Issues
Improving Child Health Care Coverage and Access
Every child should be able to count on good health care 365 days a year, but kids can’t insure themselves.
Just as it’s our responsibility to educate every child, kids also need our help to be sure they have appropriate care – right when they need it.
Nothing is as important as a healthy start in life. We can give Oregon children that start by making health insurance available to all kids.
Reducing Child Abuse and Neglect
All children need a safe home so that they can grow into healthy and responsible adults.
Oregonians look out for one another, especially for our most vulnerable children who have been abused or neglected.
We can prevent abuse by supporting prevention programs, and we can help those kids who have been abused or neglected by giving them the care they need to be successful.
Improving the Lives of Foster Children
Foster care provides a separate, safe home for children away from a dangerous living environment.
Oregon has made a promise to provide a safe place for foster kids, and we must make sure that these children are getting the supports they need.
As foster children reach the age of 18 and begin their own lives, they need ongoing support so they can grow into happy, productive adults.
Making Child Care Affordable
Safe, clean child care gives young children a healthy place to grow and learn.
Providing affordable child care for families makes parents betters workers, and helps to drive Oregon’s economy.
We can give Oregon families the support they need by helping them paying for child care, and improve our state’s economy at the same time.
Lifting Families out of Poverty
A financially stable family gives children the best chance at a healthy, safe, and happy life
All Oregon children should have a chance to live up to their full potential regardless of where they begin.
Providing smart, limited, and temporary help to struggling families makes Oregon a stronger state, and will help us build a better future for our children.
Children First for Oregon Releases 2004 County Data Book
Oregon’s leading child advocacy group recommends renewed investments in prevention strategies to combat increase in reports of abuse and neglect
Portland, OR – January 11, 2005 – Oregon’s children are facing increased threats to their health and safety according to Children First for Oregon’s County Data Book 2004 released today in the Capitol. Every county in Oregon is dealing with a disturbing number of children who are victims of abuse and neglect, who lack access to quality health care or who go without nutritious meals during the summer months. With Governor Kulongoski’s proposed budget further reducing proven programs that work to strengthen the health and safety of Oregon’s children, these numbers are an urgent reminder to lawmakers that our state’s future is under threat.
“If we are to keep children safe, Oregon must increase, not decrease, its investment in prevention and intervention services,” said Robin Christian, Children First’s executive director. “Legislators and the Governor have a responsibility to protect kids. More cuts are not the answer. That’s why we support exploring all revenue recovery ideas, including a rigorous review of all tax breaks, because our children’s safety should be a top priority.”
A struggling economy and the resulting stress to families have placed increased demands on the state’s child protection system. Recent high-profile cases involving the death and injury of children in state care reveal a system straining to keep up. The number of reports of suspected child abuse and neglect have risen 61 percent over the last ten years. Today, less than half of these reports are investigated. For the first time in four years, more children entered foster care than exited.
Recommendations to improve children’s health and safety from the 2004 Data Book include: • Keep our children safe by expanding the availability of alcohol and drug treatment programs and strengthening investments in child abuse/neglect prevention and intervention. • Improve access to quality health care by expanding school-based health services, investing in health insurance for more eligible children and ensuring access to health care for low-income parents. • Help foster children and youth to succeed by decreasing the number of placement changes and improving services and supports for youth aging out of the foster care system. • Fight childhood hunger by investing in child nutrition programs, such as summer food programs, and building up the financial stability of families.
“The Governor’s budget falls way short of being a sound investment strategy for Oregon’s children,” said Christian. “We have to reverse the shortsightedness of the last few years and stop the nickel and dime decisions that undermine the state’s safety net for kids.”
Data Highlights
Abuse/Neglect
• Today, one child in every 100 children in Oregon is a confirmed victim of child abuse.
• The rate of confirmed victims of child abuse/neglect and children at substantial risk of harm ("threat of harm") increased from 2002 to 2003 (up 9 percent and 18 percent, respectively).
• Between 1994 and 2003, reports of child abuse or neglect increased by 61 percent.
• In 2003, less than half (48 percent) of the reports of children being harmed or at a substantial risk of being harmed received further investigation after the initial intake.
Foster Care
• 13,447 children have been in foster care at least once during the past year.
• More children entered foster care than exited last year (4,946 to 4,443), reversing a three- year trend.
• On average, nearly 14 percent of children in Oregon’s foster care system experience three or more changes in foster placements. Some counties have placement instability rates of 20 percent and higher.
Access to Health Care
• 113,000 children in the state do not have health insurance on any given day (from 10 to 12 percent).
• Only 65 percent of teen mothers receive early prenatal care (compared to 81 percent of all mothers).
• Nearly one in four eighth graders is overweight or at risk of becoming overweight (22 percent)
• There were 922 youth suicide attempts in 2003 (approximately 2 for every 100 children ages 10 to 17).
Child Hunger
• Nearly one in five children lives in a home where parents worry about how to provide the next meal.
