CCRN Summer 2026

Newsletter and Training Calendar
 
Summer 2026 Training Calendar
Visit the CCRN Website
Online Training Registration Form
 

Greetings Early Educators and Partners,

As summer begins, we welcome a season filled with sunshine, exploration, and new opportunities for learning and growth. In early childhood education, summer offers children the chance to discover the world around them through play, creativity, outdoor experiences, and meaningful connections with others.


We want to thank all of our dedicated early childhood educators and providers for the care, patience, and enthusiasm you bring to children and families each day. Your commitment helps create safe, nurturing, and engaging environments where young learners can thrive.


In this summer edition, you’ll find helpful resources, seasonal activity ideas, professional development opportunities, and important updates to support your programs throughout the season. We hope this newsletter inspires fresh ideas and celebrates the important work you do every day.


Wishing you a joyful, safe, and successful summer!

Claudia, Courtney, Cynthia, Dylan, Devon, Katrina, Kevin, Kelly, Lorena, Martha, Maureen, Molly
 

Upcoming Trainings and Opportunities

New Free Professional Development Series Supports Early Learning Providers Across Oregon

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 were created to give child care professionals practical tools and strategies they can use in early learning settings. Courses will be available in Arabic, Simplified Chinese, English, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese. 
DELC New Trainings Information Page
PSU Training Listings Page

Did you know you can update your program information and available openings yourself?!


The Find Child Care Oregon Provider Portal gives you access to your FCCO program profile and allows you to update your program’s information at any time.


You have access to update

information such as:

  • Referral Status
  • Contact Information
  • Operational Days & Hours 
  • Age Groups Served 
  • Enrollment 
  • Vacancies 
  • Message for families
  • Pictures


Want more information on what the FCCO Provider Portal is and how to access your profile? Feel free to reach out and we are happy to help!


Please contact us at

541-776-8590x1126
FCCO Provider Support Documents

Training Reminders!

Please remember that to receive credit for a training session you must:

  • Attend the session: Training credit requires full attendance and participation, which is measured through staff and Zoom reports. You CANNOT miss more than 15 minutes!
  • Be active and engaged in the content of the session (this is verified by reviewing the saved chat): You MUST participate in breakout rooms, polls, and chat.
  • Be PRE-Registered through CCRN: Each attendee MUST register with CCRN to receive training credit. Please register by noon the day before a training to GUARANTEE that you are registered (we do not always have staff available for last-minute requests – though we do our best!)
Summer 2026 Training Calendar
Online Training Registration Form
 

Local Updates

A Quick Note from Licensing!

Summer has arrived and here are a few reminders from your Licensing Specialists!
Air Quality Guidance Provider Packet
Spanish Air Quality Guidance Provider Packet

Air Quality:

Attached you will find a guidance document that shares important information about which levels of air quality index (AQI) are safe for varying levels of outdoor play, as well as when air purifiers would be necessary.


Sunscreen:

You must ensure you have annual written parental permission from each family to put sunscreen on their child, including informing families of what type of sunscreen you are using.


If families provide sunscreen for their own child(ren), label the item with the child’s name and use it only for that child or family.


Water Play and Splash Pads:

Water activities, such as sprinklers, sprayers, splash pads, etc. are allowed in child care, but you will need to ensure the water does not pool. If you’d like to use a splash pad that pools water, you will need to cut slits into the bottom of the pad, so the water drains. And don’t forget that wading pools are prohibited!
 

2025-2026 Preschool Promise End of the Year Wrap Up

2025-26 Preschool Promise End of the Year Wrap-Up



This program year our Preschool Promise team served 28 programs and approximately 40 classrooms. We provided professional development opportunities, coaching individual educators and teams with goal development and implementation, and technical assistance. The trainings offered this year included Active Supervision, Introduction to the ASQ, Pyramid/Nurturing and Responsive Relationships, and our 3rd Annual Day of Learning - Wonder & Exploration: Loose Parts & Child-Led Learning presented by Ami Russell of Early Learning Inspired where 70+ educators attended.

Dylan Christensen, new this year to the CCRN PSP team, just wrapped up her first year to glowing accolades from the educators she supported!! 


