2008 Supplemental Session Wrap-Up
Foster Care: The Legislature approved $7.3 million to increase the number of child welfare case managers and assistants. This increase followed the release of a child welfare staffing study which shows that Children and Family Services is woefully understaffed, with caseworkers carrying high caseloads, failing to meet workload requirements and spending less than 17% of their time with the children and families in their care. Although much work lies ahead to truly correct the workload problem child welfare caseworkers face, this investment in staffing is a step in the right direction.
Health Care: Unfortunately, Oregon’s 110,000 uninsured children made no gains in the 2008 session. The Legislature chose not to make a change that would have allowed thousands more Oregon children to receive the health coverage for which they are already eligible. Children enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan are at greatest risk for losing their coverage at renewal time. HB 3614, as it was passed out of committee, would have extended 12-month continuous enrollment to all children currently eligible for the plan (right now only some children have 12-month enrollment periods, while some of the poorest children must re-enroll every 6 months even though their eligibility hasn’t changed). 12-month enrollment has been shown to significantly increase retention of children in the program, which is better for the health of those kids and more cost-effective overall.
**UPDATE - In his state-of-the-state address on March 21, 2008, Governor Kulongoski announced his plans to implement 12-month continuous enrollment for children as well as extend health coverage to Oregon’s uninsured children, partly through a renewed tobacco-tax increase. This is a win for Oregon’s children. Click here for more details on the Governor’s proposal.