• Access to free lunches falls dramatically during the summer months. In 2004, only 28,039 children ate summer meals compared to 145,335 children who ate free or reduced price lunches during the school year.
The 2004 County Data Book, part of the KIDS COUNT project, is made possible by a generous grant from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. NIKE, Inc. is the presenting sponsor of the Data Book.
Children First for Oregon has served as the state’s leading voice for children since 1991. A non-profit, non-partisan group, Children First uses public education, research, and community capacity building initiatives to speak to the legislature, media and local communities on behalf of Oregon’s children and families. Visit our website at http://www.cffo.org.
Children First Releases 2006 Report Card
2006 Annual Report Card Shows State is in Dire Need of Strong Leadership for Children and Families.
CONTACT: Cathy Kaufmann / (503) 236-9754 /
Oregon Earns Dismal Grade for Child Well-Being;
Troubling Trends Reflect Mediocre Public Investments
Portland, OR – September 26, 2006 – Oregon earned a grade of “D+” in overall child well-being in the annual Report Card on the Status of Children issued today by the nonpartisan group Children First for Oregon. As the state passes another target year for benchmarks set by the Oregon Progress Board, the data show downward trends and sluggish progress in several areas, resulting in another year of disappointing grades. Modest improvements since last year in the Family Financial Stability category are encouraging, but stronger political and public will are needed to move the state in the right direction.
“If your children continued to bring home C’s and D’s on their report cards, wouldn’t you do something?” asked Robin Christian, Executive Director of Children First. “Wishful thinking won’t improve these grades – it’s time to act and step up our investments in programs that work.”
The ongoing decrease in the teen pregnancy rate and improvements in reading and math scores among 3rd graders are bright spots, but grades in three of the five categories – Health, Early Care & Education, and Child Welfare – continue to languish. Oregon is held back by its failures, which include: 117,000 uninsured children; nearly 6,400 eligible 3 and 4-year-olds unable to access Head Start; and 11,255 known victims of child abuse or neglect.
“Candidates running for office should look at this report card and ask themselves what they can do to get us to an “A” grade, and voters need to pay close attention to what they propose” said Christian. “A lack of solutions isn’t the problem. We know what we need to do. What we lack is the courage to act.”
This year’s Report Card combines new indicators and reorganized categories to provide a more extensive view of child well-being in the state. These are the first major content changes since 2000 and include the following new indicators: obesity, Head Start eligibles served, recurrence of maltreatment among child abuse victims and foster care placement stability.
FIVE STEPS TO HELP GET OREGON TO AN “A” GRADE:
1.Protect Our Investments: Defeat Measures 41 and 48 at the ballot in November.
2.Stabilize State Revenue: Convert the corporate kicker tax refund into a “rainy day” fund.
3.Increase Access to Health Care: Enroll all children currently eligible for the Oregon Health Plan (approximately 67,000 of the 117,000 uninsured children).
4.Improve Outcomes for Abused and Neglected Children: Increase supports to foster families, including relatives, and expand the availability of proven substance abuse prevention and treatment programs.
5.Invest in Early Childhood: Fully fund Head Start/Oregon Prekindergarten and strengthen the state’s child care subsidy program for working families.
SUMMARY OF 2006 GRADES:
Overall Grade:D+
Family Financial Stability: C
Health: D+
Early Care and Education: D-
Youth Development and Education: C
Child Welfare: D
HIGHLIGHTS OF 2006 REPORT CARD:
Positive Trends in Child Well-Being:
•Unemployment and food insecurity rates have improved.
•Third grade and eighth grade math and reading scores continue to improve.
•Immunizations among two-year-olds are up slightly.
•Use of illicit drugs among 8th graders is down slightly.
Negative Trends in Child Well-Being:
•The number of known victims of child abuse and neglect has increased again. The overall rate of child maltreatment increased 20% from 2003 to 2005 (10.8 to 13.0 per 1,000).
•Recurrence of maltreatment and foster care placement stability remain below national standards.
•Use of alcohol and cigarettes among 8th graders has increased.
•Working families continue to struggle to find affordable, quality child care.
SPONSOR: For the seventh consecutive year, Portland General Electric is the presenting sponsor of the annual Report Card on the Status of Oregon’s Children. PGE’s community investments focus on education, environment, livable neighborhoods and cultural diversity in communities where its employees live and work.
KIDS COUNT is a project of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, a private charitable organization that funds a nationwide network of projects that support disadvantaged children and families. http://www.childrenfirstfororegon.org.
Report Cards
Using the Oregon Benchmarks as targets, the Report Card provides a statewide overview of the well being of Oregon’s children in the areas of family financial stability, health, early care and education, youth development and education, and safety.
Children First Releases 2006 Annual Report Card
Oregon Earns Dismal Grade for Child Well-Being;
Troubling Trends Reflect Mediocre Public Investments
Children First’s annual Report Card shows state is in dire need of strong leadership for children and families.