Thank you educators for responding to our End of the Year Feedback Survey and offering your honest thoughts. Moving forward, this information will be used to plan PD offerings, supports, and collaboration focus for next year. The top three requests for support are: challenging behaviors, self-care and wellness, and social emotional learning.


Your Preschool Promise team loved working with all of you. We recognize your dedication and commitment to children and families. Please enjoy the summer months. Looking forward to reconnecting for the 2026-27 school year.
 
 

Every Child Belongs Connect Supports

Caring for groups of children is meaningful work, but it is also hard work. It’s normal to experience challenges, and it is expected that everyone will need a little extra support from time to time. It is okay to ask for help! ECB Connect supports educators to do what they do best; build healthy, inclusive spaces where every child can thrive. 


How to access support:

1. Visit everychildbelongs.org Every Child Belongs – A new service designed to support educators to help keep young children in care.

2. Scroll down to the Request ECB Connect Support section.

3. Fill out a brief form.

4. Click “Submit” at the bottom of the form.

5. Once the form is submitted, a specialist in our region will contact you to learn more about your concerns and how the ECB team can best assist you.

Our local contact point for Every Child Belongs in Jackson and Josephine counties is the Family Nurturing Center!


Phone: 541-779-5242

Email: info@rvfnc.org


Medford

Main Street Family Campus

825 E. Main Street, Suite A

Medford, OR 97504

Fax: 541-779-2523

Open:

M-Th 9:00 am–5:00 pm

Friday 9:00 am–12:00 pm


Grants Pass 7th Street Campus

735 SE 7th Street

Grants Pass, OR 97526

Fax: 541-295-8130

Open:

M-F 9:00 am–2:00 pm

 Eileen Micke-Johnson is retiring!

Whether you know her as a teacher, an advisor,or the RCC cohort grant coordinator, Eileen has been a major player and partner in the field of Early Childhood Education for nearly 50 years!

After earning degrees in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education, Eileen started her career in Head Start in Idaho and Oregon. Some of her career highlights include:


  • The Coeur d’Alene Tribe Head Start program in DeSmet as a teacher, Education Coordinator and Director.
  • Director of Jackson County Head Start, which then became Southern Oregon Headstart 
  • Director of Schneider Children’s Center at SOU 
  • ECE Consultant 
  • RCC- Full-Time Faculty, Advisor and Department Chair of Early Childhood & Elementary Education 

She contracted with Rogue Community College to develop an Early Childhood degree program in collaboration with many other Early Childhood professionals in Jackson and Josephine Counties. That program started in the Fall 2000! She then developed and coordinated the Southern Oregon Early Learning Professional Development Consortium (SOELPDC). Since that time, RCC has offered courses in English, as well as in Spanish, to enable many providers in Jackson and Josephine Counties to obtain certificates and degrees in Early Childhood. Eileen has served as Coordinator of this program, which has grown tremendously over the years and most recently served 150 students Spring Term (80 in Spanish and 70 in English). 

 

We at CCRN would like to acknowledge the tremendous role she has played and the impact she has had in supporting education, as well as everyone in the ECE field in Southern Oregon.

 

She can never be replaced or duplicated and everyone that had the honor of working with her benefitted from her incredible knowledge, patience, and kind support. She will be greatly missed! But we wish her the best and hope she enjoys her well-deserved retirement!

Best wishes Eileen!
 

Exciting Local Upcoming Events

Summer 2026 Activity and Resource Guide
English Printable Flyer
Spanish Printable Flyer

*Spanish flyers can be printed but linked information is in english.

Healthy Start Block Party!

 

State Wide Supports Available
 

Oregon Summer EBT Food Benefit Program is Back for School-Age Children

Good nutrition during the summer helps children stay healthy, grow, and be ready to learn. The Oregon Summer EBT program supports families by providing grocery benefits when school meals are not available. It helps children grow strong and do well in school by giving families money to help buy groceries when school meals aren’t available. 


Each eligible child can receive $120 in food benefits for the summer. Children who are automatically eligible received their benefit on June 5. Some families may qualify but need to apply. Online applications open June 5.
 
Click here to learn more!
Oregon Summer EBT Application Page

Introducing Oregon ELMS

The Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) is getting ready to make a new online system available to support child care providers, families, and partners across Oregon.


