March 18, 2020 10:00 a.m.
To support Oregon’s working families dealing with the spread of COVID-19, Governor Kate Brown has directed the Oregon Department of Human Services and the Early Learning Division to make changes to child care benefits.
A DHS release said the temporary changes, which are effective immediately, will help more low-income, working families to access child care and help providers to stay in business during the state of emergency.
Brown said, “At a time when Oregon’s families are weathering numerous difficulties in their daily lives due to the spread of the coronavirus, and its impact on the economy, we need to do everything we can to make sure child care providers can keep their doors open so parents can continue to work”.
The changes include:
*Eliminating co-pays for eligible families.
*Providing access to more families by increasing the income limit from 185 percent of the federal poverty level, to 250 percent of that level, or 85 percent of the state median income, whichever is higher.
*Ensuring more certainty for providers. Child care providers are able to continue to receive payments from DHS even if children are unable to attend or they have a temporary shut down during the state of emergency.
Providers and parents/caretakers may contact the DHS Direct Pay Unit with questions, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 1-800-699-9074.