ERIC ED450924: Status of Oregon's Children: 1999 County Data Book. Special Focus: Early Childhood.

58 Pages·1999·2.8 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
ED 450 924
PS 029 266
TITLE
Status of Oregon's Children: 1999 County Data Book. Special
Focus: Early Childhood.
INSTITUTION
Children First for Oregon, Portland.
SPONS AGENCY
Annie E. Casey Foundation, Baltimore, MD.
PUB DATE
1999-00-00
NOTE
57p.; For 1998 Data Book, see ED 430 714.
AVAILABLE FROM
Children First for Oregon, P.O. Box 14914, Portland, OR
97205; Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone]; e-mail:
[email protected].
PUB TYPE
Numerical/Quantitative Data (110)
Reports
Descriptive
(141)
EDRS PRICE
MF01/PC03 Plus Postage.
DESCRIPTORS
Academic Achievement; Birth Weight; Child Abuse; *Child
Health; Child Neglect; Child Welfare; Community Programs;
*Counties; Day Care; Delinquency; Divorce; Dropout Rate;
Early Childhood Education; Early Parenthood; Family
(Sociological Unit); Health Insurance; Infant Mortality;
Libraries; Mortality Rate; *Social Indicators; Suicide;
Trend Analysis; Victims of Crime; *Well Being; *Young
Children
IDENTIFIERS
Arrests; Child Mortality; Day Care Availability; Indicators;
*Oregon
ABSTRACT
This Kids Count data book examined trends in the well-being
of Oregon's children, focusing on the well-being of children under 8 years.
This statistical portrait is based on indicators of child well being in four
areas:
(1) health, including immunizations, health insurance, and health risk
factors;
(2) family well-being, including divorce and child abuse or neglect;
(3) child care and early education, including percent in paid child
care
arrangements, number of child care slots, and prekindergarten enrollment; and
(4) community investments, including access to free public libraries, and
percent of children screened in the Healthy Start program. The report's
introductory section defines and discusses the indicators, providing
statewide trend information. An additional 12 measures of child well-being
are included in the profiles:
(1) juvenile arrests;
(2) teen pregnancy;
(3)
teen suicide attempts;
(4) high school dropout;
(5) eighth grade reading
proficiency;
(6) eighth grade mathematics proficiency;
(7) child abuse and
neglect;
(8) crimes against persons;
(9) child deaths;
(10) low birthweight
infants;
(11) infant mortality; and (12) and child care supply. Data sources
and notes complete the introductory section. The remainder of the report is
comprised of statistical profiles for the state and individual counties.
Overall, the report's findings indicate that 36 percent of children under
age
13 are in paid child care arrangements for an average of 27 hours weekly. In
1997, an estimated 58 percent of Oregon kindergartners were ready to learn in
all areas. In 1998, 7,613 divorces affected households with children. Sixteen
percent of children were living in poverty. Over 80 percent of Oregon
2-year-olds were current on their immunizations in 1998. Eight percent of
children under age 8 lacked health insurance. The Healthy Start
programs
screened 79 percent of first birth children in program counties in 1998-99.
(KB)
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Educational Research and Improvement
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION
CENTER (ERIC)
\14 . This document has been reproduced as
received from the person or organization
originating it
Minor changes have been made to
improve reproduction quality
Points of view or opinions stated in this
o
document do not necessarily represent
official OERI position or policy
PERMISSION 10 REPRODUCE AND
DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS
BEEN GRANTED BY
Pt
t-kae...tery
_
FO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)
0 0 0
COUNTY DATA BOOK
STATUS OF OREGON'S CHILDREN
1
SPECIAL FOCUS
This report is made possible through a
generous KIDS COUNT grant from the
Annie E. Casey Foundation.
Tonia Hunt, Senior Public Policy Associate
Published by Children First for Oregon in collaboration
with the Child Care Division of the Oregon
Employment Department, Oregon Commission on
Children and Families and Oregon Department of
Human Resources.
