advocates, Tribal Nations, DELC staff, Union representatives, Early Learning Council representatives, providers, families, and many more.

Some of the highlights included:

220 agency staff who participated in meetings to help shape the plan
400 surveys that informed DELC's Mission, Vision, and Values that anchor the plan
12 reports linked, reviews, and incorporated in the plan

Planning and engagement overview infographic

See Full Planning Process

Growing Oregon Together At-A-Glance

Growing Oregon Together has six goals that aim 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, and to ensure that all are empowered and thrive.

All families have access to high-quality (culturally responsive, inclusive, developmentally appropriate) and affordable early learning and care that meets their needs. 

Objective 1.1 Core programs within DELC are expanded and enhanced to meet the needs of and support families.

Objective 1.2 Core programs are expanded for families to secure access to high-quality early learning and care.

Objective 1.3 Communities have the infrastructure they need to mitigate suspension and expulsion activities in early learning and care settings.

Objective 1.4 Licensing provides foundational support for programs, and is clear, accessible, culturally relevant, honoring diversity, equity and inclusion for Oregon children and families.
Objective 1.5 DELC’s administration of programs is flexible, accessible, and not administratively burdensome.
Objective 1.6 Availability of early learning and care is increased and strengthened.

DELC honors and recognizes the sovereignty of the nine federally recognized Tribal Nations within Oregon and ensures strong government-to-government relationships to benefit Tribal communities.

Objective 2.1 Staff have the information and tools they need to support authentic Tribal consultation.
Objective 2.2 Historical harm is acknowledged, current harm caused by the State of Oregon is reduced, and trust is built by establishing positive relationships.
Objective 2.3 Funding and programs are designed to meet Tribal early learning needs and goals.

All families with infants and toddlers are supported through early learning and care programs that recognize and meet their unique needs.

Objective 3.1 Access to infant and toddler early learning and care programs that honor the unique needs of families is increased.
Objective 3.2 Infant toddler provider and partner support, technical assistance, professional development, and compensation are increased.
Objective 3.3 Supports for infants and toddlers experiencing developmental delays and disabilities are increased.

The early learning and child care workforce is diverse, culturally responsive, highly qualified, and well compensated.

Objective 4.1 Multiple accessible pathways exist to enter and grow within the early learning and child care workforce.
Objective 4.2 The early learning and child care workforce is recognized and compensated as professionals.
Objective 4.3 All early learning and child care programs have access to professional learning supports.

DELC deepens community engagement and empowerment, sustains partnerships, and communicates effectively.

Objective 5.1 Community voice is embedded in DELC's policy, implementation, and budget decisions.
Objective 5.2 Cross-sector partnerships in support of aligned service delivery and collaboration are strengthened with other state agencies.
Objective 5.3 Collaboration is supported between DELC and early learning initiatives in county, city, and Tribal governments.
Objective 5.4 DELC's communications are accessible, inclusive, and tailored to the unique needs of DELC's customers.

DELC develops and improves operational foundations to efficiently serve Oregonians.

Objective 6.1 DELC has the structures, systems, and processes to collaborate and operate effectively.
Objective 6.2 DELC staff have a sense of belonging, understand how their work connects to other divisions, and are supported in their development.
Objective 6.3 DELC staff have the information and tools they need to provide exceptional service to DELC customers.
Objective 6.4 Initiatives are consistently identified and launched that provide better service to Oregon residents and increase accountability to partners.
Objective 6.5 Data is used to inform decisions and high-quality data and research is shared with the public.