Director's Message

Children with post-traumatic stress

A new statistic released nationally this week pertaining to abused and neglected children is startling -- but not entirely unexpected.

The Casey Family Programs report that as many as 25 percent of foster children nationwide suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, which is twice the rate of U.S. war veterans. This stress comes from a variety of factors -- the abuse and neglect suffered at the hands of parents, the separation from families, and the uncertainty that results from being away from home -- to name a few.

Childhood should be a time of happiness and security, but for too many children it is a time of tragedy and suffering, as this new statistic indicates.

At any one time in Oregon, there are approximately 7,069 children in the state's care due to abuse and neglect issues. We are working hard in the department to find ways to provide better supports to families and provide parents with the skills and resources they need, so that these children don't come into our care in the first place.

Finding ways to support families

Every April, we recognize National Child Abuse Prevention Month - a time to re-focus our attention on children and urge everyone to help ensure their health, safety and well being.

If we can identify a family's needs earlier, including the stressors that contribute to child abuse and neglect such as drug addiction and economic hardships, we have a better chance of these children not coming into foster care later.

It is all of our responsibility -- not just that of those who are considered mandatory reporters -- to know the warning signs of child abuse and neglect and act accordingly. If you suspect a child is being abused, don't assume it is someone else's job to make a report. More information on child abuse reporting.

By taking the first step to help identify those children in need, you are assisting with the rebuilding process -- where we can begin to reach out to a family in crisis -- and help prevent yet another child from becoming a statistic.

Helping children stay healthy

Portland resident Melanie Parker hasn't taken for granted the health care help she has received through the department for her two young sons.

They wouldn't be getting regular vaccinations, check-ups and needed medical care if it weren't for the children's coverage through the Oregon Health Plan. "It's peace of mind that our children aren't suffering health-wise because of our income level," Parker says.

Oregon is following the federal government's lead in trying to reach out to more children and teens up to age 19 who aren't already insured. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 created the new children's health insurance program nationally.

Here in Oregon, coverage is now available for children in households with incomes up to 185 percent of the federal poverty level, through the Oregon Health Plan.

Governor Kulongoski has made access to health care for children a priority and pilot outreach programs have been started in Hood River and Lincoln counties - where large numbers of children in low-income households were estimated to be uninsured. The department has been working diligently with community partners to increase access to health care for these children.

Growing numbers of those in need

Of the estimated 609,000 Oregonians without health insurance in 2004, 105,000 are children under the age of 18. These numbers have been growing over the past few years, with the 2004 Oregon Population Survey showing that the overall number of uninsured Oregonians has increased from 14 percent in 2002 to 17 percent in 2004.

We all know that healthy children do better in school and have more opportunities to continue their education, and eventually become successful taxpaying citizens.

You don't have to convince Melanie Parker of that fact. As her family begins to work its way back to a better life, she says she won't forget the help that came to her when she needed it most.

She even wrote the department a letter thanking us for being there for her children. "Be assured that I will always remember what it was like when I needed help," Parker wrote. "I realized how much I appreciated these services that have allowed me to parent in a way I'm proud of."

Thank you for your kindness

Many of you have sent me notes and emails since it was announced earlier this week that I will be leaving the department -- once the agency's budget has been set. I want to thank you for all of the kind words and thoughts that you have sent my way. While I will not be able to personally respond to every one of these messages, I want you to know how much these mean to me.

Food for thought

"Change is the law of life and those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future."

-John F. Kennedy

This message is intended for all department employees. Please read it electronically, if possible. Managers and supervisors are asked to share the message each week with employees who do not have email access.

If you have a disability and need this message to be provided to you in another format, please send an email to dhs.forms@state.or.us, or call (503) 947-5107. You can also fax your request to (503) 373-7690, or call (503) 947-5080 for TTY service. If you know of others who need this accommodation, please let them know it is available.