Portland, OR – September 26, 2006 – Oregon earned a grade of “D+” in overall child well-being in the annual Report Card on the Status of Children issued today by the nonpartisan group Children First for Oregon. As the state passes another target year for benchmarks set by the Oregon Progress Board, the data show downward trends and sluggish progress in several areas, resulting in another year of disappointing grades. Modest improvements since last year in the Family Financial Stability category are encouraging, but stronger political and public will are needed to move the state in the right direction.
“If your children continued to bring home C’s and D’s on their report cards, wouldn’t you do something?” asked Robin Christian, Executive Director of Children First. “Wishful thinking won’t improve these grades – it’s time to act and step up our investments in programs that work.”
The ongoing decrease in the teen pregnancy rate and improvements in reading and math scores among 3rd graders are bright spots, but grades in three of the five categories – Health, Early Care & Education, and Child Welfare – continue to languish. Oregon is held back by its failures, which include: 117,000 uninsured children; nearly 6,400 eligible 3 and 4-year-olds unable to access Head Start; and 11,255 known victims of child abuse or neglect.
“Candidates running for office should look at this report card and ask themselves what they can do to get us to an “A” grade, and voters need to pay close attention to what they propose” said Christian. “A lack of solutions isn’t the problem. We know what we need to do. What we lack is the courage to act.”
This year’s Report Card combines new indicators and reorganized categories to provide a more extensive view of child well-being in the state. These are the first major content changes since 2000 and include the following new indicators: obesity, Head Start eligibles served, recurrence of maltreatment among child abuse victims and foster care placement stability.
- MORE -
FIVE STEPS TO HELP GET OREGON TO AN “A” GRADE:
1. Protect Our Investments: Defeat Measures 41 and 48 at the ballot in November.
2. Stabilize State Revenue: Convert the corporate kicker tax refund into a “rainy day” fund.
3. Increase Access to Health Care: Enroll all children currently eligible for the Oregon Health Plan (approximately 67,000 of the 117,000 uninsured children).
4. Improve Outcomes for Abused and Neglected Children: Increase supports to foster families, including relatives, and expand the availability of proven substance abuse prevention and treatment programs.
5. Invest in Early Childhood: Fully fund Head Start/Oregon Prekindergarten and strengthen the state’s child care subsidy program for working families.
SUMMARY OF 2006 GRADES:
Overall Grade: D+
Family Financial Stability C
Health D+
Early Care and Education D-
Youth Development and Education C
Child Welfare D
HIGHLIGHTS OF 2006 REPORT CARD:
Positive Trends in Child Well-Being:
• Unemployment and food insecurity rates have improved.
• Third grade and eighth grade math and reading scores continue to improve.
• Immunizations among two-year-olds are up slightly.
• Use of illicit drugs among 8th graders is down slightly.
Negative Trends in Child Well-Being:
• The number of known victims of child abuse and neglect has increased again. The overall rate of child maltreatment increased 20% from 2003 to 2005 (10.8 to 13.0 per 1,000).
• Recurrence of maltreatment and foster care placement stability remain below national standards.
• Use of alcohol and cigarettes among 8th graders has increased.
• Working families continue to struggle to find affordable, quality child care.
SPONSOR: For the seventh consecutive year, Portland General Electric is the presenting sponsor of the annual Report Card on the Status of Oregon’s Children. PGE’s community investments focus on education, environment, livable neighborhoods and cultural diversity in communities where its employees live and work.
Children First for Oregon works to make Oregon a place where all children thrive. We educate and engage Oregonians to promote programs and policies that get results for kids. KIDS COUNT is a project of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, a private charitable organization that funds a nationwide network of projects that support disadvantaged children and families. http://www.childrenfirstfororegon.org.
Publications
Children First for Oregon uses research to inform our public policy agenda. Good data drives good public policy.
Main Publications
Report Cards
Using the Oregon Benchmarks as targets, this state level report card provides an overview of the well being of Oregon’s children in the areas of family financial stability, health, early care and education, youth development and education, and safety. Published annually, fall release.
Data Books
The Data Book provides county-level data on the Benchmark indicators included in the Report Card and data related to a specific focus area. Policy recommendations are also provided. Published annually; winter release.
Policy Briefs
Policy briefs provide data, information and policy recommendations on a specific topic. Published several times per year.
News Releases
Census Press Statement (August 26, 2008)
2007 County Data Book Released (March 4, 2008)
2007 Report Card Released (October 16, 2007)
2006 County Data Book Released (January 23, 2007)
Policy Briefs
Children First’s widely respected policy briefs provide data, information and policy recommendations on a specific topic. Published several times per year.
You may download a copy of one of our policy briefs below. To request a hard copy, please e-mail .
Data Books
The Data Book provides county-level data on the Benchmark indicators included in the Report Card and data related to a specific focus area. Policy recommendations are also provided. Published annually; released in January.
