Eastern Oregon Regional Profile. April 2011

Transcription

1 Eastern Oregon Regional Profile April 2011

2 2011 Eastern Oregon Regional Profile Each Oregon community has its own character and special needs. OCF s leadership councils represent eight regions: Central Oregon, Eastern Oregon, North Coast, Northern Willamette Valley, Metropolitan Portland, South Coast, Southern Oregon, and Southern Willamette Valley. Leadership council volunteers assist OCF with understanding and responding to distinctive local needs and are catalysts for informed civic action and philanthropic leadership in Oregon. OCF staff members have drafted a 2011 Regional Profile for each of the eight leadership councils in order to provide information on some key indicators of community health. These Regional Profiles paint a snapshot picture of each region s community strengths and needs, including economic indicators, indicators of child and family well-being, education data, youth risk behavior and crime statistics, and information about community civic engagement. It is our hope that this information will provide a context for leadership council discussion of the implications, opportunities, and priorities for OCF civic engagement and philanthropy in their communities. 1

3 Regional Population The Oregon Community Foundation s Eastern Oregon Region includes Baker, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Malheur, Morrow, Umatilla, Union, and Wallowa Counties, with a total population of 183,315. Umatilla County, with 72,720 residents, is the most populous county, while Gilliam County has less than 2,000 residents. Several of the region s counties have substantially larger Hispanic populations than the state as a whole: while 10.6% of the state population is Hispanic, nearly 20% of Umatilla County s population and approximately 30% of Malheur and Morrow Counties populations are Hispanic. 1 All but two of the region s counties have more elderly residents than the statewide population. 2 Wallowa County has the oldest population in the region, with 31% of the population aged 60 or older. Eastern Region Population County Total Population % Caucasian % Hispanic % Any Other Race/ Ethnicity % Under age 20 % Over age 59 Baker 16, % 3.6% 3.3% 24.0% 28.3% Gilliam 1, % 6.6% 4.8% 18.4% 25.5% Grant 7, % 2.7% 4.0% 22.1% 29.4% Harney 7, % 4.4% 7.2% 25.2% 23.5% Malheur 31, % 27.8% 5.6% 28.7% 19.7% Morrow 12, % 30.2% 3.7% 31.5% 17.8% Umatilla 72, % 18.9% 6.7% 29.2% 18.0% Union 25, % 3.3% 5.4% 27.3% 21.1% Wallowa 7, % 2.3% 2.6% 20.8% 31.2% Oregon 3,844, % 10.6% 9.2% 25.8% 18.5% United States 307,006, % 15.8% 19.1% 27.2% 18.0% 2

4 Income & Poverty Median incomes in all Eastern Oregon Region counties are below the state median of $60,000: the median family income in the region s counties ranges from $41,000 in Wallowa County to $52,000 in Umatilla County. More Eastern Oregon children are living in poverty with 22% of the region s children living in poverty compared to 17% of children statewide. However, there is variability among the region s counties in terms of child poverty. While Gilliam and Grant have child poverty rates just below the state average, child poverty rates in the remaining Eastern Oregon counties are higher than the state average. 3 Percent of Children Living in Poverty OR & US averages: 17% & 18% The region s average 2010 unemployment rate was 10.6%, mirroring the statewide unemployment rate, but this average regional rate masks marked differences between counties. Grant, Harney, and Wallowa Counties had unemployment rates that were substantially higher than the statewide rate, while the remaining Eastern Oregon Region counties had rates at or below the statewide rate. Indeed, Harney County s unemployment rate was the second highest in the state in Over the course of 2010, half of the Eastern Oregon counties saw an increase in unemployment, while the remaining counties saw no change or slight decreases in unemployment. Most counties lost construction and trade jobs over the course of the year and some saw losses in leisure and hospitality and financial services jobs. Several counties saw increases in professional and business service jobs and health and education jobs. 3

