Eek! We got a D!

As you may have read in today's Oregonian, Children First for Oregon gave us a D on our 2007 report card.  Ouch!  And we didn't improve from last year, either.  In fact, according to The Oregonian, this is the lowest score in 16 years.  Yikes.  The low score is driven by bad performance on prenatal health care, children's health coverage, and child abuse.  Not good news, mamas. But usually there's more to the picture than hits the headlines, right?

Right.  So... let's take a closer look at the report card, and then see how we can help.  The first notable thing is that, despite the D (for depressing?), there's some good news, too.  Here's what the report's authors say about some key areas:

• Half of the 28 indicators have shown progress over the past 12 months.  The lackluster grade can mostly be attributed to the use of stricter 2010 benchmark targets to calculate the grades. 
• The most dramatic developments were in the Family Financial Stability and Youth Development and Education categories, where 12 out of the 14 indicators (86 percent) showed improvement.
• Despite the disappointing grade of “F” in Early Care and Education, investments made by the 2007 State Legislature will improve that category’s grade as the data begins to catch up with the renewed financial commitment
• One major concern is that the Child Welfare indicators continue to move in the wrong direction (this includes abuse and foster care).

Wanna Raise our Score?  One effective way is to see that pro-child legislators are elected.  It's super easy to figure out who they are by learning how your legislators are voting on issues that affect children.  A huge thanks to Stand for Children for creating a 2007 legislative scorecard (a report card for legislators - if we get one, they get one!) so we can quickly see how the good folks in Salem are voting on then legislation that afects our kids.  Don't know your legislator???  No worries, it's easy to find out.

Check out the score card - see who should stay and who might need to, er, go.  There a few standouts with A+ voting scores (including my guy in the House!), and a bunch who got special recognition for championing kids in the 2007 legislative session. 

You can also work for change by joining forces with Stand for Children or Children First for Oregon.  Both organizations can use volunteers!  And shoot, mamas, Stand is based here in Portland, you could even work there!!  Wonder if they have parent-friendly work options???  One would think so.

Comments

[Sean]

Children First is based in Portland too!

[Lisa]

So true, Sean! Sorry not to have noted that. So, Activistas, you can work for them, too! Though no openings at present. Convenient for volunteering, though...

[Cathy Kaufmann]

And voting yes on Ballot Measure 50, the Healthy Kids Initiative, is the best thing Oregon Mamas and Dadas can do to help lift the failing health grade! Measure 50 will provide health insurance to 100,000 uninsured kids and prevent thousands of kids from ever becoming smokers.