Download a copy of the 2006 Status of Oregon’s Children County Data Book below. To request a hard copy please e-mail
Children First has updated our donation page!
You can make a donation to Children First and affect the lives of the nearly 1,000,000 children in Oregon. Whether you want to become a sustaining donor with a monthly contribution or make a one-time gift - our donation page is set up to give you the chance to make the difference.Visit our donation page here!
Our work would be impossible without you!
Ongoing Issues
We believe every child has the right to be healthy, safe and secure. In order to work collaboratively with partners and address key areas of need in our state, we focus our work on the following areas:
Child health care coverage and access
Growing up healthy, both physically and mentally, is essential for a child’s success. Health needs that go unmet significantly impact a child’s well-being and reduce her or his ability to learn and grow into a productive adult. Every child and youth in Oregon deserves access to quality health care. This care must be comprehensive, including oral health and mental health services. Access to affordable, quality and comprehensive health care is not only vital to a child’s health and well-being, it is an essential component of every family’s financial stability.
Child care affordability, quality, and access
Affordable, quality child care is an economic necessity for working families and for families looking for work. Without child care, parents face significant barriers to obtaining or maintaining employment. This is especially true for low-income families. Child care is also a bottom-line issue for businesses, employers and our economic well being. When employees have access to quality child care, they are more productive, miss less work and experience higher morale. Conversely, lack of quality care for their children can result in lost productivity, higher turnover and reduced profits.
Child abuse and neglect
The physical and emotional scars from abuse can last a lifetime and negatively impact individual victims and entire communities, especially if adequate intervention and support services are not available when needed. Paying for the effects of abuse means paying for more hospitals, child welfare caseworkers, law enforcement and court officers, mental health therapists, special education classes, and prisons. Investments in prevention not only saves taxpayers money, but also saves children’s lives.
Foster care improvement
Efforts to address child abuse and neglect encompass a continuum of prevention, intervention, and healing services and supports. Foster care is the part of the system that provides substitute care for children outside their own homes in a variety of settings, such as non-relative family foster homes, relative care homes, family group homes, emergency shelters, residential treatment programs, and pre-adoptive homes. Oregon must deal with the lack of quality foster families by increasing support to these families. The state must also increase the amount of support it provides to foster youth as they transition to adulthood out of the foster care system.
Family financial stability
Children lose out when families experience financial instability. A growing body of research shows poverty put children at increased risk for negative outcomes in health, social and emotional development, educational achievement and future economic success. Financial stress in a family also put children at risk of abuse or neglect. Because poverty is a key risk factor for decreased child well being, it is a smart investment to assist low-income families in succeeding financially.
Mission and History of the Annie E. Casey Foundation
The primary mission of the Annie E. Casey Foundation is to foster public policies, human-service reforms, and community supports that more effectively meet the needs of today’s vulnerable children and families. In pursuit of this goal, the Foundation makes grants that help states, cities, and neighborhoods fashion more innovative, cost-effective responses to these needs.
The Annie E. Casey Foundation was established in 1948 by Jim Casey and his siblings George, Harry, and Marguerite. They named the philanthropy in honor of their mother, who had struggled to raise them as a young widow. But the Foundation’s history really starts back in 1907, when Jim Casey began a messenger service in Seattle, Washington to help his family make ends meet. That small family business became the global, multi-billion dollar UPS.
Jim Casey had no children, and by 1948 he had amassed wealth beyond his personal needs. In that year, he and his siblings began the charitable foundation named for their mother, reflecting Jim’s belief that the future chances of kids depends largely on what their parents—their families—are able to provide emotionally, ethically, and materially. For about 20 years, the Casey Foundation was a small operation primarily funding a camp for disadvantaged children in Seattle.
By the mid-1960s, when Jim Casey gave up his administrative responsibilities as chief executive officer of UPS, he turned his attention to reshaping the focus of the Foundation. He decided to launch Casey Family Programs, an independent operating foundation headquartered in Seattle, which provides long-term foster care and other child and family serving programs. When UPS moved its headquarters to the East coast, similar programs to improve foster care were established in New England that later became Casey Family Services, operating today as the Foundation’s child welfare agency, providing direct services to thousands of children and families across New England and in Maryland.
Upon his death in 1983, Jim Casey bequeathed a substantial amount to the Foundation. With these additional resources, the Foundation expanded Casey Family Services’ locations and scope of work. And, more than half of the Foundation’s newly enlarged endowment was reserved for the purpose of making grants to organizations, agencies, and systems across the country that were in the business of helping disadvantaged kids.
In 1994, the Casey Foundation relocated its headquarters to Baltimore. By that time, a series of major multi-year, multi-site system reform initiatives were already providing relationships and lessons that shape Casey’s current and future projects.
Jim Casey once said that “what is needed is a renewed determination to think creatively, to learn from what has succeeded and what has failed, and, perhaps most important, to foster a sense of common commitment among all those concerned with the welfare of children.” Over the years, the Annie E. Casey Foundation has tried to grow its agenda, ambition, and vision in ways consistent with its founding.
