Oregon Children At Risk

Between 2001 and 2010, almost half a million children were born in Oregon. Over 2% of these children entered the foster care system before age four. Many of these children were at foreseeable risk. P4P research and modeling has identified key characteristics of children and their families that predict the likelihood of childhood abuse and neglect. Children without these characteristics are at much lower risk.

Children Born at Elevated Risk of Abuse and Neglect

Source: ECONorthwest and CEbP analysis of Oregon DHS Data. Data shown include all children born in Oregon between 2001 and 2010. Comparison population is all children born with none of these predictive factors. These are not all possible predictive factors, but they exerted the strongest influence on the chances of maltreatment and were confirmed in the literature review.

These data show all children born in Oregon between 2001 and 2010. Children with predictive factors are at much higher risk of maltreatment and entering foster care than children with none of these factors.

Oregon Children 00,000,000

Select and unselect any combination of the following P4P predictive factors:

LEARN ABOUT THE PREDICTIVE FACTORS

Poverty

Impoverished families often struggle to meet basic needs and have difficulties accessing public services. They are also at elevated risk of a case of childhood abuse or neglect. Our data identify families in poverty as having participated in SNAP, TANF, or WIC two years before the child was born.

31%
31% of children born with a poverty predictive factor.

Almost one third of children born in Oregon between 2001 and 2010 were born into poverty conditions predicting maltreatment and foster care entry.

9%

9% of children born into poverty in Oregon are over 80 times more likely to experience maltreatment and enter foster care relative to children with no predictive factors.

Parental education

Our risk-factor literature research found 4 out of 4 high quality studies focusing on children age six or younger that established a strong link between mothers who have not completed secondary education and a child's risk of entry into foster care. Our data identify children born to mothers who did not complete high school at the time of birth.

20%
20% of children born with a P4P parental education predictive factor.

One fifth of children born in Oregon between 2001 and 2010 were born to mothers who didn't graduate high school, predicting maltreatment and foster care entry.

8%

8% of children born to mothers who didn't complete high school in Oregon are over 80 times more likely to experience maltreatment and enter foster care relative to children with no predictive factors.

Parental Substance Abuse

Our data identify children born to mothers who were enrolled in an Oregon DHS substance use program up to two years prior to birth.

4%
4% of children born to a mother who accessed DHS substance use programs.

Four percent of children born in Oregon between 2001 and 2010 were born to a mother who accessed DHS substance use programs, predicting maltreatment and foster care entry.

53%

More than half of children born to a mother dealing with substance abuse issues in Oregon are over 80 times more likely to experience maltreatment and enter foster care relative to children with no predictive factors.

Parental Criminal Activity

Our data identify children born to mothers who had been sentenced for a violent or non-violent crime two years prior to birth.

2%
2% of children born to a parent with a predictive factor of criminal behavior.

Two percent of children born in Oregon between 2001 and 2010 were born to a parent who was sentenced for a crime in Oregon two years prior to birth.

52%

More than half of children born in Oregon to a parent with a history of criminal activity are over 80 times more likely to experience maltreatment and enter foster care relative to children with no predictive factors.


Parental Mental Health

Our data identify children born to mothers who accessed Oregon DHS mental health support services.

4%
4% of children born to a parent with a P4P mental health predictive factor.

Four percent of children born in Oregon between 2001 and 2010 were born to a mother dealing with mental health issues.

36%

A little over one third of children born in Oregon to a parent dealing with mental health issues are over 80 times more likely to experience maltreatment and enter foster care relative to children with no predictive factors.

Family Stability

Our data identify children born to mothers who were not married at the time of birth or the father was not identified.

30%
30% of children born with a family instability predictive factor.

Almost one third of children born in Oregon between 2001 and 2010 were born into unstable family conditions.

8%

8% of children born into unstable family conditions in Oregon are over 80 times more likely to experience maltreatment and enter foster care relative to children with no predictive factors.