3
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks to Oregon's Child Everyone's Business, a program
Children First for Oregon Board of Directors:
of Oregon Commission on Children and Families, and
Anne Stone, President
Success by Six, a program of United Way of the Columbia-
Dan Harris, Secretary
Willamette, for child brain development facts highlighted
Kate Jewett, Treasurer
throughout the County Data Book.
Pam Patton, Public Affairs
Chris Brent linger, Resource Development
Our appreciation to the following for their assistance:
Ron Karten, Public Information and Awareness
Center for Population Research and Census, P.S.U.
Chris Matthews, Public Information and Awareness
Child Care Division, Oregon Employment Department
Susanne Boling
Office for Oregon Health Plan Policy and Research
Mary Boyle
Oregon Commission on Children and Families
Lawrence Dark
Oregon Department of Education
Gun Denhart
Oregon Department of Human Resources
Cynthia Devich
Oregon Health Division
Randy Franke
Oregon State Library
Lawrence Griffith
State Office for Services to Children and Families
Theresa Langdon, M.D.
Uniform Crime Reporting Program of the
Carolyn Sheldon
Department of State Police
Wanda Silverman
Special Thanks to the
Children First for Oregon Staff:
Oregon KIDS COUNT Technical Advisory Team:
Anne Stone, Interim Executive Director
Mark Eddy, Ph.D., Oregon Social Learning Center
Rosemary Yuska, Public Education Director
Dan Harris, Ph.D., Health Resources Commission
Tonia Hunt, KIDS COUNT Project Manager
Carol Metzler, Ph.D., Oregon Research Institute
Suzanne Kunse, Public Education Associate
Jennifer Woodward, Ph.D., Oregon Health Division
About Children First for Oregon:
Children First for Oregon is a statewide non-profit,
non-partisan advocacy organization for children and
families. Through public education, community outreach,
and public policy analysis we work to make children
Oregon's top priority. Generous support by the
Annie E. Casey Foundation allows Children First for Oregon
to provide comprehensive information about the
well-being of children in the state.
Children First for Oregon
921 SW Morrison, Suite 418
Portland, Oregon 97205
800.544.0376
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: 503.294.1806
Email: [email protected]
Graphic Design: Jeffrey Smith and Stephanie Leritz, Jeffrey Smith Marketing Communications, Inc.
Photographs: C. Bruce Forster
KlONTENT5
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
5
CHILD CARE AND EARLY EDUCATION
6
FAMILY WELL-BEING
9
HEALTH
11
COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS
12
14
OTHER MEASURES OF CHILD WELL-BEING
18
DATA SOURCES
19
DATA NOTES
STATEWIDE INDICATORS
21
22
COUNTY INDICATORS
5
XECUTIVE
Oregon
has approximately 350,000 children under the
1999
SUMMARY
age of eight. Each of these children is a bundle of potential
Status of
for themselves and for the state. Choices made by their
families, their communities, and the citizens of Oregon
Oregon's
will all impact the future these children face.
Young
The life of young children is made up of relatively small
Children
spheres of influence. This 1999 Data Book considers four
key areas of well-being for young children:
Children's own personal health is primary to the well-being of young children.
Health
Children live as part of families and the stability and well-being of
Family Well-Being
those families determines the stability and well-being of young children.
A large portion of Oregon's youngest residents spend a
Child Care and Early Education
considerable amount of time in formal child care and education settings. The
quality and care in those settings contributes to or detracts from the quality of life
for young children.
The localities where children live play a significant role in their
Community Investments
well-being. Communities have the opportunity to make families' and children's
lives easier through meaningful investments.
In the last ten years, we have
learned more than ever
before about the develop-
4,
eq;
ment of our children's brains.
L'.