The KIDS COUNT Initiative
KIDS COUNT is a national and state-by-state effort to track the status of children in the U.S. By providing policymakers and citizens with benchmarks of child well-being, KIDS COUNT seeks to enrich local, state, and national discussions concerning ways to secure better futures for all children.
Visit the KIDS COUNT website to get the latest national news concerning the status of kids in the United States.
Taken from the Annie E. Casey Foundation Website.
Contact Us
Mailing Address
Children First for Oregon
P.O. Box 14914
Portland, OR 97293
Phone: (503) 236-9754
Fax: (503) 236-3048
Email:
Physical Address
Children First for Oregon
1209 SE Belmont Street
Portland, OR 97214
Map of our Physical Location:
Voices for America’s Children
Voices for America’s Children is a nonpartisan, national organization committed to speaking out for the well-being of children at the federal, state and local levels of government. Since 1984, Voices has supported child advocates nationwide who have achieved public policy victories for children in early education, health, juvenile justice, child welfare, tax and budget decisions and other areas.
Mission
The mission of Voices for America’s Children is to improve the lives of children in the United States by advocating for effective public policies.
Vision
Voices envisions every child in the United States healthy, free from poverty, educated, safe from abuse and violence, and an engaged member of a nurturing family and community.
Strategic Focus
Voices for America’s Children (Voices) is a nonprofit organization that coordinates a nationwide network of state and local child advocacy organizations in the United States. It pursues its mission and vision by:
• Supporting member organizations advocating for children on local, state, and federal public policy issues;
• Advocating for children on national and federal public policy issues; and
• Leading national campaigns to improve public policies affecting children.
Taken from the Voices for America’s Children Website.
Employment & Volunteer Opportunities
Employment Opportunities
No positions currently available.
Volunteer Opportunities
No volunteer opportunities currently available.
Join our Children’s Action Network
At Children First, we have been working in the Oregon Capitol for more than fifteen years to make sure that all vulnerable children and families in Oregon have a trusted, independent voice. Part of our commitment to these groups is to keep everyday Oregonians informed about what is happening in Salem that will dramatically influence kids’ day-to-day lives. But, often times the pace of the legislative session moves too quickly for us to send out physical mailings to rally your support. That’s why our Children’s Action Network (CAN) e-Newsletters proves so invaluable for both us, and more importantly, the kids of our state. Not only does the newsletter keep you up-to-date on the latest work and publications of Children First, but it also allows you to easily become a voice for the most vulnerable children and families in Oregon. Our e-Advocacy campaigns typically take less than two minutes to participate in, but will impact legislation lasting a generation.
Sign-Up today to begin receiving our Children’s Action Network e-Newsletter in your inbox, and see how easy it is to make a lasting difference for children. And don’t worry about unwanted spam, we never sell or share our member lists.
Help Your Friends Put Children First
We spend much of our time here at Children First educating Oregonians about issues surrounding vulnerable children and their families. We go about this by putting together publications that are based on the most reliable studies and data sources. We are proud of the work we do producing these respected publications, but it is clear that the message is not reaching enough people, and here is how we know:
•Too many children in our state still do not have health insurance, while at the same time health care costs continue to rise.
•Children in foster care don’t have the resources they need to succeed, both in the foster care system and beyond.
•Working families don’t have the supports needed to break the cycle of dependence and poverty.
•And More…
That’s why we need your help to spread the message that the children in Oregon need a strong, trusted, independent voice. Tell your family, friends, colleagues, and congregation about the work we are doing, and let them know that they can become a voice for children too!
Make a Donation Today
Donate Online
The easiest and most convenient way to give to Children First for Oregon.
Donate by Mail
To donate by mail, please print out and complete our Mail-In Donation Form. Please make all checks payable to: Children First for Oregon and mail your completed form to:
Children First for Oregon
P.O. Box 14914
Portland, OR 97293
Donate by Phone
If you would like to make a donation over the phone, or if you have questions on how you can donate appreciated stock or make a planned gift, please contact our office at (503) 236-9754.
Questions about our financials?
If you would like information and details regarding our third party financial audit, please contact our office at or (503) 236-9754.
Oregon Newsfeed
Below you will find the latest news stories from around Oregon about Children First and the issues that we are working on.
2007 Legislative Victories
The 2007 legislative session brought many important wins for Oregon’s most vulnerable children and families. There were a few disappointments, but overall the 2007 Legislature did a commendable job of putting children, not politics, first. We are proud of the many legislative wins we’ve had over the past six months, and look forward to working with our supporters for even bigger wins in the next session.
