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A trusted, independent voice for kids
 

Latest News

The Importance of ERDC in Eastern Oregon

Child care costs rising faster than family incomes
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Observer Editorial Reports, The La Grande Observer

The cost of child care continues to rise but wages in Oregon have remained flat or increased only slightly over the past decade.

The result is “a crisis for families,” according to researchers at Oregon State University in a report that looked at child care in every Oregon county.

The report says child care prices, on average, increased 7 percent more than family incomes from 2004 to 2010. The findings are even worse for single parents, whose child care prices increased 14 percent more than their incomes during the same period.

Fortunately, it costs much less for child care in Eastern Oregon than Western Oregon.

Annual toddler care in Union County costs an average of $4,888 and in Wallowa County $2,788, while in Washington County the average is $10,400.

But many parents of young children in Eastern Oregon make minimum wage and earn only about $17,000 per year, making even low-cost child care difficult to afford.

The state offers financial assistance to help struggling parents pay for child care through the Employment Related Day Care Program. But the state decided to cap the number of participants at 9,000 because of budget shortfalls. So many families who meet the program’s income guidelines can’t join the program.

That means thousands of families across Oregon continue to face child care costs that are climbing faster than their incomes and something needs to be done about it.

Oregon’s employers should be encouraged to provide resources for parents who can’t afford child care.

Meanwhile, the state should look for additional funding for its Employment Related Day Care Program and remove the cap so that all eligible families get the help they need. 

Read the Original Article

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2011 Progress Report: The Status of Children in Oregon

Our 2011 Progress Report: The Status of Children in Oregon, shows that Oregon has made improvements in children’s access to health services, despite seeing an increase in child poverty.

Children First For Oregon

Although the rate of Oregon children living in poverty rose two percentage points over the past year, we have witnessed an increase in the number of children with health coverage as well. The latest census data from 2010 shows an increase from 89% (in 2009) to 91% of Oregon children having health coverage. This is truly a testament to the success of state programs like Oregon Healthy Kids, which provides health care coverage for Oregon children living in families earning under 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (which equates to $67,050 in annual income for a family of four). In addition, more Oregon children have access to health services at a School-Based Health Center compared to the year prior. The increase of children with health coverage and school-based health access are a result of 2009 legislative action to invest and expand the State’s Child Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and School-Based Health Centers.

The health access improvements over the past year are encouraging. But Oregon children are experiencing a greater need, as expressed in the child poverty rate increase to 21%—up from 19% in 2009. An increase in the number of homeless students and children experiencing food insecurity shows holes in our safety net for Oregon kids. As of September 2011, 20,545 students in Oregon’s K-12 system are homeless—nearly an 8% increase from the previous school year.

It comes as no surprise that children have been hit hard by the recession, but that makes the numbers no less staggering. When families experience financial stress, there is an even greater need for programs that ensure children’s health and safety. Download a copy of our progress report to see more data on how kids are faring in Oregon.

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Watch Our 20th Anniversary Video

In honor of our 20th Anniversary, we created this video to explain what we do to ensure that children are healthy and safe, and families are strong.

Thank you to all of the people who attended our celebration event, and so generously gave to support us!

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Our Children Deserve Better

Did you know that 1 in 4 American kids lives at risk of hunger?
That only 1 in 3 children is a proficient reader?

Watch this video to learn more, and we think you’ll agree that our children deserve better.

Children First is a member of the Voices for America’s Children organization, that fights to make positive change in Washington.

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20th Anniversary Auction Items

Come to our 20th Anniversary Event to bid on any of these 21 wonderful items.

1)  Winter Adventure at Timberline Lodge

  • Season pass for family of four

Mount Hood is more than a mountain. It’s a mammoth playground for the whole family. It’s an adventurer’s paradise, a dream for thrillseekers and sightseers. Hightail it to Timberline, where you’ll find yourself in the middle of it all.

Season passes are good for skiing/riding at Timberline, valid any day the lift is operating, weather conditions permitting. Family Pass Certificate is good for four individual season passes. Additional family member passes may be purchased separately. “Family” refers to immediate family members. All pass recipients must reside at the same physical address.

Special Instructions: Certificate expires 5/31/2012. Not valid during the Summer Ski Season, June 1 – September 30.
Donor: Timberline Lodge
Value: $4,000

2)  Summer Adventure on Lake Billy Chinook

  • Private boating trip, including use of fishing gear
  • Catered lunch for four

Day trip on Lake Billy Chinook escorted by boat captain, Children First board member Howard Finck, includes catered lunch for four, use of fishing gear, and the company of a fly-fishing enthusiast. No experience necessary. The boat is a 20’ Northwest Jet, wide, comfortable, heated if inclement weather, with enclosed canvas cabin 6.5’ high. Best times: April thru September.

