 |
|
|
July 22, 2003 Contact: Patricia Feeny (503) 945-6955 State releases annual status of abused and neglected children report Report indicates increase in services to Oregon's teenagers The Oregon Department of Human Services today released its annual Status of Children in Oregon's Child Protection System report. While there are no big surprises - slight increases in neglect and threat of harm, as well as a slight increase in substantiated cases - one area of note is what is happening to teenagers in state care. Of the more than 13,000 children served in foster care in 2002, teens represented 29.1 percent of this population. This is an increase of 5 percent over the previous year. "This speaks to the fact that abuse and neglect of teens does occur, is being reported and requires that we address the needs of this population with appropriate intervention and services," said Ramona Foley, an assistant director of the department. "Granted, our most vulnerable population and our highest victim count are represented by children under the age of 6. But a child can be unsafe, regardless of the child's age." In 2002, there were 8,424 founded child abuse and neglect victims, a 2.3 percent increase from the previous year. State officials say the statistics in this year's report reflect the fact that the problems of Oregon's families cut across systems - substance abuse treatment, employment, law enforcement, justice, housing and mental health. The three major stress indicators in families with founded child abuse or neglect reports are substance abuse, involvement with law enforcement and head of family unemployed. "The ultimate lesson we learn from this report is that we cannot meet our goals of child protection and permanence alone," Foley said "We must continue to find ways for our various systems to work together in the best interest of our children and families." For the second consecutive year, more children exited foster care than entered. On any given day, there were more than 6,000 children in family foster care and another 650 in residential treatment. And while most of those - 60 percent - were reunited with their families, others pursued alternative permanency plans, including adoption. Oregon finalized 1,118 adoptions in 2002, an increase of 4.4 percent over the previous year. To access the full report online, click here and go to the "Hot topics" section. |
|