Here is a summary of the issues on which Children First for Oregon worked on this session:
Legislative Victories for Children’s Health
Affordable, Comprehensive Health Care for All Children on the November Ballot: Sadly, the Healthy Kids Plan, funded by an 84 ½ cent cigarette tax, was not passed by the 2007 Legislature; however, Democratic lawmakers succeeded in to referring the bill out to the people. It will appear as a constitutional amendment on the November ballot, and we are confident that Oregonians will make the right choice.
Expand School-Based Health Centers: Secured a $2 million investment to bring school-based health centers to 6 new counties. School-based health centers are a cost-effective way to deliver quality, comprehensive primary and preventive care to children and youth.
Junk Food Out of Schools: School districts will phase out high-sugar, high-fat junk food and soda in favor of healthier snacks.
Legislative Victories for Low-Income Families
Improved Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Program: $28.5 million in new revenue for stronger up-front assessments to ensure families with multiple barriers get the help they need to be successful, as well as increased access to higher education, more supports to help them transition into the workforce (like child care and health care assistance). Children will now also be able to receive some of the child support payments they are owed.
Child Care More Affordable for Low-Income Families: $39.9 million investment to strengthen the Employment Related Day Care Program (ERDC) by restoring income eligibility levels to 185 percent of the federal poverty level and increasing provider reimbursements to 75 percent of market rate.
Legislative Victories for Child Welfare and Foster Care
Support for Relative Caregivers: Secured $4.8 million to provide financial support to relative foster parents so more children can be placed with relatives, rather than with strangers.
Improved Stability and Accountability in the Foster Care System: Passed a bill that requires greater efforts be made to place siblings together whenever possible and caseworkers to document face-to-face visits with children in foster care, as well as track their educational outcomes.
Increased Substance Abuse Treatment: Dedicated $10 million in new revenue to mental health and substance abuse treatment for parents of children in the child welfare system, so that more foster children can return home safely.
Decreased Child Welfare Caseload Ratios: Added $3.4 million in funding for child welfare services to restructure staffing in order to improve workload efficiency and child safety. The package does not resolve workload problems for the agency, but is a low-cost approach to improve staffing ratios to at least meet national standards. A work load study in this area will also be completed, and is expected to make further recommendations for staffing or operational improvements.
Other Legislative Victories we Supported
Expansion of Head Start: $39 million in new revenue will mean 3,000 more children around the state will have access to the highly successful Head Start program.
Child Care Collective Bargaining: Passed legislation that allows child care providers to collectively bargain with the state of Oregon, which will improve child care by stabilizing the underpaid day-care labor force.
Challenges Remaining
Paid Family Leave: We fought a good fight, but unfortunately, the family leave benefits insurance program (HB 2575,) which would have provided benefits to employees taking family leave to care for critically ill family members or new children, did not make it pass the Senate, although it was passed in the House. The importance of paid family leave was brought to the forefront of lawmakers’ attention, and we are confident that we can help this program succeed in the future.
Water Fluoridation: A measure that would have ensured all Oregon water systems serving 10,000 or more would provide recommended levels of fluoride in their drinking water, remains among the Oregon legislature’s unfinished business. This means Oregon will remain 48th among the 50 states in protecting its citizens – especially children and seniors – from dental disease and decay.
2007 Report Card Launch Event
Click here to order your tickets to the event and be among the first leaders in Oregon to learn our state’s grade.
October 15, 2007
Doors open at 5:00 PM
The Armory 128 NW Eleventh
Tickets are:
$50 for general admission
$200 for one or $350 for two VIP tickets.
Order yours now!
Who is Children First for Oregon?
Children First for Oregon is a trusted, independent child advocacy organization committed to improving the lives of Oregon’s children and families by shaping statewide public policy.
Expert Testimony
Below you will find the testimony submitted by Children First for Oregon Policy and Communications Director, Cathy Kaufmann, during the 2007 legislative session.
Written Testimony on The Healthy Kids Plan, January 24, 2007
Written Testimony on The Healthy Kids Plan, February 8, 2007
Written Testimony on School-Based Health Centers, May 8, 2007
Written Testimony on the Foster Care System, February 19, 2007
Written Testimony on Child Care Affordability, March 19, 2007
Written Testimony on TANF, March 7, 2007
Written Testimony on Paid Family Leave, March 19, 2007
Written Testimony on Paid Family Leave, June 14, 2007
Public Education
Children First for Oregon works in a variety of ways to educate the public about the most pressing issues facing Oregon’s kids. Click on the various links below to get more information on how we go about educating our elected leaders, foundation executives, nonprofit organizations, and everyday Oregonians.
Publications
Good data drives good public policy. Children First compiles the most reliable data to put together our various publications. We let the data tell us where we need to focus our efforts for kids in our state, not the other way around. Each one of our publications not only identifies the obstacles Oregon’s children are facing, but lays out specific and attainable policy recommendations to solve current problems.
