Other Preschool & Child Care Resources

Other Preschool & Child Care Resources

Visit the Preschool Marketplace to find information on reduced-cost preschools in the Portland Metro Area all in one spot! You can use an interactive map to search for preschools based on your home or work address.

You can also search online for child care providers near you by visiting Find Child Care Oregon

Utilize 211 Info! Staff Will Support Families Searching for Child Care

Call: 211 
Text: "children" or "niños" to 898211 (TXT211)
Email: children@211info.org
Hours: Monday-Friday 7am-11pm; Saturday & Sunday 8am-8pm

For Help Affording Child Care & Preschool

  • Employment Related Child Care (ERDC)
    ERDC is a state subsidy to help families afford child care. Subsidy amounts depend on the child's age, caregiver employment, provider type, and location within the state. 
     
  • Community Child Care Initiative (CCI)
    The Community Childcare Initiative offers Portland families and child care providers financial assistance for child care. Eligible families pay no more than 8% of their monthly gross income for child care. The program is funded by the Portland Children's Levy. 
     
  • Baby Promise 
    Baby Promise offers free, full-day quality care and education for eligible children ages 6 weeks to 3 years old. Baby Promise is a state funded program designed to help families find and maintain high-quality infant and toddler care. 
     
  • Portland Public Schools Pre-Kindergarten 
    Portland Public Schools (PPS) offers preschool opportunities to families who live within PPS boundaries and are 3 or 4 years old by September 1. Families can email prekprograms@pps.net for assistance. 
     
  • Preschool Promise
    Preschool Promise is available to families who are at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. It is open to children who are 3 and 4 years old. Preschool Promise is a state funded program and offers preschool slots in school, centers, and with in-home preschool providers. 

Head Start Programs


MHCC Head Start:

Child development and family support services available for pregnant women and families of children birth- age 5 who are low income and reside in East Multnomah County outside Portland Public Schools. MHCC offers part-day and full-day Early Head Start and Head Start programs. 

For more information about MHCC Head Start, please visit their FAQ page, or email headstart.application@mhcc.edu. 


Portland Public Schools Head Start

Learn about eligibility and apply online. 

For more information about PPS Head Start, email prekprograms@pps.net. 


Albina Head Start

Prospective families are required to fill out a pre-application for enrollment.

Albina Head Start and Early Head Start offer two options to complete pre-application:

  1. Complete online application (English/Spanish)
  2. Print/Scan/Fax application (English/Spanish)

More information can be found here. To request additional information, please click here. 


OCDC Migrant, Seasonal and Early Head Start

Migrant and Seasonal Head Start are for children of migrant and seasonal farm workers. Early Head Start provides services to pregnant women, infants and toddlers up to age 3. 

Eligibility Criteria: 

  1. Family income must be no more than 100% of the Federal Poverty Line
  2. Family income must come primarily from agricultural labor
  3. “Migrant” farmworker families must have moved from one geographical location to another within the last 2 years
  4. Enrollment priority is given to children with disabilities, families coping with homelessness or families with other significant needs

For more information, please contact your local OCDC representative based on your geographic location. 


Neighborhood House Head Start

Programs include: 

  1. Early Head Start Home-Based Program: Home-based services for children ages 6 weeks to 3 years and their parents. Services include weekly 90-minute parent/child educational home visits and twice-monthly play groups. 
  2. Early Head Start Center-Based Program: Center-based preschool for working and schooling parents with children ages 6 weeks to 3 years. 
  3. Part-day Head Start Program: Center-based preschool for children ages 3 to kindergarten. 
  4. Full-day Head Start and Preschool Promise Program: Center-based preschool for working and schooling parents with children ages 3 to kindergarten. 

To find a Neighborhood House Head Start program near you, please click here.