Our Services
Childcare Workforce Development
Our vision and goals are to support and sustain affordable childcare in the Siuslaw Region. SCF can achieve that only with an adequately sized and well-trained Early Childhood Education (ECE) workforce. SCF intends to help expand the ECE workforce and enhance its training and professionalism throughout the Siuslaw Region.
Our workforce development plan has two components:
First, the Childcare Workforce Expansion Awards provide stipends to ECE workers in the Siuslaw Region whose hires increase their employer’s slots, and who either return to the ECE workforce after an absence or are first-time ECE workforce participants.
Second, the Step Advancement Awards provide stipends to ECE workers who have significantly advanced their professional competence, as reflected in the Oregon Registry Online Step Program.
Holly Mar-Conte, Child Care Sector Strategist at Onward Eugene/Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, has called SCF’s workforce development program “a wise investment in the community that will pay dividends - more qualified early educators, more access to childcare, and more support for working families who need care.”
More details on the Plan can be found in our April 3, 2026, News Release or by contacting any Board Member.
Any ECE provider in the Siuslaw Region may nominate ECE staff for these awards, using the nomination form below.
Financial Assistance for GAP Families
Families with incomes at or under 130% of the federal poverty line (adjusted for family size) can receive free early learning services in the two Head Start Rooms that Head Start of Lane County (HSOLC) will operate at the Center. For more information about HSOLC, follow this link: Head Start of Lane County – Ensuring our youngest children have a solid foundation for life!
Stepping Stones Center for Early Learning, LLC (Stepping Stones) will provide educational childcare in SCF’s two Community Rooms at the Center. For more information about Stepping Stones, follow this link: https://steppingstonescenterforearlylearning.my.canva.site
To reduce costs for eligible participants, Stepping Stones will accept benefits under the state’s ERDC plan that covers childcare needed for an
eligible parent’s employment. This will help families who are not eligible for Head Start.
The Center is co-located with Elm Park Apartments (EPA) and received part of its construction funding from BuildUp Oregon (a joint program of Oregon Housing and Community Services and the Department of Early Learning and Care), which is designed to encourage the co-location of early learning centers and affordable housing. As a result, residents of EPA have a preference for slots in the Head Start and Stepping Stones programs.
EPA has sixteen units set aside for households at or under 50%, 40%, or 30% of the area median income (AMI) (Group A). The other sixteen units are set aside for households at or under 60% of AMI (Group B). Children in Group A families may be eligible for Head Start or ERDC. Children in Group B Families will not be eligible for Head Start or ERDC. Those in Group A who are not eligible for Head Start or ERDC, like many in Group B, may not be able to afford Stepping Stones' rates, which must be sustainable. Those rates for full-day, full-week care are $1,400 per month for infants, $1,300 per month for toddlers, and $1,220 per month for children aged 3-5. For families in this economic gap (GAP Families), SCF has implemented a financial assistance plan.
The Childcare Financial Assistance Plan is funded by donations from businesses and individuals in the community, and SCF is seeking to expand the donor base. Benefits can be awarded only to the extent of available funding.
The Plan is designed to pay on behalf of GAP Families a substantial portion of the cost of Stepping Stones care, with a higher percentage of the cost paid for those in Group A than for those in Group B. All families must pay a portion of the cost of Stepping Stones childcare.
To apply, please complete the application form below and email it to klaynemorrill@gmail.com.
Elm Park Early Learning Center
Rendering of Elm Park Early Learning Center
Site Plan of Elm Park Early Learning Center
Located at 1001 Greenwood Street in Florence, the Center will be completed at the end of July 2026. During August, HSOLC and Stepping Stones will set up their respective classrooms.
An Open House/Ribbon Cutting will be held on August 27 at 2:00 p.m.
School starts on September 8, 2026.
