Oregon Fact Sheet

Quick two-page fact sheet on child abuse and neglect

New Hope for Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect in Oregon

Child Abuse News

Too many of Oregon's police chiefs, sheriffs, district attorneys, and other police leaders are arresting or prosecuting adults who they first met as victims of child abuse and neglect. In 2005 over 11,000 Oregon children were confirmed as abused or neglected, nearly a 40 percent increase over the past five years - and 18 of our most vulnerable citizens lost their lives due to abuse. Though most abused or neglected children grow up to be productive adults, research shows that kids are nearly one-third more likely to be arrested for violent crimes later in life due to the abuse they endured. Fight Crime: Invest in Kids estimates that in Oregon alone, child abuse and neglect produces 360 new criminals yearly. The tragedy is that we can prevent most child abuse and neglect and reduce future crime. In-home parent coaching programs have been shown to cut child abuse and neglect in half. The programs, such as Oregon's Healthy Start, provide a range of support to at-risk mothers before their child is born and through the earliest years. Nurses or other trained professionals help parents manage stress, understand newborn health and nutrition needs, identify early warning signs, make their home child-safe, teach practical steps to avoid hurting their kids and more. The program also saves as much as $4 for every $1 dollar invested. Yet, due to under-funding, less than 45% of Oregon's first time mothers are being helped. In 2006, the Healthy Start budget was reduced by $4 million dollars, leaving more at-risk children and families without services. When we know we can prevent abuse and neglect we must increase rather than decrease funding to prevent crime and protect kids.

When kids are seriously abused and neglected, they need the protection of foster care. Research shows that leaving kids in dangerous homes where they face continuing abuse and neglect increases the risk by 27 percent that they will become violent criminals. Four out of 10 children who are seriously abused and neglected and left in their homes, but later need to be placed in foster care because of further abuse, commit violent crimes when they grow up.

Members of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Oregon released a report detailing the link between child abuse and neglect and crime in Oregon. We inform lawmakers of the value of in-home parent coaching and quality foster care in saving lives, saving money, and cutting crime.

Reports

All Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Oregon reports on child abuse and neglect prevention, in-home parent coaching and foster care:

"It is simply wrong to abandon America's commitment to provide safe foster homes to children when we know that both their lives and our public safety are threatened. Oregon law enforcement leaders are counting on our senators and representatives to ensure abused and neglected children get safe foster homes."

-Robert Wolfe, Polk County Sheriff and President of the Oregon State Sheriff's Association

Membership Info >

• A poor mother who had been abused or neglected as a child is 13 times more likely to abuse or neglect her children than mothers who were not abused.
• Children of mothers not in an in-home parent coaching program had more than twice as many arrests as the children of mothers who received services.