5 2010 Unemployment Rate OR average: 10.6% US average: 9.6% Child & Family Well-Being The percent of women receiving first trimester prenatal care in the region is lower than the state as a whole (75% for the region and 78% for the state), but there are marked differences within the region, with Gilliam, Grant, Harney, and Wallowa Counties having higher first trimester prenatal care rates than the state average and the remaining counties having rates lower than the state average. Indeed, in Malheur County, just 53% of pregnant women receive first trimester prenatal care. The percent of women receiving first trimester prenatal care statewide and in half of the region s counties decreased slightly between 2005 and The percentage of immunized two-year-olds in the Eastern Oregon Region s counties mirrors the state average at 78%, but again, there are differences among the Eastern Oregon counties, with a low of 69% in Harney County to a high of 90% in Wallowa County. 6 More Eastern Oregon Region residents are living without health insurance compared to the state as a whole; across Eastern Oregon approximately 1 in 5 residents has no health insurance. 7 The incidence of child abuse and neglect is higher in the region than in the state and Baker and Gilliam Counties have the highest child abuse and neglect rates in the state. 8 Further, while statewide child abuse and neglect rates have remained relatively stable for the past several years, rates in Eastern Oregon have increased. 4

6 Indicators of Child and Family Well-Being County First Trimester Prenatal Care Immunized 2- year-olds Residents Without Health Insurance Child Abuse/ Neglect (per 1,000 children) Baker 69% 85% 19.0% 26.2 Gilliam 88% 81% 23.5% 67.4 Grant 90% 82% 23.5% 17.8 Harney 85% 69% 19.6% 20.3 Malheur 53% 71% 19.6% 21.5 Morrow 63% 79% 23.5% 17.4 Umatilla 65% 78% 19.0% 15.6 Union 76% 68% 19.0% 14.9 Wallowa 82% 90% 19.0% 16.1 Oregon 78% 78% 16.5% 12.5 United States 84% 77% 16.7% 9.3 Data on children s dental health is not available at the county level. However, a statewide survey of Oregon 1 st through 3 rd graders reveals serious needs: two-thirds of children have already had cavities, and one in five of these children have had decay in seven or more teeth. Of 32 states reporting similar data, Oregon children s dental health ranks 7 th from the bottom in the percent of children with untreated decay, and Oregon s dental health has declined between 2002 and Furthermore, children outside of the Portland Metropolitan area have poorer dental health: 70% of rural children have had a cavity (compared to 54% of Portland children) and 44% have untreated decay (compared to 21% of Portland children). 9 Child Care Oregon currently has 18 child care slots for every 100 children, and has set a goal to have 20 slots available for every 100 children. The Eastern Oregon Region has 18 slots for every 100 children, but this average masks wide differences among counties. Morrow County has just 9 child care slots per 100 children and Gilliam County has 29 slots. While the average annual cost of toddler care in the region is lower than the state cost, an Eastern Oregon Region family earning minimum wage still must pay an average of 31% of its earnings in child care expenses. 10 5

7 Child Care Availability and Affordability County Number of Slots per 100 children Annual Cost % of Minimum Wage Earnings Baker 23 $4,440 27% Gilliam 29 $4,620 28% Grant 16 $6,210 38% Harney 11 $5,049 31% Malheur 17 $4,623 28% Morrow 9 $4,840 29% Umatilla 18 $6,360 39% Union 25 $4,571 28% Wallowa 19 $4,771 29% Oregon 18 $9,840 60% Education The Oregon education and business sectors have set a goal of having 40% of Oregon residents possessing college degrees, 40% possessing junior college degrees or technical certifications, and 20% possessing high school diplomas by the year Currently, the Eastern Region s high school graduation rate, at 80%, is above the overall Oregon high school graduation rate of 66%. All counties in the region have high school graduation rates above the state average. 11 6

