The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) is launching two new free professional development series to help child care providers better understand behavior, respond to escalations, and build stronger relationships with children and families.

The optional self-paced courses will be available through the Oregon Center for Career Development (OCCD) learning platform. The courses are approved for ORO credit in the Understanding and Guiding Behavior Set One category.

The new series was created to provide child care professionals with practical tools and strategies for use in early learning settings. Courses will be available in Arabic, Simplified Chinese, English, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

Managing Behavioral Escalations Series
The first series focuses on understanding and responding to challenging behaviors in early learning settings. The five-module series is designed to be taken in order so participants can practice and apply strategies between modules.

Topics include:

• Understanding the escalation cycle – June 8, 2026
• Responding to children’s needs – June 22, 2026
• Promoting positive social skills – July 6, 2026
• Tailoring interventions through observation and documentation – July 20, 2026
• Maintaining professionalism and safety during escalations – August 3, 2026

Each module takes about 1 to 1½ hours to complete and includes activities that providers can use in their own programs.

The first module is expected to launch on June 8, with additional modules released every other week.

Connections Series
The second series focuses on building strong relationships and support systems to support children and their families.

Topics include:

• Understanding behavior through connection
• Partnering with families
• Navigating difficult conversations
• Building systems of support for children

The Connections Series is expected to begin releasing in mid-July.

Designed for Providers
Early reviewers shared positive feedback about how easy the training is to understand and how useful it is for providers.

“These modules will be an excellent resource for early learning providers,” one reviewer shared. “The information is so relatable.”

Another reviewer shared that it can be difficult to find research-based training about managing escalating behaviors and appreciated having more accessible learning opportunities.

The series was designed to be practical, approachable, and accessible for providers across Oregon.