PORTLAND, Oregon — Children First for Oregon today released 2018 County Data: Child Well-Being in Oregon, a resource measuring child well-being in all of Oregon’s 36 counties across a range of indicators.
The report highlights positive trends for Oregon children overall, with improvements in child poverty, food insecurity, and children with health insurance. The childhood poverty rate in Oregon dropped over three points in 2016, with all counties showing progress in this indicator. However, many counties continue to struggle with high rates of uninsured children, children in foster, and childhood poverty.
“The data show that financial stability continues to be out of reach for too many families in Oregon and those impacts reverberate throughout children’s lives,” said Children First for Oregon’s KIDS COUNT Coordinator and Policy Analyst Tab Dansby. “Food insecurity and homelessness affect graduation rates, and housing instability can lead to interaction with the foster care system. Childhood poverty can undermine future success for kids.”
Children First for Oregon publishes the County Data Book annually to provide child advocates, service providers, and decision-makers with the information needed to better serve their communities and create strong children’s policies. The report ranks Oregon counties across 21 indicators within five domains of child well-being: Health, Child Welfare, Financial Stability, Early Childhood Education, and Youth Development and Education.
About 2018 County Data: Child Well-Being in Oregon
Children First for Oregon publishes Oregon county data annually to educate decision-makers, giving them the information needed to create strong children’s policies in Oregon. The report includes data on statewide trends and indicators by county for family supports, health, child welfare, financial stability, early education and youth development and education. To access the full report, click here. This report is a product of the KIDS COUNT Oregon initiative at Children First for Oregon and is made possible by a generous grant from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
