Enrrolment
After the tour, complete the waitlist interest form to join the waitlist.
After enrollment, you’ll receive information to help prepare for your child’s start date, along with a welcome package and next steps.
Casa Feliz currently only accepts infants under six months of age. Because our children stay with us through toddlerhood in small cohort groups, new spots only become available when a child graduates from our oldest group and a space opens in the infant house. For this reason, we cannot provide a specific wait time.
Enrollment opportunities depend on age group transitions and are offered based on availability and tour date. We encourage families to plan ahead and join the waitlist as early as possible.
At Casa Feliz, we do not enroll on short notice. We plan ahead and offer spots based on age group transitions and the expected start dates of families already on our waitlist. When a spot becomes available, we reach out to the next family in line, often months in advance. For example, a family due to start in January might receive an offer several months earlier. Once offered, the family can choose to accept the spot or remain on the waitlist for a later opening. We encourage families to join the waitlist early, especially during pregnancy, so that we can plan together with care and respect.
Yes, all our produce, grains, milk, and oils are organic.
All snacks are made from scratch, using real fruit, oats, and seeds never processed.
No, we never add sugar or artificial sweeteners. Children learn to love natural sweetness from fruits and vegetables.
We use a baby-led weaning approach at daycare. This means we offer babies real, manageable pieces of food, just like the older children eat, so they can explore and feed themselves at their own pace.
We guide all of our staff using Solid Starts resources Solid Starts – How to introduce any food to babies. Teachers are trained on safe food sizes, choking prevention, and best practices for introducing solids in a developmentally appropriate way.
We always wait for parents to introduce solids at home first. Once you let us know your baby has started solids and tell us what they’re eating, we will begin serving similar foods here so they have a consistent experience.
We serve whole, fresh foods prepared in safe sizes and textures for babies. From the start, we offer the same healthy meals the other children eat, adapted as needed to your baby’s age and readiness.
Studies indicate that learning more than one language does not impede speech development. Bilingual children reach language milestones similarly to monolingual children, albeit distributed across both languages. It is common for bilingual children to mix languages or show a preference for one language at times, which is a normal aspect of healthy bilingual growth.
Throughout the day, we exclusively communicate with the children in Spanish and Portuguese. English is not utilized during activities, daily routines, playtime, or conversations. This complete immersion approach aids in their natural language acquisition.
Spanish and Portuguese are employed consistently during various daily activities such as playtime, routines, meals, diaper changes, singing, and storytelling. Our communication in these languages is organic and continuous to facilitate genuine immersion.
Absolutely! We will share with you the new words your child is utilizing, their preferred expressions, and the songs they enjoy. This communication enables you to stay informed about their linguistic progress and encourages you to incorporate these words into your interactions at home.
This indicates positive progress in their learning journey! We recommend celebrating this by inviting them to teach you new words, playing Spanish and Portuguese songs, or engaging in simple conversations in these languages. Encouraging their language use at home enhances their confidence and sustains their learning momentum.
At Casa Feliz, we believe children thrive when surrounded by consistent, loving caregivers. That’s why we’re proud to share that since mid-2024, we’ve had no turnover, and several of our teachers have been with us for two to three years.
We focus on hiring people who are genuinely passionate about working with young children—people who see this not just as a job, but as a calling. Within the first month, it becomes clear whether someone is the right fit, and we support them closely through that transition.
To retain our team, we offer substantial benefits, ongoing training, and a supportive, family-like environment. Our approach is simple: when caregivers feel valued and inspired, they stay, and children benefit from the trusting relationships that grow over time.
At Casa Feliz, selecting the right individuals to care for children is one of the most crucial decisions we make, and we take it to heart.
We don’t just look at resumes. Our hiring process begins with a deep feeling of how someone makes us feel during a conversation. We pay close attention to their empathy, energy, and presence. Do they have a natural warmth? Do they genuinely care about others, not just children, but humans in general?
Each candidate goes through two interviews. Often, during the first one, we already know if it’s not the right fit. We also verify references, conduct background checks, and inquire about their experience. However, what matters most is their character, their passion for caregiving, and how they work as part of a team.
After many years of working with children and different teams, we’ve developed strong intuition and skill in recognizing when someone is meant to be part of Casa Feliz. When we find those people, we support them, and they stay.
At Casa Feliz, we exceed the state’s minimum staffing requirements. Each of our houses is staffed with more caregivers than the regulation requires—because we believe quality care depends on individual attention, respectful interactions, and well-supported staff.
Our child-to-teacher ratios are intentionally low, allowing caregivers to truly connect with each child, meet their individual needs, and avoid feeling rushed or overwhelmed.
We also hire extra staff to ensure our team can take breaks, attend training, and take time off when needed, without compromising the quality of care. Well-rested, well-trained, and deeply present caregivers are essential to what makes Casa Feliz feel like a second home for our children.
All teachers meet Oregon’s state requirements for childcare workers. In addition, they complete in-home training focused on our respectful, RIE-inspired philosophy. We also provide regular classes, workshops, and coaching to ensure they’re confident in supporting children’s development with care and respect.
Yes! Many of our teachers have university degrees in Early Childhood Education from Brazil or other countries. We also encourage and support them in continuing their education here in Oregon.
Absolutely. Beyond meeting state requirements, our staff regularly take extra classes and participate in workshops to keep learning new strategies and approaches for caring for young children.
Each of our houses has a designated provider. In Oregon, a provider is the licensed operator responsible for the home-based childcare program. They ensure safety, oversee daily operations, support staff, maintain compliance with state rules, and communicate closely with families.
Our providers typically have worked in the house for over a year and complete extra training and coursework to be qualified for this role. This experience helps them lead with confidence and consistency.