We now know that the
;4,
number of connections
between brain cells grows the
most during the first year of
life. The amount of
connections that are formed
and retained is directly
linked to the experiences of
children and the
environment in which they
live. Those children who have positive stimulation in their
Babies who are
early years have the capacity and foundation to succeed in
school and life. Children who do not have that positive
held and played
stimulation are challenged to overcome this deficit for
with regularly
years to come.
develop brains
As we consider the well-being of Oregon's youngest
that are
residents, Children First for Oregon encourages our leaders,
20-30% larger
policy makers, and citizens to see the opportunity and
responsibility these young lives hold. We want to ensure
than those who
that Oregon lives up to this responsibility in order to fully
aren't.
realize the potential of our next generation of Oregonians
and to improve the livability of our state.
5
6
Child Care and Early Education
Children with
Early care and education begins at birth
or even sooner. Every event, spoken word, and touch
Disabilities
contributes to what our youngest children know and to
their view of the world. All interaction with parents and
Families who have children with
child care providers has a long-lasting impact on children's
disabilities face significant obstacles in
finding and maintaining child care and
capacities to learn and grow.
early education settings. Finding care
providers who are willing and able
to accommodate a child with special
In Oregon a large percentage of parents
needs can be an insurmountable task
rely on child care to provide security, care,
for families in Oregon. Families are
often left with the difficult choice of
and early education for at least a portion
an inadequate care setting or no care
of their children's time. It is estimated that
at all due to their child's needs.
0
Many children with disabilities
more than 200,000 children in Oregon,
require little or no special
36% of all children under age 13, spend an average of 26.5
accomodation in child care. When
adaptations are needed, some care
hours each week with a paid child care provider.
providers make the necessary
adjustments to accept children who
have special needs. These accom-
The form of child care and early education used by parents
modations may include special
depends on parents' preference, availability, and cost.
training, equipment, or extra staff.
Unfortunately, many providers believe
caring for a child with disabilities would
Child care and early education for young
Child Care Use by Setting, 1998
be too expensive or risky, or infringe on
the care of other children in the
children can be a significant expense for
Center 45%
provider's care. In reality, these
families. In general a family with a
concerns can often be addressed with
In Home 27%
adequate information and support to
toddler in full-time center care will spend
Family Child Care 13%
the provider. More training and
more than $6,500 per year, more than
resources are needed to help providers
Relative's Home 7%
the full-time annual resident tuition for a
and families make quality care possible
for Oregon children with disabilities.
state university in Oregon. In 1998, 30%
One such resource is the Inclusive
Group Activity 3%
of families with children in care spent
Child Care Project of the Oregon
Developmental Disabilities Council.
Other 5%
more than a tenth of their income on
This project works to make child care
accessible to families of children with
child care. Cost of care varies by the type of
Child Care Cost
special needs by providing subsidies for
child care, quality of care, and region of the
by Area, 1998
any extra care or equipment required.
Centers
state.
In the last year, this help has been
Family Child Care
provided to 18 low and middle income
$800
families in Marion, Polk, or Yamhill
$600
Quality care and education for young
counties or tribal members living in the
$400
service areas of the Confederated Tribes
children is an important investment in the
$200
of Grand Ronde or Confederated Tribes
future of children. We have no adequate
of Siletz.
o o
o
00
o o
Young children with disabilities are
d
O O
method to estimate the quality of care for
o
'4 8
I,
also eligible to receive special services
"Cr
n '1
Btr,
4.9
e41.
young children in Oregon. National studies
before they enter school through the
A
C
Oregon Department of Education's
have estimated that more than 60% of child
Early Intervention Services and Early
Area A: Portland,
care was poor or only fair in quality.
Childhood Special Education. These
Eugene, Corvallis,
two programs combined serve pre-
Monmouth, Ashland
Another national study of family child care
school age children with needed
Area B: Salem,
providers labeled only 9% of those settings
Bend, Medford,
services such as assessments to
Roseburg, Brookings
determine level of need, parent
studied to be of good quality.
and areas outside
education and support, physical,
metro Eugene and
occupational, and speech therapy,
Portland
vision and hearing services,
Area C: Remainder
State regulations regarding health and safety
of state including
augmentative communication
standards and provider training are
most rural areas of
assistance and assistive technology.
western and eastern
In December of 1998, 6,018 children
important first steps to ensuring a
Oregon
in Oregon were served through these
minimum quality of care for children.
programs. Nearly 2.8% of children age
Cost of full time core of a
toddler at 7396 of market
0-5 are now provided some additional
Traditionally Oregon has had very little
rate. Source: Adult &Family
Services, 1998
support to get ready for school through
oversight of family child care settings. Many
Early Intervention Services and Early
care providers in Oregon remain non-
Childhood Spetial Education.
