It was Thursday morning and my husband graciously took some time off of work to watch our four children so I could go enjoy a cup of coffee alone. Seated comfortably at an outdoor table at Panera, I took my first sip and felt gratitude for this new day. I was ready to begin my reading.
In front of me sat the 2019 Child Welfare Data book and a nice thick packet from the Secretary of State Audits division for the Department of Human Services. Although this was not my usual summertime reading choice, I had dedicated this time to try to understand the foster care community a little better. Having friends who are foster parents and being a supporter of With Love since the its beginning, I was curious to see what exactly foster care and the needs looked like in the state of Oregon.
Numbers tell us a lot; lately, I feel like numbers dictate a lot about our well being and the world around us. So, ready or not, I was ready to dig in to some numbers, which proved to be quite disturbing and eye opening to me.
To begin, in 2019, 89,451 total screen reports were reviewed of suspected child abuse.
From those investigations, 10,887 children spent at least one day in some kind of foster care.
42% of were 5 years old and younger; neglect ranked as being the most common cause for removal from the home.
The Secretary of State document was equally filled with numbers and statistics; it sought to explain how Oregon could effectively use family services to limit foster care and keep children safely at home. However, the unforeseen months of COVID has affected these programs and services. During COVID, DHS had to reduce in-person visits between children in foster care and their parents and providers.
Domestic violence calls to crisis lines spiked amid stay at home orders and job losses. At the same time, reports to Oregon’s Child abuse hotline dropped dramatically amid school closures, raising concerns that abuse could go unreported; 20% of calls to the hotline come from school personnels. Funding for Child Welfare and other government programs will fall because of the slow economy and reduced state tax collections.
In May 2020 the Governor requested that DHS and other agencies prepare to make cuts for the 2021 fiscal year. DHS outlined $65.9 million in cuts to Child Welfare, more than a third of the total budget increase for the current biennium.
As I read through all these number and statistics and thought about the uncertainty of the future and COVID’s impact on the economy and the United States, it made me realize just how vital With Love’s resources and support are in this season.
More than ever, With Love is serving the community and continuing to fill the gap with resources and support. Recently being able to open up donations again, the community can now fill these material needs once again. www.WithLoveOregon.org gives direction as to what is being requested and how people can contribute.
This season can be unsettling;
the future is uncertain:
With Love is working to be here through it all.
Thank you to all who continue to believe and support this vital resource to so many families and children!