Children’s Action Network
Our Children’s Action Network, or CAN for short, serves as one of our most powerful tools to keep you up-to-date on the latest policy news affecting kids in our state. During the state legislative session, the CAN gives you the most current information regarding bills passing through the Oregon Capitol, and makes it easier for you to send letters to your lawmakers telling them what you think about a particular piece of legislation. Out-of-session, the CAN will keep you informed on policy developments on the federal level, along with all the latest news regarding Children First and our partners.
Media Outreach
We work hard to reach out to everyday Oregonians on a personal basis as much as possible to make sure they know about the issues impacting kids in our state, but we are a small staff and know that our reach can only go so far. That’s where the print and broadcast media come in. We coordinate and work with the media to expand our reach across the state, and make sure that everyone from Baker City to Bandon knows what’s going on with kids around Oregon.
Mission
Children First for Oregon works to make Oregon a place where all children thrive. We educate and engage Oregonians to promote programs and policies that get results for kids.
We are a trusted, independent voice for kids committed to providing opportunity for every Oregon child.
We bring together parents, community leaders, business executives, and lawmakers to make smart investments in our state’s children.
Through carefully researched reports, such as the annual Report Card and County Data Book, we raise awareness among all Oregonians of the importance of strong families and communities.
We work to ensure:
• Every child has access to quality, affordable health care
• Foster kids have the supports they need to succeed
• Families have the freedom to choose a better life
Learn more about our issues >>
Coalitions
Children First for Oregon is a member of the following statewide and national coalitions:
National Coalitions
KIDS COUNT Steering Committee
Voices Health Policy Team
Statewide Coalitions
Child Welfare Advisory Committee
Covering Kids and Families Leadership Team
Media Messaging Group
Nonprofit Association of Oregon
Oregon Nutrition Policy Alliance
Oregon Revenue Coalition
Oregon School-Based Health Care Network
Ready-to-Learn Statewide Leadership Team
SCHIP Coalition
Foundation & Corporate Sponsors
Children First would like to thank the following foundation and corporate supporters of our work:
David and Lucile Packard Foundation
Hanna Andersson HannaHelps Foundation
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP
Knowledge Learning Corporation
Paul G. Allen Family Foundation
Penney Family Foundation
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon
Spirit Mountain Community Foundation
Breaking News: Leadership changes at DHS
The Oregonian is reporting that Ramona Foley will be retiring from her role as the director of Oregon’s child welfare system. Dr. Bruce Goldberg has turned to Children First’s Executive Director to lead a task force to help develop strategies to provide effective prevention and intervention strategies to help families and keep children out of the system. We are eager to continue our work with DHS to improve the well-being of children in the care of the State.
You can read the full article here: The Oregonian.
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.
Outside Resources
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)
Child Welfare League of America
Employee Benefit Research Institute
Georgetown University Health Policy Institute Center for Children and Families
National Partnership for Women and Families
North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC)
Oregon Center for Public Policy
Improving Child Health Care Coverage and Access
Every child should be able to count on good health care 365 days a year, but kids can’t insure themselves.
Just as it’s our responsibility to educate every child, kids also need our help to be sure they have appropriate care – right when they need it.
Nothing is as important as a healthy start in life. We can give Oregon children that start by making health insurance available to all kids.
Reducing Child Abuse and Neglect
All children need a safe home so that they can grow into healthy and responsible adults.
Oregonians look out for one another, especially for our most vulnerable children who have been abused or neglected.
We can prevent abuse by supporting prevention programs, and we can help those kids who have been abused or neglected by giving them the care they need to be successful.
Improving the Lives of Foster Children
Foster care provides a separate, safe home for children away from a dangerous living environment.
Oregon has made a promise to provide a safe place for foster kids, and we must make sure that these children are getting the supports they need.
As foster children reach the age of 18 and begin their own lives, they need ongoing support so they can grow into happy, productive adults.
Making Child Care Affordable
Safe, clean child care gives young children a healthy place to grow and learn.
Providing affordable child care for families makes parents betters workers, and helps to drive Oregon’s economy.
We can give Oregon families the support they need by helping them paying for child care, and improve our state’s economy at the same time.
Lifting Families out of Poverty
A financially stable family gives children the best chance at a healthy, safe, and happy life.
All Oregon children should have a chance to live up to their full potential regardless of where they begin.
Providing smart, limited, and temporary help to struggling families makes Oregon a stronger state, and will help us build a better future for our children.
Become a Voice for Children
Tell Lawmakers to Cover all Kids and Keep the Strong Investments We’ve Made
Times are tough for Oregon families. An uncertain economy has left many across Oregon struggling just to make ends meet.
But lawmakers can help.
First, they need to finish the job and cover all kids. Unlike many of the health problems that children face, the one that keeps over 100,000 kids from seeing a doctor because they don’t have health insurance is cureable.
And second, lawmakers must protect the smart investments they made during the last legislative session to improve the lives of Oregon’s children. This commitment to children has just began to pay-off, and vulnerable kids and families across our state can’t afford to lose that support now.
Send a message to your elected officials today, and tell them to cover all kids and keep the strong investments we’ve made in families across Oregon.
