Free Support for Oregon Child Care Providers

News Article
A child care provider sits on the floor with 3 children. The children pull cards with letters on them from a box on the floor.
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Oregon ChildCareAlliance (OCCA) applications are open for child care programs to receive free business trainings and other support such as website development, group purchasing discounts, tax prep, coaching, trainings, and other business management tools.

Founded in 2020, OCCA is operated through Portland-based nonprofit Neighborhood House as a community-driven program helping child care businesses across Multnomah County, Central and Southern Oregon. Beginning in July 2023, OCCA will be expanding its support into new areas, including Washington, Tillamook, Clatsop, Marion, Polk, and Yamhill counties, in an effort to help stabilize the child care industry throughout the state.

“Child care providers wear many hats, and have to juggle the responsibilities of both educator and small business owner," says OCCA Director Lisa Tynan. "The more business tasks we can lend support with, the more time and energy these providers can improve business practices to deliver quality child care.”

Neighborhood House is known in the Portland area for delivering anti-poverty services to communities for over 115 years by centering the voices and needs of people and communities most affected by systemic inequities.

“We believe providing high quality child care is imperative to a healthy community which is why we are providing these services throughout our county,” says Neighborhood House Development and Communication Manager Mary DeBauche. “Our goal is to help child care providers increase capacity, lower burnout, and gain important business knowledge that can help them provide a top-notch service.”

Visit OregonChildCareAlliance.org to learn more and apply! Local child care business owners can also access these services through Child Care Resource and Referral of Multnomah County by contacting Carol McMurdie at mcmurdie@mac.com.