Tell Lawmakers that Providing Health Care Coverage for Children is a Priority

A healthy future for Oregon children requires us to ensure their healthy development today – today’s children are tomorrow’s citizens, parents, and community leaders.  That’s why we have a responsibility as a state to make sure that our collective resources are being used to build the strongest foundation for our kids.  Ensuring that every child has access to high quality affordable health care will establish this foundation, and guarantee a strong future for us all.

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The false economy of Oregon Health Plan cuts

After the state removed 52,000 from subsidized insurance

The Oregonian, Friday, April 18, 2008

Last year on this page we told the story of a 12-year-old Portland boy, Keith Tupper, who almost died after his low-income family was bumped off the Oregon Health Plan.

Today that shameful story is reflected in the findings of a new study reported in a respected medical journal. The study supported precisely the point we made about the Tupper boy: Cutting the health plan may save money in one pot, the state budget, but it drains money from another pot, the state’s health care system, while it makes people sicker.

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Children First In My Opinion Piece

Seeing the real crime behind the headlines

The Oregonian, Friday, March 21, 2008

No one should be allowed to defraud the state’s safety net, but The Oregonian’s front-page story about welfare cheats ("Welfare cheats cash in on Oregon’s sloppy system,” March 9) missed the real crime. Before we give such attention to the fewer than 1 percent who cheat the system, we ought to make some mention of the thousands of Oregonians in desperate need of social services who are forced to go without help.

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Breaking News: Governor Kulongoski to renew push for children’s health coverage.

3/20/2008, 3:47 p.m. PT By BRAD CAIN

The Associated Press

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Gov. Ted Kulongoski plans to announce a renewed push to increase Oregon’s cigarette tax to pay for expanded children’s health care when he delivers his state-of-the-state address Friday in Portland.

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2007 County Data Book Released

Children First for Oregon Releases 2007 County Data Book on the Status of Oregon’s Children

Oregon’s independent child advocacy group finds that family-friendly policies are as good for businesses as they are for children.

Portland, OR – March 4, 2008 – The health and well-being of Oregon’s children is closely aligned with the economic health of Oregon businesses, according to Children First for Oregon’s annual County Data Book 2007 released today. Children First’s report shows that when family-friendly statewide policies are adopted businesses benefit. 

“More and more research shows that family friendly policies don’t just strengthen the well-being of children – they are good for businesses and the economy,” said Robin Christian, Children First for
Oregon’s Executive Director.

The report points to three child and family policy areas that have proven to be beneficial for businesses: health care coverage, affordable, quality child care, and paid family leave.

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Fundamental Reform Needed for Oregon’s Foster Care System

On February 4, 2008, The Oregonian reported on some sobering results from a federal review of Oregon’s foster care system.  Oregon failed 11 out of the 14 areas identified as critical to a foster child’s well-being.  The report concluded that Oregon has a serious shortage of foster homes, reports of abuse and neglect were not answered in a timely manner, and caseworkers aren’t checking in with kids and parents as often as they should, among other problems.

Read the entire article, entitled: “Oregon’s foster care fails nearly every way.”

Also, be sure to read another article by The Oregonian from February 21, 2008 entitled: “Kids lose out to paperwork.”

Now is the time to fix the system and Children First for Oregon intends to lead the way over the next year to fundamentally reform foster care in our state.  The problem is curable, but it will take a strong commitment from elected leaders and every Oregonian to do what’s right for these children.

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