Child Care Settings
registered and those providers that do
register are asked to meet only basic
El
standards. A substantial number of
providers are exempt from all
standards due to caring for less than
Certified Centers
four children. Previous requirements
care for more than 10 children
for registered child care providers
located in a building,
not a home
included an agreement to follow
yearly inspection
health and safety standards with no
meets local building, health,
inspection for compliance and
fire, safety codes
background checks for all
criminal background checks. The 1999
employees
Legislature expanded these
training required
requirements to include basic training
such as CPR and child abuse detection.
On-site reviews will be required of all
newly registered family child care
providers as of 2000 due to state
legislative action.
Certified Group Homes
care for more than 10 children
located in a home
A 1998 Adult and Family Services
yearly inspection
survey of child care providers who
meets local health, safety codes
background checks for all
serve low-income families and those
employees
transitioning off welfare reports varying degrees of training
training required
in child development and basic health and safety. Center
providers were most likely to report training in health and
safety practices (74%) and child development (65%).
Sensory
Registered 6mily child care providers were almost twice as
stimulation
likely to report completing this training compared to
unregistered family child care providers. Of registered
for infants is
Registered Family
family child care providers, 59% had completed basic
Child Care
equivalent to
care for less than 10 children
health and safety training while only 23% of unregistered
located in a home
food for the
providers had completed this training. Thirty-six percent of
inspection of new providers only
must agree to meet health and
registered providers had received training in child
brain.
safety standards
development compared to 19% of unregistered family child
background checks for provider
and other adults in home
care providers.
Violations of minimum child care standards are another
important way to review quality of care in Oregon.
Unfortunately, the Oregon Child Care Division's capacity
Exempt Providers
to investigate and respond to complaints has been severely
care for less than 4 children
or preschool program for no
limited due to staff and budget constraints. From July
more than 4 hours a day
through October of 1999 there were a total of 162
(no infants or toddlers)
programs operated by school
complaints against child care providers. All 31 complaints
districts
against certified facilities were investigated and 14 were
no regulations or inspections
found to be valid. Of the 131 complaints against family
child care providers during this period, only 26 were
investigated, of which 11 were found to be valid. Increased
budget allocations during the 1999 Legislative Session will
allow the Child Care Division to investigate more
complaints in the future.
Early Education Outcomes
Early care and education
are the foundation on which all later learning is built.
Alcohol, drugs,
Whether or not a child enters kindergarten ready to learn
improper diet or
is one of the first signs of this
Readiness to Learn
foundation's strength. A statewide
physical abuse can
Percent of kindergarteners ready to learn by area
survey of kindergarteners in 1997 found
cause changes in the
that 58% percent of these children were
Physical Well-Being 91%
r,
fully ready to learn in all areas.
womb that interfere
Language Usage 87%
c
:E
Approach Learning 87%
with the precise timing
Children in Oregon showed the least
cc
General Knowledge 82%
readiness in the area of being able to sit
of brain development.
Sitting Still 78%
still while they were strongest in
Take Turns/Shares 87%
physical well-being. Preschool was an
80% 90% 100%
70%
important factor in children's readiness
to learn. Sixty-four percent of children who had preschool
experience were considered fully ready while 51% of
Areas of Readiness to
Learn are defined by
children without preschool were considered ready to
children who have the
following characteristics:
learn.