8 High School Graduation Rate US average: 70% Oregon average: 66% Despite the higher than average high school graduation rates, Eastern Oregon counties have lower percentages of residents with college degrees. While the percent of the regional population with an Associate s Degree (10%) is slightly higher than the state and nation, just 17% of the region s adults have a Bachelor s Degree, compared to 28% of the state and nation as a whole. All Eastern Oregon counties have a smaller percentage of residents with college degrees than the state average, and in Morrow and Malheur Counties just 12% and 13%, respectively, of the population has college degrees. 12 Percent of Population with a Bachelor s Degree OR & US average: 28% 7

9 Youth Substance Use & Crime Tobacco use among youth in the Eastern Oregon Region counties is on par with state averages, but youth in this region report more alcohol use than state averages: while 23% of 8 th graders statewide report drinking in the past 30 days, 31% of 8 th graders in the Eastern Oregon report drinking in the past 30 days. Similarly, 50% of 11 th graders across Eastern Oregon counties report using alcohol in the past 30 days, compared to the state average of 37% th Grade Report of Alcohol Use in Past 30 Days OR average: 37% *Wallowa County data not available. Youth in the Eastern Oregon Region also have higher criminal referral rates than the state average: while the state youth criminal referral rate is 31 youth referred per 1,000 youth and the Eastern Oregon Region s average rate is 36 per 1,000 youth. However, this regional average rate is driven by unusually high rates in Gilliam, Malheur, and Umatilla Counties. Gilliam County s rate, in fact, is the highest in the state. 14 8

10 Youth Criminal Referral Rate (per 1,000 youth) OR rate: 31 per 1,000 Housing In 2010, the median house sale price in the Eastern Oregon Region was $108,633, and though there was some variability among counties, all Eastern Oregon counties median home prices fell well below the state and federal averages. 15 Median House Price OR average: $244,000 US average: $221,900 Eastern Oregon residents spend somewhat less of their income on housing costs than residents elsewhere in Oregon. Statewide, approximately 40% of homeowners and 50% of renters spend 9

11 at least 30% of their income on housing expenses, but in the Eastern Oregon Region 28% of homeowners and 42% of renters spend at least 30% of their income on housing expenses. 16 The foreclosure rate in the Eastern Oregon counties, 0.9 per 1,000 houses in December 2010, is substantially lower than the statewide rate (1.7 per 1,000 residences). 17 Foreclosure Rates Per 1,000 Houses National rate: 2 per 1,000 OR rate: 1.7 per 1,000 *Wallowa County data not available. Civic Engagement Voter turnout: While 73% of registered Oregonians voted in the 2010 election, 75% of registered voters in the Eastern Oregon Region voted. Wallowa County had the highest voter turnout in the region (83%), followed by Gilliam and Harney Counties (81%), Grant County (78%) and Baker County (74%). Indeed, Wallowa, Gilliam, and Harney Counties boasted three of the four highest voter turnout rates in the state. The remaining Eastern Oregon regions had voter turnout rates below the state average. 18 Volunteerism: Volunteerism data is not available at the county or regional level, but data on Oregon overall indicate that Oregonians are more civically engaged than their counterparts elsewhere in the United States: they have higher volunteerism rates (33.9% for Oregon and 26.8% for the United States) and volunteer more hours (45.1 hours for Oregon and 34.2 hours for the United States). The most common volunteer activities in 2009 included general labor, fundraising, tutoring/teaching, and collecting and distributing food

