There are many childcare and preschool options in our region, including free care for qualifying families. Programs include Baby Promise, Head Start, Relief Nursery, Preschool Promise, school district preschools, and private programs.
Baby Promise
Baby Promise offers free full day, fully funded child care for income eligible families.
Baby Promise partners with local child care providers including in-home and center based care and assists in connecting families to a program that works for them. We currently have Baby Promise providers in Reedsport, Coos Bay, Bandon, Coquille, Myrtle Point, and Brookings.
Eligible children must be:
- Between the ages of 6 weeks and 3 years old
- Living in Coos, Curry, or Coastal Douglas Counties
- Enrolled in or eligible for Employment Related Day Care (ERDC)
Learn more about and apply for ERDC here
Income eligibility
If your household is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Line, you may qualify for free care.
| Size of household | Annual income limits |
|---|---|
| 2 people | $40,880 |
| 3 people | $51,640 |
| 4 people | $62,400 |
| 5 people | $73,160 |
| 6 people | $83,920 |
South Coast Head Start
South Coast Head Start prepares young children to succeed in school and in life. To achieve this, the program delivers free services to eligible children and families in core areas of early learning, health, and family well-being while engaging parents as partners every step of the way. Staff encourage learning through play, creative expression, and guided activities, with schedules and lesson plans that include the cultural and language heritage of each child and family.
Teachers conduct ongoing screenings and assessments to ensure each child is making progress and collaborate with parents and community agencies when further assessment is needed. SCHS supports the full inclusion of children with disabilities, building on each child’s strengths.
Head Start preschool serves 3- and 4-year-old children in part-day, extended day, and full day classrooms. Early Head Start offers home-based services and center-based childcare classrooms to serve infants, toddlers, and pregnant people. Free meals are provided during class-time.
Parents are welcomed and encouraged to visit and volunteer in classrooms and throughout the program. Parents can also serve as leaders at local Parent Committees and may be elected by their local parent group to serve on the program-wide Policy Council.
Head Start and Early Head Start services are available in:
- Bandon
- Brookings
- Charleston
- Coos Bay
- Coquille
- Gold Beach
- Myrtle Point
- North Bend
- Port Orford
- Reedsport
Coastal Families Relief Nursery
Relief Nurseries partner with parents to give their children the best start possible; this includes providing caregivers space to express their emotions and needs.
- 2 Days of therapeutic classroom time *Available for children age 2-3
- Home Visits
- Family Support
- Connection to Community Services
Center located in Coos Bay, open to families in any zipcode.
Preschool Promise
Preschool Promise offers free school day, school year preschool options for eligible families with children ages 3 and 4.
Preschool Promise offers culturally relevant early child care and education programs. Programs are in a wide variety of settings including home-based, center-based, and school-based care. Families are able to apply for whichever program meets their needs best. We currently have Preschool Promise providers in Reedsport, Coos Bay, Bandon, Gold Beach, and Brookings.
Eligible children must be:
- Between the ages of 3 and 4 years old
- Living in Coos, Curry, or Coastal Douglas Counties
- House hold is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Line (or) child is in resource care
Income eligibility
If your household is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Line, you may qualify for free care.
| Size of household | Annual income limits |
|---|---|
| 2 people | $40,880 |
| 3 people | $51,640 |
| 4 people | $62,400 |
| 5 people | $73,160 |
| 6 people | $83,920 |
*income does not apply to children in foster care
Acting Up After School Program
The after-school program at Acting Up is a fantastic opportunity for Coos Bay kids to engage in a variety of enriching activities. This program is designed with the aim of teaching valuable social and emotional skills, expanding social networks, and providing homework assistance. It offers a supportive environment where children can learn and grow while having fun.
Acting Up Academy understands the importance of holistic development and focuses on nurturing the creativity and confidence of young individuals. Through their after-school program, students have the chance to explore acting, scene study, character development, improvisation, and more. These classes provide a solid foundation in the performing arts and equip students with the tools they need to excel on stage.
This is a private pay program with scholarships are available to families at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level.
Tips and resources for finding quality childcare
Use the websites below to choose the best childcare or preschool program for your family.
Find Child Care Oregon
Helps families locate child care through referrals and provides resources to make informed decisions about child care needs.
The Child Care Safety Portal
Information about the safety, health, and quality of licensed child care facilities in Oregon.
Oregon Spark
Spark is Oregon’s Quality Recognition and Improvement System (QRIS), which you can use to find high quality childcare.
Finding Childcare Checklist
A print-friendly checklist to help parents decide if a program is a good fit for their family.
Need additional resources?
Visit 211 to get help paying bills, finding food, and locating other resources near you.