Physical Well-Being:
appear healthy, rested,
Oregon does offer preschool to its most at-risk three and
well-nourished and who
are immunized.
four year-olds in order to capitalize on these benefits of
early education. The Oregon Head Start Prekindergarten,
Language Usage: readily
communicate needs, wants
with federal and state funding, provides preschool
and thoughts, initiate and
sustain a conversation, and
education, family support, and child health and
tell about a picture when
looking at it.
developmental services to three-and four-
year-olds from families at or below the poverty level.
This
Approaches Toward
Learning: enthusiastic and
comprehensive model of education and support for
interested, curious,
.
confidence that they will
children and families has been proven to be one of the
succeed and adults will help.
best prevention models for young children and
Cognition and General
It has been estimated that for every dollar
Knowledge: follow
their families.
directions, solve problems
spent on quality preschool, more than seven dollars are
Head Start
in everyday life, basic
knowledge.
saved in averted special education, crime, welfare, and
Children &
Motor Development: age-
other costs.
appropriate fine motor skills
and large motor skills.
Families
Unfortunately Oregon Head Start Prekindergarten is not
Social/Emotional
available to more than half the children estimated to need
Development: sit still, take
turns and share, form and
60% of Head Start
these services in the state. Currently, funding has been
maintain friendships
PreKindergarten families
allocated to serve only an estimated 47% of eligible
make less than $12,000
per year
children. A small but growing Early Headstart program is
48% of families are two parent
serving pregnant women and children age 0-3 in a few
families
Oregon communitites.
52% of families have at least one
parent employed full-time
40% of children are minorities
As children progress in their elementary education, other
22% use a dominant language
assessments offer clues as to the strength of their early
other than English
education experience. Third grade reading and math
21% of children were identified as
needing medical treatment
proficiency are indicators of how well Oregon's children
37% of children were identified as
understand key concepts as well as how prepared they are
needing dental treatment
to build upon those concepts for future learning. Of
25% of children were not up-to-
date for immunizations
Oregon's third graders in 1999, 37% met and 44%
16% of children were exposed to
exceeded standards for reading while 41% met and 29%
drugs and/or alcohol in utero
exceeded standards for math.
18% of children had diagnosed
disabilities
Family Well-being
Family life is the primary way young children learn about
their world. There is no greater asset for a young child
The number of
than a supportive, stable, stimulating, and loving home
brain connections
environment. The security offered by healthy parents or
developed from
primary caregivers makes cognitive growth, physical
development, and emotional well-being possible for young
birth to age 12
children.
can vary by 25%
There are no easy measurements available to assess the
or more depend-
well-being of the families in which young children live.
A few indicators give us an idea of the stability of these
ing on a child's
families including poverty and the divorce rate among
environment.
marriages with children. In 1998, 16% of children in
Oregon lived below the federal poverty level ($13,880
annually for a family of three). In different regions of
Oregon, child poverty ranges between 11% and 26%. The
total number of Oregon children living in poverty is over
130,000.
Childhood Poverty by Region, 1998
Clatsop, Columbia, Lincoln, Tillamook 16%
Clackamas, Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill 11%
Benton, lane, Linn, Marion, Polk 15%
Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine 26%
Gilliam, Hood River, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Wasco, Wheeler 24%
Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson 19%
Grant, Hamey, Klamath, Lake 20%
Baker, Malheur, Union, Wallowa 23%
30%
20%
0%
10%
Oregon's divorce rate among families contributes to the
instability children face in their home lives. In 1998 there
were a total of 15,234 divorces recorded. Of these divorces
at least 7,613 involved children. At least 13,812 children's
parents divorced, or 1.7 percent of all children in Oregon.
A family's preparedness for children is another way to
consider the well-being of families with young children.
Mothers who have children while still in their teens, before
completing a high school education, or outside of marriage
all face significant obstacles to success. The young children
in these families will be impacted by these obstacles.
Births for 1996-98
Family Risk Factors
Unmarried Mother 29%
Mother with less than 12 years education 21%
Teen Mother (less than 20 years old) 5%
30%
20%
0%
10%
9
10