Oregon Public Broadcasting

A new report on conditions for children in Oregon gives the state a grade of 'D' overall.  It shows slight improvements in child care rates and child abuse. But as Rob Manning reports, there are also many persistent trouble spots.

The status of children report from Children First for Oregon rates how kids are doing on a number of measures.

Oregon's poor overall score is mostly due to low grades for child welfare and health.

Cathy Kaufmann with Children First says the ‘F’ for health is the most egregious problem.

Cathy Kaufmann: “We’ve got 116,000 kids throughout the state who still have no health insurance. As the economy weakens, we can expect that number to rise.”

Kaufmann says she’s hoping lawmakers will agree that further spending on insuring and educating children is a priority, even as tax revenues tighten next year.

The Children’s First report did find some improvements. Fewer children were abused last year, and more families were able to afford child care.