Oregon Early Learning Management System (Oregon ELMS) will be available this summer of 2026. Oregon ELMS will replace existing licensing and subsidy (ERDC) tools with one system that can be used from a computer, tablet, or mobile phone. Oregon ELMS is designed to make working with DELC easier and clearer.

What Oregon ELMS Means for Child Care Providers?

In one simple system, Oregon ELMS will help you:

• Use one secure account to work with DELC in your preferred language

• Keep your information in one place, including:

- Contact details, Payments, and

Documents

• Send and track licensing applications

• Bill for subsidy (ERDC) payments and view ERDC notifications

• Track training requirements

• Get clear messages and next steps from DELC


These changes will save time, cut paperwork, and help you focus on children and families.
Oregon ELMS Information Page
Oregon ELMS Provider Communication Brief

The Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Grant

This grant supports child care facilities with lead remediation projects, providing funding for safe drinking water improvements, requiring licensed plumbers for most work. This grant is designed to reduce lead in drinking water by supporting projects that address the underlying causes of elevated lead levels in child care and educational facilities. It provides essential funding to help facilities ensure safe drinking water for children. 
For more information and eligibility requirements Click Here!
 
WIIN Grant Eligibility Requirements
 

We are here to help!

A Message for Providers!

Stay Open In Small Discomforts

-Pause Meditation


Open-hearted presence is easiest when life is pleasant. Yet, it is often most meaningful when something uncomfortable arises.


This week, when you feel a small discomfort - an awkward silence, a delay, a disappointment, or a moment of uncertainty - pause before pulling away. Take a breath and silently say, "Can I stay open to this, too?" Let yourself feel what is here without rushing to close down around it.


Notice how staying open for even a few seconds affects your relationship with discomfort.
 

Child Care Resource Network


Email: ccrn@soesd.k12.or.us


Main Phone: 541-776-8590 x 1126


Cell Phone: 541-301-7760


*The cell phone number is available for texting*


*Please state your name and program in the text*
 
 

CCRN has several open positions available! We would love to have you as part of our team!

Please reach out if you are interested!
 

Molly Clement

Lead Preschool Promise Specialist/Coordinator

molly_clement@soesd.k12.or.us / 541-776-8590 x 1125

Cell Phone, call or text: 541-778-8038

 

Devon Finley

Child Care Provider Consultant/QI Specialist/Grant Coordinator

devon_finley@soesd.k12.or.us / 541-776-8590 x 1118


Dylan Christensen

Preschool Promise Coach/QI Specialist

dylan_christensen@soesd.k12.or.us / 541-776-8590 x 1138

Cell Phone, call or text: 541-821-6294


Kevin Ratkovich

Preschool Promise Coach/QI Specialist

kevin_ratkovich@soesd.k12.or.us / 541-776-8590 x 1147

Cell Phone, call or text: 541-973-5857


Martha Ibarra

Preschool Promise/QI Specialist - English/Spanish

martha_ibarra@soesd.k12.or.us / 541-776-8590 x 1122


Lorena Juarez

Child Care Provider Specialist - English/Spanish

lorena_juarez@soesd.k12.or.us / 541-776-8590 x 1119


Katrina Rose

QI Specialist/Focused Child Care Network

katrina_rose@soesd.k12.or.us / 541-776-8590 x 1197

  

Maureen Honeycutt

Inclusion Specialist

maureen_honeycutt@soesd.k12.or.us / 541-776-8590 x 1196


Courtney Naguib

Administrative Assistant lll

courtney_naguib@soesd.k12.or.us / 541-776-8590 x 1167


Claudia Leonard

Administrative Assistant lll - English/Spanish

claudia_leonard@soesd.k12.or.us/ 541-776-8590 x 1190


Kelly Shepherd

Administrative Assistant lll

kelly_shepherd@soesd.k12.or.us / 541-776-8590 x 1126


Cynthia Anderson

Child Care Resource Network Manager/Family Support and Connections Manager

cynthia_anderson@soesd.k12.or.us / 541-776-8590 x 1110
 
Summer 2026 Training Calendar
Visit our CCRN Website
Online Training Registration Form
 

SOESD-CCRN | 101 N Grape St | Medford, OR 97501 US

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