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click image for full size Other articles in Part 3 Working poor dominate poverty rolls Graphs: poverty rate trends; poverty and education; geographic area Suburbs thrive; cities, rural area fall behind Women and children most likely to be poor Most poor people don't stay that way Graphs: poverty rate by race, ethnicity; age; household Elders face poverty as they grow older Disability and chronic poverty Poverty and minorities Related links Center for the Study of Women in Society, University of Oregon Children's Defense Fund 1998 Oregon Profile Annie E. Casey Foundation/Kids Count Data

Oregon's children and poverty story by Carol Savonen Each year, the Annie E. Casey Foundation publishes the "Kids Count Data Book," considered to be one of the most complete measurements of child well-being in the nation. It measures the quality of children's lives by examining such trends as poverty, crime and health. The 1999 Data Book shows the relative well-being of Oregon's children is slipping in some areas. For example: *In 1999, Oregon ranked 29th nationally in child well-being, down from its 1998 ranking of 23rd. Many children's advocates are alarmed at this statistic as Oregon has a relatively robust economy. *The national high school dropout rate fell by 9 percent nationally from 1985 to 1996, while Oregon's dropout rate rose by 33 percent over the same time period. *Thirty-three percent of Oregon's children live with parents who do not have full-time employment compared to the national average of 30 percent. *Oregon lags behind the national average in the 2-year old child immunization rate: Oregon's 73 percent versus 78 percent nationally. *Nationally, the death rate for children ages 1-14 dropped from 34 to 26 children per 100,000, but Oregon's rate has remained at 29 over the past decade. On the other hand, Oregon children fare better than average in other indicators of well-being. The 1999 Annie E. Casey report found that Oregon ranks better than the national average in the percent of low weight babies; the infant mortality rate; the rate of teen death by accident, homicide or suicide; the teen birth rate and the percentage of children in poverty (17 percent in 1996 compared to a national average of 20 percent). Some myths of teenage welfare mothers Myth: Welfare encourages teen childbearing. Reality: Research suggests that teenage childbearing by low income teenage mothers is influenced by several factors, including employment opportunities, school performance, self-esteem, childhood abuse, and sexual pressures and coercion by adults. In 1994, studies by seventy-six researchers in the areas of poverty, labor and family structure found that the availability of welfare does not significantly increase births outside of marriage. Myth: There is an epidemic of teen mothers in the United States. Reality: Teen births have been declining in the United States over the last 30 years from 90 births per 1,000 females aged 15-19 in 1955 to 56.9 in 1995. Myth: Most welfare recipients are teen mothers. Reality: In 1995, only 6 percent of female welfare recipients were under 20 years old. Myth: Most welfare recipients are able-bodied adults who have fallen into dependency and do not want to work. Reality: Children are the main recipients of welfare. In 1995, 69 percent of Aid to Families with Dependent Children recipients were children.   Article 7 of 10 in Part 3   back to top

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