12 Charitable contributions: In 2010, the Eastern Oregon Region had 1,397 non-profit organizations: 31% of these organizations are in Umatilla County, 16% are in Union County, 13% each are in Malheur and Baker Counties, 7% each are in Grant and Wallowa Counties, 6% each are in Harney and Morrow Counties, and 2% are in Gilliam County. One-third of the region s non-profits are human services organizations. 20 In 2006, charities in the Eastern Oregon Region received over $13 million in donations, with organizations addressing arts, health, education, and human services receiving the most donations. 21 Support for the arts: The Oregon Arts Commission made 14 grants in 2010 to agencies in the Eastern Oregon Region (5 each in Umatilla and Union Counties, and 2 each in Baker and Wallowa Counties) totaling $137,750, representing 7% of the Commission s 2010 grants. 22 OCF Discretionary Grant Making Between 2005 and 2010, OCF awarded 120 discretionary grants to the Eastern Oregon Region totaling $1,843,809. Just under half (43%) of grant funds were awarded under the Nurturing Children and Strengthening Families program area, 24% were awarded under the Education program area, 18% were awarded under the Livability Through Citizen Involvement program area, and 15% were awarded under the Cultural Opportunities program area. The breakdown of grants by specific funding objective was as follows: Thirty-three percent of the discretionary funds went to programs whose funding objectives included the health and safety of children, early childhood development, and caring for vulnerable populations. Awards included grants to the Baker County Commission on Children in Baker City for the School Site One Stop Program and the Boys and Girls Club of Western Treasure Valley in Ontario for the creation of that program. Twenty-six percent of the discretionary funds went to organizations working toward various aspects of civic engagement, including programs whose funding objectives were improving communities through nonprofits; linking service and learning; reaching underserved audiences; and volunteerism, leadership and citizenship. Funded programs included Wallowa Resources in Enterprise to support the Wallowa Mountain Institute Youth Stewardship Education Program and Harney County Opportunity Team in Burns to create a community center. Statewide, 23% of discretionary funds statewide went to these types of programs. Sixteen percent of the discretionary funds went to programs whose funding objective was youth mentoring or out-of-school programs; 10% of the statewide discretionary funds went to these programs. 11

13 Thirteen percent of the discretionary funds went to programs aimed at improving access to education and involving communities and parents in education; 9% of discretionary funds statewide went to these programs. Ten percent of the discretionary funds went to programs whose funding objective was appreciation of arts and culture or supporting arts organizations; 7% of discretionary funds statewide went to these programs. 12

14 Explanation of Selected Indicators Racial/Ethnic Distribution: We chose to illustrate the racial/ethnic makeup of each region because changing demographics throughout Oregon have implications for communities strengths and challenges. Different ethnic/racial groups may have different needs, and regions face the challenge of providing culturally appropriate services to diverse communities. Age Distribution: Communities with large proportion of older (or younger) residents will have different sets of needs and resources than other communities. Median Family Income: Median family income is a widely accepted indicator of the economic makeup of a community. Child Poverty: Typically, more children live in poverty than adults, and therefore we chose to use child poverty rates rather than overall poverty rates. Child poverty typically is correlated with a number of other challenges, including lack of health care, exposure to violence, inadequate schools, learning delays, and lower lifetime earnings, among other things. Unemployment: Unemployment is a widely accepted indicator of the economic health of communities. Teen Pregnancy: Teen pregnancy can be seen as a risk indicator both for the teen parent and for her baby. Teen pregnancy is correlated with other risk factors such as poor school performance and completion rates and unemployment. Furthermore, teen mothers are less likely to have adequate social support and more stress than other mothers, and children of teen mothers are more likely to live in poverty and therefore be exposed to myriad correlates of child poverty. First Trimester Prenatal Care: Adequate prenatal care can lead to more positive health outcomes for both mother and baby, including a reduced risk of low birth weight babies. Child Immunizations: Immunizations are one of the most effective ways of combating the spread of disease. Further, child immunization rates can serve as a general descriptor, or proxy, of overall access to, and utilization of, health care services for children. Health Insurance: Residents without health insurance are less likely to access preventive health services and are more likely to access higher cost emergency services. Child Abuse & Neglect: Child abuse and neglect rates are an available indicator of children s safety. Securing children s safety is an imperative in and of itself, but in addition, children suffering from abuse and neglect are at risk for a variety of poor outcomes, including poor school performance and completion rates, substance use, abusive adult relationships, and criminal involvement. 13