Staff
is the Executive Director at Children First for Oregon. Robin is responsible for the strategic direction and growth of the organization. She oversees management of personnel, fiscal policy & budgeting, fund raising, policy and program development, advocacy, legal and fiduciary compliance, public relations, networking and board development.
As a member of Voices for America’s Children’s Health Policy Advisory Team, Robin is directly involved in the organization’s interaction with Oregon’s congressional delegation and has lead CFFO’s efforts in support of SCHIP (State Children’s Health Insurance Program) expansion at the federal level. Robin also serves on the Kids Count National Steering Committee for the Annie E. Casey foundation.
Prior to joining Children First, Robin spent over 20 years in the corporate world including 11 years at Fred Meyer. She was executive director of The Fred Meyer Foundation from 1998 – 2001 where she developed & implemented the initial grant making strategies and policies for the foundation. As a long-time community volunteer, Robin has served as president of the parent organization at the elementary and middle school level, chaired a district-wide coalition of parent leaders, served on the board of several local Portland nonprofit agencies and been a reading mentor for The Oregon Children Foundation’s SMART (Start Making A Reader Today) program.
Robin graduated from Ithaca College and pursued graduate studies at San Francisco State University and the State University of California at Los Angeles. A native New Yorker, Robin spent 13 years in California and has been in Oregon for over 18 years and considers it home.
, Policy & Communications Director, is responsible for Children First’s policy agenda, policy publications, and public education and media outreach efforts. She has a B.A. in English Literature and Political Science from the University of Tampa (1995) and a Masters of Social Work from Portland State University (2003), with a focus in community organizing and additional graduate-level coursework in policy analysis and program evaluation. Before joining the staff of Children First for Oregon, Cathy worked as a researcher at Portland State University’s Child Welfare Partnership for 6 years. Cathy’s research and policy analysis experience and interests have focused on child welfare, particularly child neglect, the needs of foster youth transitioning to adulthood, policies and programs to promote the financial stability of families, and the portrayal of social issues in the media and the resulting impact on public policy. Cathy has been an active and committed community volunteer. She has served on the Steering Committee of the Social Welfare Action Alliance, Co-Directed the Portland GreenMap project and volunteered for SMART (Start Making a Reader Today) and the Community Alliance of Tenants.
, Policy Analyst, is responsible for supporting Children First’s policy agenda, public education and coalition outreach efforts. Before working for Children First, Regan spent nearly seven years in Oregon politics, most of that time as Chief of State to Representative Diane Rosenbaum. From 2001 to 2007, Regan worked with the Oregon Women’s Health and Wellness Alliance, developing legislation and strategy, along with coordinating media and coalition outreach. Regan graduated from Portland State University with a B.S. in Women’s Studies, and minors in Political Science and Art History
, Policy & Communications Associate, is responsible for supporting Children First’s policy agenda, assisting public education and media outreach efforts, and helping to produce the organization’s various publications. He graduated from Haverford College outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Music. His senior economics thesis examined the impact of Measure 5 on Oregon students’ performance during the 1990s. The study looked at both the change of school funding sources as a result of the measure, as well as student test score trends over that period.
, Policy & Outreach Associate, is responsible for Children First’s internal operations with regards to development and marketing efforts and also for the overall efficiency of the organization. She graduated Cum Laude from the University of Oregon in 2007, with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Business Administration. Pamela was actively involved in the UO Marching Band, the Druids Junior Honor Society, and the Mortar Board Senior Honor Society. Pamela has been a national spokesperson for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for the past 5 years and continues that work today. She is also on the Board of Directors for the Coalition of Advocates for Equal Access for Girls. As a former foster youth, she has a deep interest in the well-being of Oregon’s children.
County Data Sheets
Find out how kids are doing in your community.
Know a current or former foster youth between the ages of 15 and 25?
The Oregon Foster Youth Connection ensures young people with personal experience in foster care have a voice in reforming the system.
The group uses best-practices research to educate lawmakers, administrators and the community about the issues facing foster youth.
Board of Directors
2008 Board Members
Mike Schrader, Board Chair
Partner
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
Angela Hult, Vice Chair
Assistant Director, Strategic Communications
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon
Beth deHamel, Board Secretary
Community Volunteer
Chip Pierce, Board Treasurer
Western Financial Group
The Honorable Ann Aiken
United States District Court Judge for the District of Oregon
Angie Blackwell
Family Educator and Coach
Jay Bloom
President
Bloom Anew
Howard Finck
President
SoundFriends Consulting
Tia Gray Stecher
Chief Executive Officer
Morrison Child and Family Services
Bob Lawrence
Communications Consultant
Tripp Somerville
Of Counsel
Pyramid Communications
John Tapogna
Managing Director
ECONorthwest
Felicia Tripp-Folsom
Deputy Director
Portland Housing Center
Children First is a proud member of the following national organizations
How Can I Help?
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