Enhanced Rate Program (ERP)
The Department of Human Services helps eligible parents pay for child care. Childhood care and education professionals who care for their children can receive a higher rate of pay by meeting certain training standards. The Enhanced Rate Program certifies providers who meet these standards.
Apply online or with the Enhanced Rate Program Application.
For training or DHS Listing help, please contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral. To find a Child Care Resource and Referral near you, visit triwou.org/projects/ccccrr or call 800-342-6712.
For help with rates and payments, please contact the DHS Direct Pay Unit at 800-699-9074.
Oregon’s Department of Human Services funds the Enhanced Rate Program.
Oregon’s Family Child Care Scholarship
Oregon’s Family Child Care Scholarship supports professional development for Oregon’s Registered Family and Certified Family Child Care Providers. If you are the Provider named on an Oregon Registered Family or Certified Family Child Care license, you may be eligible for scholarships to help pay for the following professional development opportunities.
College Coursework: For-credit coursework in the field of childhood care and education, through regionally or nationally accredited colleges.
Training: Training approved by the Oregon Registry Trainer Program as Set Two or Set Three and offered by an Oregon Registry Trainer Program registered Sponsoring Organization.
Conference: Conferences held in Oregon and sponsored by an Oregon Registry Trainer Program registered Sponsoring Organization, and out-of-state conferences sponsored by the NAEYC, a regional NAEYC Affiliate, or the NAFCC and their state affiliates.
Credential, Endorsement, Accreditation: CDA credential initial application fee (includes the exam), ORIMHA ECMH-E ® and IMH-E ® endorsement application and first year membership fees for Infant Family Associate and Infant Family Specialist, and NAFCC accreditation and membership fees.
Scholarships are available first come, first served. Completed professional development activities from December 7, 2021 onward may be eligible for reimbursement. Funds are limited and availability may change. Scholarship awards will be discontinued if funds are unavailable. Individual awards are not transferable and may expire.
Apply online or with the application:
Administered by the Oregon Center for Career Development in Childhood Care and Education. Funding provided for by the 2021-23 Collective Bargaining Agreement between the State of Oregon and AFSCME/Oregon Child Care Providers Together.
Betty Gray Early Childhood Scholarship on Pause
Due to the rapidly growing participation in the Betty Gray Scholarship program, we have already awarded the maximum amount of funding available for the 2023-2024 program year. Therefore, we are temporarily pausing the Betty Gray Scholarship program until additional funding is available. The pause will affect new scholarship applications only. For additional details, please contact occdscholarship@pdx.edu.
The Oregon Community Foundation's Betty Gray Early Childhood Development Endowment Fund provides funding for the Betty Gray Early Childhood Scholarship.
Early Learning Degree Pathway Scholarship
The Early Learning Degree Pathway Scholarship is for individuals to obtain an early childhood education (ECE) specific college certificate, AA/AAS, BA/BS, or MA/MS from an Oregon Community College or public Oregon University, or evaluate a degree obtained outside of the United States.
Scholarship funding may be available for individuals who are interested in a career in ECE and for those currently working in the field. If currently working in the ECE field, funding may be available for positions of direct classroom teaching, mentoring, coaching, supervising, consultation, mental health specialists, quality improvement specialists (QIS), and inclusion specialists, etc.
Scholarships are available first come, first served. Funds are limited and availability may change.
Completed college coursework or evaluation activities from January 1st, 2023 onward may be eligible for reimbursement.
Degree Coursework: Students enrolled in an ECE specific certificate or degree pathway at an Oregon Community College or public Oregon University can seek scholarship to cover the cost of tuition and associated fees (example: online fees).
To be eligible for scholarship funding for tuition, you must:
- Must have an ORO account (Oregon Registry Step not required)
- Must have a declared ECE specific certificate or degree pathway on an official or unofficial transcript or a letter from an academic advisor
- Must be signed up for at least 6 credits per term at an Oregon Community College or public University
- Must file a free application for Federal Student Aid or state equivalent
- Individuals seeking scholarship will submit the following each term:
- Complete an eligibility form each term:
- Name of individual
- (optional) Demographics/Race/Ethnicity/Language
- Mailing address
- Phone number
- Email address
- PSU student or not
- Proof of enrollment in an ECE specific certificate or degree pathway (official/unofficial transcript or letter from academic advisor)
- Confirmation documentation of submitted federal student aid application or Oregon study aid application. (example: email, screenshot, letter)
- Proof of registration with a minimum of 6 college credits per term (example: student schedule with name, student ID number, school name, academic term or course information)
Degree Evaluation: Individuals who have a relevant degree obtained outside of the United States can seek scholarship to cover the cost of degree and coursework evaluation.
To be eligible for scholarship funding for evaluation and translation, you must:
- Must have an ORO account (Oregon Registry Step not required)
- Must submit all documents for the degree obtained outside of the United States
- Must submit an up-to-date cost quote for the evaluation services from a NACES member (www.naces.org)
Apply online or with the application:
Administered by the Oregon Center for Career Development in Childhood Care and Education. Funding provided by the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC).