Report Card 2006:

1

• Report Card 2006
• The Status of Children in Oregon
• Robin Christian, Executive Director
• Oregon Progress Board October 26, 2006

2
Our Mission

• Children First 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.

3
Our Theory of Change

• Effectively define the problems and the
  solutions.
• Focus on evidence-based policy and system
  improvements at the state level.
• Collaborate with key partners.
• Build public will through public education.
• Hold elected leaders accountable.
• Work in the political arena while remaining
  non-partisan.
• Strategically focus on key areas of need.

4
Our Priority Issues

• Health
• Health Insurance Coverage
• School-Based Health Care
• Safety
• Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect
• Child Welfare System
• Family Financial Stability
• Child Care Affordability

5
What We Do

• Media Outreach
• Publications
• Legislative Advocacy
• Coalition Partnerships
• Presentations and Trainings
• Kellogg Foundation School-Based Health Care
  Policy Program

6
Partners
HEALTHY KIDS LEARN BETTER COALITION
7
Our Regular Publications

• Annual Report Card
• Annual County Data Book
• Policy Briefs

D
8
About the Grades

• Calculated looking at
• Progress toward Oregon Benchmark Target over last
  two years AND
• Trend over last ten years.
• Grades are based on a consistent, quantitative
  analysis that examines progress on 28 indicators
• 24 state benchmark targets
• 2 national standards
• 1 agency performance measure
• 1 Children First measure

9
Changes This Year

• New indicators
• Obesity
• Head Start Eligibles Served
• Recurrence of Maltreatment
• Foster Care Placement Stability
• Deleted indicators
• Ready to Learn
• Crimes Against Persons
• Renamed category
• Safety became Child Welfare

10
2006 Report Card

• Overall Grade D
• Family Financial Stability C
• Health D
• Early Care and Education D-
• Youth Development and Education C
• Child Welfare D

11
Positive Trends

• Unemployment and food insecurity rates have
  improved.
• 3rd grade and 8th 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.

12
Negative Trends

• Overall rate of child maltreatment increased 20
  over last two years (10.8 per 1,000 to 13.0 per
  1,000 children).
• 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.

13
Getting Oregon to an A Grade

• OUR GOAL
• Effectively define the problems and the
  solutions.
• SOLUTIONS
• Protect Our Investments Defeat Measures 41 and
  48.
• Stabilize State Revenue Convert the corporate
  kicker tax refund into a rainy day fund.
• Increase Access to Health Care Enroll all
  children currently eligible for the Oregon Health
  Plan and expand school-based health centers.
• Improve Outcomes for Abused and Neglected
  Children Increase supports to foster families
  and expand the availability of proven substance
  abuse prevention and treatment programs.
• Invest in Early Childhood Fund Head
  Start/Oregon Prekindergarten and strengthen the
  child care subsidy program for working families.