Supporting child care isn’t just good for families. It’s also smart business.

In Oregon, access to reliable child care is a major concern for many employees. Employers who actively support child care solutions gain a clear and competitive edge. When employees have dependable care, they’re more focused, less stressed, and better able to contribute at work.

The results are tangible:

• Lower absenteeism
• Reduced turnover
• Increased productivity
• Better morale 

Investing in child care support helps you build a more stable, reliable workforce and a healthier bottom line. Our Child Care Resource & Referral team is actively working with local businesses in Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook counties to ensure families in these rural counties have access to high-quality child care.

By prioritizing child care, you’re not only supporting your employees but also strengthening your business and contributing to a more resilient local economy.

As many business and early learning leaders say, child care is the business that makes all of the business possible. Visit the Child Care Works for Oregon webpage for more information about why supporting child care makes good business sense. 

Meet Some of the Local Businesses Partnering With Us

The Challenges Working Families Are Facing

In 2024, families in Oregon paid an average of $23,000 a year for infant care in a child care center. The cost for in-home care is lower but still comprises a sizable chunk of a family's income. 

But cost is only half the problem. Many families cannot find care at all. Nearly every one of Oregon's 36 counties is considered a child care desert for infants and toddlers, which means for every one slot there are three children waiting. 

Inadequate child care affects us all, but it especially affects new parents and those with very young children.

Learn more about how we are supporting child care providers and businesses in the counties where we work, including how businesses are contributing and how child care providers are being supported.