Several hospitals have been surveying nurses and other front-line health care workers to assess whether they have adequate childcare. Some facilities have systems in place to assist with childcare needs and accommodations, while others have left this critical need to their staff to determine.
In partnership with the Oregon Health Authority, the Early Learning Division has created new tools for addressing concerns in childcare around COVID-19.
Essential workers, such as nurses, can receive a customized referral to an emergency childcare program by:
Additionally, the state has increased the income eligibility for the emergency childcare subsidy and waived all family co-pay requirements for families that qualify. There is also a process to get your current childcare provider qualified and paid for by the State. Keep in mind, the application appears to only be for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), but it will also cover the Employment-Related Daycare Program (ERDC) and when the eligible worker calls to verify the application the worker needs to note they are interested in ERDC.