15 Children s Dental Health: There is an increased understanding that dental health is an important component of overall health; individuals with unmet dental health needs are more likely to suffer from poor school performance, are more likely to miss work, and may have difficulty securing employment. Further, several OCF Regions have identified dental health as a priority issue. While county-level dental health data are not presented in these profiles, we provide some state-level data to highlight the striking need in this area. Child Care Availability: OCF has a long history of supporting quality child care in Oregon. Further, the OCF Board has identified jobs and the economy as an important new area of focus for the coming five years. One important component of the discussion around jobs is the availability of child care; parents cannot work if there are not enough child care slots. Oregon child care researchers and advocates have set a goal of having 20 child care slots available per 100 children. Child Care Cost: Child care must be affordable as well as available in order for parents to work. High School Graduation & College Completion: Education and business leaders in Oregon have set an ambitious goal called the goal, indicating a desire to have 40% of Oregon residents with a BA, 40% of Oregon residents with an AA or other certificate, and 20% with a high school degree by High school graduation rates and the percent of residents with college degrees are two indicators of educational attainment for Oregon s communities. Youth Tobacco & Alcohol Use: Youth substance use is correlated with a number of other risk factors, including violence, lack of engagement with school, and poor performance in school. Youth Criminal Referrals: Youth crime has high costs to the victims, the offending youth, and to the communities involved. Youth involved with the juvenile justice system are more likely than the general youth population to have substance abuse issues, have a history of abuse or violence, and to have poor school engagement and performance. Median House Sale Price: Median house prices are one indicator of a community s affordability. Housing Costs: Affordable housing costs (rent or mortgage) generally fall below 30% of a family s household income. Therefore, one indicator of a community s affordability is the percent of families who pay more than 30% of their income in housing costs. Voter Turnout: One indicator of a community s level of civic engagement is voter turnout. Volunteerism: Another indicator of a community s level of civic engagement is the number of residents who volunteer. While county-level volunteering data were not available for the profiles, we have included state-wide data. 14

16 Charitable Contributions: An additional indicator of a community s level of civic engagement is donations made to area non-profit organizations. Support for the Arts: One of OCF s areas of focus is arts and culture. None of the previous indicators address this area, and therefore we include information on Oregon Arts Commission grants. OCF Grant Making: We have included data on OCF grants by topic area to allow a comparison of regional needs with OCF s grant giving history. 15

17 1 American Community Survey, Data available at: Ibid. 3 Ibid. 4 Oregon Employment Department, Monthly unemployment data by county available at: 5 Children First of Oregon, Oregon County Databook, County profiles available at: 6 Ibid. 7 Oregon Office of Rural Health, Percentage of Uninsurance in Oregon, available at: 8 Oregon Department of Human Services, Children, Adults & Families Division, Child Welfare Data Book, available at: 9 Oregon Department of Human Services, Office of Family Health (2007). Oregon Smile Survey 2007, available at: 10 Oregon Child Care Research Partnership, Child Care and Education in Oregon and Its Counties: 2008, available at: 11 Oregon Department of Education, Cohort Graduation Rates data available at: 12 American Community Survey, Data available at: Department of Health and Human Services, Oregon Healthy Teens 2008 County-Level Data available at: 14 JJIS Steering Committee, Juvenile Justice Information System Data & Evaluation Reports, Total Referrals Available at: 15 Housing Alliance, Comparison of Occupations, Wages, and Housing Costs By County, Available at: 16

18 16 American Community Survey, Data available at: Realty Trac posts most recent month s foreclosure data by county at: 18 Oregon Secretary of State, Statistical Summary 2010 General Election available at: 19 Corporation for National & Community Service, Volunteering in America data available at: VolunteeringInAmerica.gov/OR. 20 National Center for Charitable Statistics, County-level data available at: 21 The Oregon Community Foundation, Giving in Oregon. Available at: 22 Oregon Arts Commission, Searchable grants database available at: 17

19 The mission of The Oregon Community Foundation is to improve life in Oregon and promote effective philanthropy. OCF works with individuals, families, businesses and organizations to create charitable funds to support the community causes they care about. Through these funds, OCF awards more than $55 million annually in grants and scholarships. To learn more, visit PORTLAND BEND COOS BAY EUGENE MEDFORD SALEM