Special Instructions: Additional details to be arranged between the donor and the successful bidder before 4/1/2012. Buyer should advise captain of dietary restrictions in advance. Buyer must obtain necessary permits.
Donor: Howard Finck
Value: $1,500

3)  “Be Well” Fitness Package

  • Three-month Platinum membership to any Oregon Athletic Club: HawthornFarm, RiverPlace, Bethany, or The Pointe Spa
  • $100 Nike gift certificate
  • Two passes to Nike employee store

Where did the time go? It’s almost a new year and new resolutions are right around the corner. Get fit and be well with this Platinum membership to the Oregon Athletic Club of your choice.

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New Data Shows More Oregon Children In Poverty

We all know that times are hard for Oregon families.

New data from the American Community Survey paint a picture of just how much Oregon’s families are struggling, showing that a downward trend that began in 2008 or earlier has worsened as the state has cut the basic services that allow families to rejoin the middle class.

In Oregon last year, 18.2 percent of families with children under 18 had incomes below the national poverty level. Among families with children under five, 21.6 percent were living in poverty. In both cases, the poverty rate has increased over four percent since the recession began.

Children First for Oregon has been getting the word out:

Regan Gray, policy director for Children First for Oregon, said growing up in stressful situations will have lasting impact on children.

“We know that children that live in poverty usually suffer from [the] circumstances that brings,” she said. “They’ll have lower educational attainment, school achievement, behavioral and emotional well-being and physical health issues.”

For single mother Sandy Campos, tears flow more easily than words when she thinks of her struggles the past four years. Divorce, custody issues and unemployment all have weighed heavily on the Woodburn resident.

“It’s been really bad,” she said Thursday through tears.

Read more at the Statesman Journal.

Why is this happening? Up until very recently Oregon was making strategic investments in the programs that keep people safe and healthy as they regain their footing after the recession. In the last year, Oregon has begun to walk away from our commitment to our neediest children, cutting the basic services that allow families to rejoin the middle class.

We need to invest in the programs that make sure our children are ready to learn, our communities are safe and healthy, and our state can get back to work. Our state and federal legislators need to have the courage to take these issues head-on.

Please join us, and tell Congress and the Oregon Legislature: Protect the programs that lift kids out of poverty.

To learn more about children in Poverty in Oregon, data for every county and the state as a whole is available through the American Factifinder.

 

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20th Anniversary Symphony and Song Celebration!

Children First for Oregon
requests the pleasure of your company at our
20th Anniversary Symphony and Song Celebration
to be held at

The University Club
1225 S W   6 th Ave., Portland, Oregon, 97204

on Friday evening November 4th, 2011
  from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Entertainment will include:
Oregon Symphony cellists Marilyn De Oliveira and
Trevor Fitzpatrick accompanied by Opera singer Flora Sussely,
a small auction, and a raffle for a Hawaii vacation.
View Auction Item List
Buy Hawaii Raffle Tickets

A reply is requested by Monday, October 31st:
Yes, I Will Attend

I Cannot Attend, But Want to Make a Donation

I Cannot Attend, But Want to Join the 20 Over 20 Campaign

RSVP by Phone:
Call Deb at 503-236-9754

Thanks to Our Sponsors
Knowledge Universe
The Standard Convio
Key Bank * U.S. Bank * Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP * D.A. Davidson & Co. * Morrison Child and Family Services * United Way of the Columbia-Willamette * Oregon Dental Association * Willamette Dental * Albina Community Bank
Boldtrek * Capital Pacific Bank * ECONorthwest * Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel * CASA

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What is Children First?

Founded in 1991, Children First is Oregon’s most respected non-profit, non-partisan child advocacy organization committed to improving the lives of Oregon’s vulnerable children and families.

Read More»

Oregon Foster Youth Connection

Oregon Foster Youth Connection

Check out the Oregon Foster Youth Connection, a program of Children First for Oregon.

Children First is a proud member of the following organizations

Children First For Oregon
Children First For Oregon

County Data Sheets

Children First For Oregon

Find out how kids are doing in your community.

20th Anniversary Sponsors

Children First For Oregon

Health Insurance for All Children


Oregon Healthy Kids

 

Children First for Oregon | P.O. Box 14914, Portland, OR 97293 | ph (503) 236-9754 | fax (503) 236-3048