Early Learning Hub

Five things Oregon families should know about the ERDC program and upcoming waitlist

October 11, 2023
The newest blog post from the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care. If you want to learn more, visit Oregon.gov/DELC/ERDC.

  1. Families who need help paying for child care should apply for ERDC by 11:59 p.m. on November 3, 2023.

The Employment Related Day Care program (ERDC) helps eligible families who are working, in school, or receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) pay for child care, including registration fees. You can apply in the following ways:

 

  1. If you are already using the ERDC program, you will continue to get benefits after November 3, 2023. 

To keep your ERDC, be sure to renew your benefits on time. You will get a notice when it’s time for you to renew. You can start your renewal 45 days before your eligibility period ends by:

 

  1. You may skip the waitlist if your family has specific needs. 
  • Some families can skip the waitlist, including:
  • Families reapplying for ERDC within two months of benefits ending
  • Families getting Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
  • Families getting Temporary Assistance for Domestic Violence Survivors (TA-DVS)
  • Families who got TANF or TA-DVS within 3 months of applying for ERDC
  • Families referred by the Oregon Department of Human Services Division of Child Welfare

 

  1. After November 3, 2023, you can still apply for the ERDC program.

After November 3, 2023, you can secure your spot on the waitlist or be screened to skip it. You can apply in the following ways:

 

  1. The Department of Early Learning and Care has other programs that can help.  

It’s unclear how long the waitlist will last but it could be 18 months or more. If you need support paying for child care, please call 211  or contact your local  Early Learning Hub to apply for other affordable, high-quality child care and early learning programs.

 

Go to Oregon.gov/DELC/ERDC to learn more and check out the Waitlist FAQs. You can also click the resource guides below to get more information about different programs:

ERDC Family Resource Guide

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