OCFW Policy Research & Recommendations

The OCFW provides Masters, PhD, and Law students with for-credit public policy internships addressing our strategic priorities.  The research is conducted jointly with state partners, and the Governor’s Office to study data, best practices, effective policies, literature review, analyze gaps, suggest remedies and produce reports used by the Advocacy Commissions and their partners to inform new policies, develop strategic approaches and craft bills that improve the success of women and girls statewide.

In 2014 and 2015 the OCFW partnered with the Oregon State Library Reference Division and the Department of Corrections (DOC) to compile data on incarcerated women in Oregon and the needs of this population and their families as a foundation for additional public policy research.  In 2015, the Commission hosted a research intern jointly with the Oregon Commission on Black Affairs to begin a legislative environmental scan and national literature/program review on effective policies for reuniting incarcerated women with their families following their time in corrections, reducing recidivism, and reducing behavioral issues in their children.  The study also draws implications for incarcerated men and their families.  During the summer and fall of 2015 the research is being reviewed by a reactor panel to consider next steps in further research and policy implications. See the full report by Emlyn Foxen, OCFW research intern.

2nd phase: the demographics of the sellers in Multnomah County

In 2014-15 the OCFW and other OAC’s partnered with the US Attorney’s Office and Dr. Christopher Carey of PSU’s Hatfield School on preliminary identification of perpetrator breakdown for sex trafficking of children in Multnomah County.  This is the 2nd phase of the first longitudinal study of the CSEC (commercial sexual exploitation of children) in the nation, designed to determine the demographics and history of the sellers of children for sex, their history of involvement with DHS and the Oregon Youth Authority (OYA), demographic profile, number of arrests for CSEC and other crimes, and other information helpful to understanding the nature of the CSEC trade through its perpetrators.  The time consuming research requires review of confidential databases maintained by the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office for individual offenders convicted of CSEC and cross referencing their information with DHS, OYA, and DOC databases.

The OCFW partners with the State Library Government Information and Library Services Division during the 2015 legislative session to provide equity focused data and reference information on bills of interest to the OCFW and other Advocacy Commissions.  The information guided the choice of supported bills by the OCFW and adds supporting information to the Commission’s testimony during short and long legislative sessions.

2017 – 2021: Gender disparity and its intersectionality with racial, LGBTQ, and other demographic disparities among Oregon School Superintendents and school and district administrators
In the fall of  2018 and into 2019 OCFW is partnering, by request, with the Oregon Department of Education (ODE), Confederation of Oregon School Administrators (COSA) and the Governor’s Office to conduct a quantitative and qualitative study of leadership pathways, hiring, retention, and compensation and recognition related to leadership diversity, pathways to upward mobility, and pay equity with urban/rural analysis, and best practice review, with related policy recommendations to the partners.

   

The Oregon Commission for Women initiated the next phase of their on-going policy interest regarding justice involved women with a planned report: The Status of Justice Involved Women in Oregon 1990 – 2020. The partnerships, planned to include DHS, DOC, and Counties will provide the literature review, best practices around reducing the number of incarcerated women and increasing the amount and effectiveness of mental health and behavioral health support for women, stakeholder engagement, and policy recommendations.